Ephesians 3
1 For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,
This is why, I, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you foreigners,
2 if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you,
(well, I'm assuming you've heard that God gave me the specific responsibility of sharing God's grace with you),
3 how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
how, by what God showed me, made clear the mystery that was previously hidden. I wrote to you briefly before about this,
4 by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ,
and when you read this you'll be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.
5 which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,
In past generations this wasn't made clear to anyone, but now it's been revealed to God's holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit
6 that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
that foreigners are joint heirs, part of the same body, and in Christ Jesus share together in the promise through the good news.
7 of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
I became a minister of this good news through the gift of God's grace that I was given by his power that was at work in me.
8 To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
This grace was given to me, the least important of all Christians, in order to share with the foreigners the incredible value of Christ,
9 and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ, (aiōn g165)
and to help everyone see the purpose of the mystery which from the very beginning was hidden in God who made everything. (aiōn g165)
10 to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,
God's plan was that the various aspects of his wisdom would be revealed through the church to the rulers and authorities in heaven.
This was in accordance with God's eternal purpose that he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. (aiōn g165)
12 In him we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
Because of him and our trust in him we can come to God in total freedom and confidence.
13 Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.
So I'm asking that you don't get discouraged that I'm suffering—it's for you and you should value that!
14 For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
This is why I kneel before the Father
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its nature and character,
16 that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,
asking him that out of his wealth of glory he may strengthen you in your innermost being with power through his Spirit.
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
May Christ live in you as you trust in him, so that as you are planted deep in love,
18 may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
you may have the power to comprehend with all God's people the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love.
19 and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
May you know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you're made full and complete by the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Now may he who—through his power working in us—can do infinitely more than we ever ask for or even think about,
