Προς Εφεσιους 3

1 τουτου χαριν εγω παυλος ο δεσμιος του χριστου ιησου υπερ υμων των εθνων

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus, the Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles –

2 ει γε ηκουσατε την οικονομιαν της χαριτος του θεου της δοθεισης μοι εις υμας

For you have heard, I suppose, of the responsible charge with which God entrusted me for your benefit,

3 οτι κατα αποκαλυψιν εγνωρισεν μοι το μυστηριον καθως προεγραψα εν ολιγω

and also that it was by direct revelation that the hidden purpose of God was made known to me, as I have already briefly told you.

4 προς ο δυνασθε αναγινωσκοντες νοησαι την συνεσιν μου εν τω μυστηριω του χριστου

And, by reading what I have written, you will be able to judge how far I understand this hidden purpose of God in Christ.

5 ο ετεραις γενεαις ουκ εγνωρισθη τοις υιοις των ανθρωπων ως νυν απεκαλυφθη τοις αγιοις αποστολοις αυτου και προφηταις εν πνευματι

In former generations it was not made known to humanity, as fully as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to the apostles and prophets among Christ’s people –

6 ειναι τα εθνη συγκληρονομα και συσσωμα και συμμετοχα της επαγγελιας αυτου εν τω χριστω δια του ευαγγελιου

That, by union with Christ Jesus and through the good news, the Gentiles are coheirs with us and members of one body, and that they share with us in God’s Promise.

7 ου εγενομην διακονος κατα την δωρεαν της χαριτος του θεου την δοθεισαν μοι κατα την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου

Of this good news I become an assistant, in virtue of the charge with which God entrusted me in the exercise of his power –

8 εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη εν τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι τον ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτον του χριστου

Yes, to me, who am less than the least of all Christ’s people, was this charge entrusted! – to tell the Gentiles the good news of the boundless wealth to be found in the Christ,

9 και φωτισαι παντας τις η οικονομια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι δια ιησου χριστου (aiōn g165)

and to make clear what is God’s way of working out that hidden purpose which from the first has been concealed in the mind of the Creator of all things; (aiōn g165)

10 ινα γνωρισθη νυν ταις αρχαις και ταις εξουσιαις εν τοις επουρανιοις δια της εκκλησιας η πολυποικιλος σοφια του θεου

so that now to the archangels and to all the powers on high should be made known, through the church, the all-embracing wisdom of God,

11 κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων ην εποιησεν εν χριστω ιησου τω κυριω ημων (aiōn g165)

in accordance with that purpose which runs through all the ages and which he has now accomplished in Jesus, the Christ, our Master. (aiōn g165)

12 εν ω εχομεν την παρρησιαν και την προσαγωγην εν πεποιθησει δια της πιστεως αυτου

And in union with him, and through our trust in him, we find courage to approach God with confidence.

13 διο αιτουμαι μη εκκακειν εν ταις θλιψεσιν μου υπερ υμων ητις εστιν δοξα υμων

Therefore I beg you not to be disheartened at the sufferings that I am undergoing for your sakes; for they redound to your honour.

14 τουτου χαριν καμπτω τα γονατα μου προς τον πατερα του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου

For this reason, then, I kneel before the Father –

15 εξ ου πασα πατρια εν ουρανοις και επι γης ονομαζεται

from whom all “fatherhood” in heaven and on earth derives its name –

16 ινα δωη υμιν κατα τον πλουτον της δοξης αυτου δυναμει κραταιωθηναι δια του πνευματος αυτου εις τον εσω ανθρωπον

and pray that, in proportion to the wealth of his glory, he will strengthen you with his power by breathing his Spirit into your inmost soul,

17 κατοικησαι τον χριστον δια της πιστεως εν ταις καρδιαις υμων εν αγαπη ερριζωμενοι και τεθεμελιωμενοι

so that the Christ, through your faith, may make his home within your hearts in love; and I pray that you, now firmly rooted and established, may, with all Christ’s people,

18 ινα εξισχυσητε καταλαβεσθαι συν πασιν τοις αγιοις τι το πλατος και μηκος και βαθος και υψος

have the power to comprehend in all its width and length and height and depth,

19 γνωναι τε την υπερβαλλουσαν της γνωσεως αγαπην του χριστου ινα πληρωθητε εις παν το πληρωμα του θεου

and to understand – though it surpasses all understanding – the love of the Christ; and so be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 τω δε δυναμενω υπερ παντα ποιησαι υπερ εκ περισσου ων αιτουμεθα η νοουμεν κατα την δυναμιν την ενεργουμενην εν ημιν

To him who, through his power which is at work within us, is able to do far more than anything that we can ask or conceive –

21 αυτω η δοξα εν τη εκκλησια εν χριστω ιησου εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων αμην (aiōn g165)

to him be all glory through the church and through Christ Jesus, for all generations, age after age. Amen. (aiōn g165)