Ephesians 3
3
The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed
1For this reason I, Paul, #ch. 4:1; Acts 23:18; Phil. 1:7; [ch. 6:20] a prisoner of Christ Jesus #ver. 13; Col. 1:24on behalf of you Gentiles— 2assuming that you have heard of #ch. 1:10; Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:4 the stewardship of #ver. 7; ch. 4:7; See Acts 11:23; Rom. 1:5God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3#Acts 22:17, 21; 26:16-18 how the mystery was made known to me #[Dan. 2:29]; See Rom. 16:25; 2 Cor. 12:1 by revelation, #[ch. 1:9, 10]as I have written briefly. 4#[2 Cor. 11:6] When you read this, you can perceive my insight into #Col. 4:3the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6This mystery is#3:6 The words This mystery is are inferred from verse 4 that the Gentiles are #See Gal. 3:29 fellow heirs, #ch. 2:16 members of the same body, and #ch. 5:7partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
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Col. 1:23, 25 Of this gospel I was made #See 2 Cor. 3:6 a minister according to the gift of #See ver. 2 God’s grace, which was given me #[ver. 20]; See ch. 1:19by the working of his power. 8To me, #See 1 Cor. 15:9 though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, #See Acts 9:15 to preach to the Gentiles the #[Job 5:9; Rom. 11:33] unsearchable #See ch. 1:18; Rom. 2:4riches of Christ, 9and #See ver. 2, 3 to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery #Col. 1:26 hidden for ages in#3:9 Or by God, #Rev. 4:11; [ch. 2:10]who created all things, 10so that through the church the manifold #Rom. 11:33 wisdom of God #[1 Pet. 1:12] might now be made known to #ch. 1:21; [ch. 6:12] the rulers and authorities #See ch. 1:3in the heavenly places. 11This was #See ch. 1:11according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have #Heb. 4:16; 10:19 boldness and #See ch. 2:18 access with #2 Cor. 3:4 confidence through our #Mark 11:22; Phil. 3:9faith in him. 13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering #ver. 1 for you, #[2 Cor. 1:6]which is your glory.
Prayer for Spiritual Strength
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom #See ch. 1:10, 21every family#3:15 Or from whom all fatherhood; the Greek word patria in verse 15 is closely related to the word for Father in verse 14 in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to #See ver. 8 the riches of his glory #1 Cor. 16:13; [ch. 6:10; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:11] he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit #See Rom. 7:22in your inner being, 17#[ch. 2:22] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being #Col. 2:7 rooted and #Col. 1:23grounded in love, 18may have strength to #[John 1:5] comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and #Rom. 8:39; [Job 11:8, 9]height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ #[Phil. 4:7] that surpasses knowledge, that #Col. 2:10 you may be filled with all #ch. 1:23the fullness of God.
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Rom. 16:25; Jude 24 Now to #[2 Cor. 9:8] him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, #[ver. 7]according to the power at work within us, 21#See Rom. 11:36to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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