Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles

1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, bow my knees in prayer.

2Surely you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for ⁹you,

3how God made the mystery known to me by revelation, just as I have written above in a few words.

4When you read what I have written, you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

5which in previous generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.

6This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of ¹⁰God's promise in ¹¹Christ through the gospel.

7I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the working of his power.

8This grace was given to me, the very least of all the saints, to preach ¹²among the Gentiles the good news of the boundless riches of Christ,

9and to bring to light ¹³for everyone the ¹⁴plan of the mystery that has been hidden for ages in God, who created all things ¹⁵through Jesus Christ.

10The purpose of bringing this to light is that, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms,

11according to the eternal purpose that God has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we have boldness and confident access to God.

13Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, which will bring you glory.

Prayer for the Ephesians to Know the Love of Christ

14For this reason I bow my knees in prayer before the Father ¹⁶of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he would grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,

18as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may be able to fully comprehend, together with all the saints, how wide and long and ¹⁷deep and high

19is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us—

21to him be glory in the church ¹⁸in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.