Ephesians 3

1 For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of the Messiah ^{a3:1 Or Christ} Jesus for the sake of you gentiles.ISV — Ephesians 3:1

2 Surely you have heard about the responsibility of administering God’s grace that was given to me on your behalf,ISV — Ephesians 3:2

3 and how this secret was made known to me through a revelation, just as I wrote about briefly in the past.ISV — Ephesians 3:3

4 By reading this, you will be able to grasp my understanding of the secret about the Messiah, ^{b3:4 Or Christ}ISV — Ephesians 3:4

5 which in previous generations was not made known to human beings ^{c3:5 Lit. the sons of men} as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s ^{d3:5 Lit. his} holy apostles and prophets. This is that secret: ^{e3:5 The Gk. lacks This is that secret:}ISV — Ephesians 3:5

6 The gentiles are heirs-in-common, members-in-common of the body, and common participants in what was promised ^{f3:6 Lit. of the promise} by the Messiah ^{g3:6 Or Christ} Jesus through the gospel.ISV — Ephesians 3:6

7 I have become a servant of this gospel ^{h3:7 Lit. of it} according to the gift of God’s grace that was given me by the working of his power.ISV — Ephesians 3:7

8 To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given so that I might proclaim to the gentiles the immeasurable wealth of the Messiah ^{i3:8 Or Christ}ISV — Ephesians 3:8

9 and help everyone see how this secret that has been at work was hidden for ages by God, who created all things.ISV — Ephesians 3:9

10 He did this ^{j3:10 The Gk. lacks He did this} so that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its variety might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realmISV — Ephesians 3:10

11 in keeping with the eternal purpose that God ^{k3:11 Lit. he} carried out through the Messiah ^{l3:11 Or Christ} Jesus our Lord,ISV — Ephesians 3:11

12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through his faithfulness. ^{m3:12 Or through faith in him}ISV — Ephesians 3:12

13 So then, I ask you not to become discouraged because of my troubles on your behalf, which work toward your glory.ISV — Ephesians 3:13

14 This is the reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, ^{n3:14 Or Christ; other mss. lack of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah}ISV — Ephesians 3:14

15 from whom every family ^{o3:15 Or all fatherhood} in heaven and on earth receives its name.ISV — Ephesians 3:15

16 I pray ^{p3:16 The Gk. lacks I pray} that he would give you, according to his glorious riches, strength in your inner being and power through his Spirit,ISV — Ephesians 3:16

17 and that the Messiah ^{q3:17 Or Christ} would make his home in your hearts through faith. Then, having been rooted and grounded in love,ISV — Ephesians 3:17

18 you will be able to understand, along with all the saints, what is wide, long, high, and deep—ISV — Ephesians 3:18

19 that is, you will know the love of the Messiah ^{r3:19 Or Christ} — which transcends knowledge, and will be filled with all the fullness of God.ISV — Ephesians 3:19

20 Now to the one who can do infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among ^{s3:20 Or in} us—ISV — Ephesians 3:20

21 to him be glory in the church and in the Messiah ^{t3:21 Or Christ} Jesus to all generations, forever and ever! Amen.ISV — Ephesians 3:21