1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- | 1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- |
2if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, | 2if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, |
3that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. | 3that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. |
4When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. | 4When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. |
5Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, | 5Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, |
6namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. | 6namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. |
7I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. | 7I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. |
8To me--less than the least of all the saints--this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ | 8To me--less than the least of all the saints--this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ |
9and to enlighten everyone about God's secret plan--a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. | 9and to enlighten everyone about God's secret plan--a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things. |
10The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. | 10The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. |
11This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, | 11This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, |
12in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness. | 12in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness. |
13For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. | 13For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. |
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, | 14For this reason I kneel before the Father, |
15from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named. | 15from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named. |
16I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, | 16I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, |
17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, | 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, |
18you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, | 18you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, |
19and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. | 19and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. |
20Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, | 20Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, |
21to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. | 21to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. |
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