Ephesians 3

1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,—

1This is why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.

2if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;

2Surely you have heard about the responsibility God gave me to share his grace with you.

3how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,

3He revealed this mystery to me, as I briefly wrote about earlier.

4whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;

4When you read this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.

5which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;

5In previous generations, this was not made known to many people, but now it has been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.

6to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

6The mystery is this: through the gospel, the Gentiles are fellow heirs with Israel, members of the same body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

7whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, which was given to me by the working of his power.

8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

8Even though I am the very least of all God’s people, he gave me this grace to preach to the Gentiles the infinite riches of Christ.

9and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;

9My job is to make it clear to everyone how this mystery is being worked out—a plan that was kept secret for ages in God, who created everything.

10to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,

10His purpose was that now, through the church, the multi-layered wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.

11according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

11This matches the eternal plan that he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

12Because of our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

13Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.

13So I ask you not to get discouraged because of the trials I am suffering for you, which are actually for your glory.

14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,

14For this reason, I fall on my knees before the Father,

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

15from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its name.

16that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;

16I pray that from his glorious riches he will give you inner strength through his Spirit.

17that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

17I pray that Christ will live in your hearts through faith, and that your life will be firmly rooted and built on a foundation of love.

18may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

18Then you, along with all God’s people, will have the power to understand how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.

19and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.

19May you experience the love of Christ, which is too great to fully understand, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

20Now all glory to God, who is able to do far more than we could ever ask or even imagine through his power working within us.

21unto him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.

21May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.