New King James Version

New International Version

The Mystery Revealed

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles —

God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles —

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if indeed you have heard of the [a]dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

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Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

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how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

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that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

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by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

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In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

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which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

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which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

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that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

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This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

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of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

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I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

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Purpose of the Mystery

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

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Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ,

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and to make all see what is the [b]fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things [c]through Jesus Christ;

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and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

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to the intent that now the [d]manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the [e]principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

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His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

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according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

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according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

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In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

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Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

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I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

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Appreciation of the Mystery

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father [f]of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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A Prayer for the Ephesians

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

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from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

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from whom every familya in heaven and on earth derives its name.

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that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

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I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

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that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

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so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

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may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height —

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may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

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to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

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and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

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Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

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to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Parallel

New King James Version

New International Version

Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3