Ephesians 3

1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2surely you have heard how God entrusted me with his grace, to manage it for your good. 3God made the mystery known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written already. 4When you read this, you will be able to see my understanding of the mystery of Christ. 5In other generations it was not made known to humankind as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6This is the mystery: through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. 7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, which was given to me through the working of his power. 8Though I am less than the least of all God’s holy people, this grace was given to me: to bring the Gentiles the good news of the riches of Christ, riches no one can ever fully trace, 9and to make plain to everyone how the mystery is being carried out, the mystery that for ages past was hidden in God, who created all things. 10God’s aim was that now, through the church, his wisdom in all its rich variety would be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was in keeping with the purpose he has had through all the ages, which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him, through faith in him, we can come to God boldly and with confidence. 13So I ask you not to lose heart over the troubles I bear for your sake. They are your glory.

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, in keeping with the riches of his glory, he will give you power, making your inner self strong through his Spirit, 17so that through faith and in love Christ will make his home in your hearts. You are rooted deep and set on a firm foundation, 18and I pray that you will have the strength to grasp, with all God’s holy people, the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ, a love that goes beyond knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

20Now to the one who is able to do all things, far beyond anything we ask or think, by the power that is at work in us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, to every generation, for ever and ever. Amen.