Ephesians, 3

1. For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

1. For this reason I, Paul, came to be the prisoner of Christ for you, the non-Jews.

2. If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

2. You may have heard of the graces God bestowed on me for your sake.

3. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

3. By a revelation he gave me the knowledge of his mysterious design, as I have explained in a few words.

4. Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

4. On reading them you will have some idea of how I understand the mystery of Christ.

5. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

5. This mystery was not made known to past generations but only now, through revelations given to holy apostles and prophets.

6. That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

6. Now the non-Jewish people share the Inheritance; in Christ Jesus the non-Jews are incorporated and are to enjoy the Promise. This is the Good News

7. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

7. of which I have become minister by a gift of God, a grace he gave me, when his power worked in me.

8. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

8. This grace was given to me, the least among all the holy ones: to announce to the pagan nations the immeasurable riches of Christ

9. And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

9. and to make clear to all how the mystery, hidden from the beginning in God, the Creator of all things, is to be fulfilled.

10. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

10. Even the heavenly forces and powers will now discover through the Church the wisdom of God in its manifold expression, as the plan is being fulfilled

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

11. which God designed from the beginning in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

12. In him we receive boldness and confidence to approach God.

13. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

13. So I ask you not to be discouraged at seeing the trials I endure for you, but rather to feel proud because of them.

14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

14. And now I kneel in the presence of the Father

15. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

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

16. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

16. May he strengthen in you the inner self through his Spirit, according to the riches of his glory;

17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

17. may Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; may you be rooted and founded in love.

18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

18. All of this so that you may understand with all the holy ones the width, the length, the height and the depth - in a word,

19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

19. that you may know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may be filled and reach the fullness of God.

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

20. Glory to God who shows his power in us and can do much more than we could ask or imagine;

21. Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

21. glory to him in the Church and in Christ Jesus through all generations for ever and ever. Amen.