1 For this cause, I Paul am the prisoner of Iesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye haue heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is giuen me to you warde, 3 That is, that God by reuelation hath shewed this mysterie vnto me (as I wrote aboue in fewe wordes, 4 Whereby when ye reade, ye may knowe mine vnderstanding in the mysterie of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not opened vnto the sonnes of men, as it is nowe reueiled vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit, 6 That the Gentiles should be inheriters also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel, 7 Whereof I am made a minister by the gift of the grace of God giuen vnto me through the effectuall working of his power. 8 Euen vnto me the least of all Saints is this grace giuen, that I should preach among the Gentiles the vnsearchable riches of Christ, 9 And to make cleare vnto all men what the fellowship of the mysterie is, which from the beginning of the world hath bene hid in God, who hath created all things by Iesus Christ, 10 To the intent, that nowe vnto principalities and powers in heauenly places, might be knowen by the Church the manifolde wisedome of God, 11 According to the eternall purpose, which he wrought in Christ Iesus our Lord: 12 By whom we haue boldenes and entrance with confidence, by faith in him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for your sakes, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bowe my knees vnto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, 15 (Of whom is named the whole familie in heauen and in earth) 16 That he might graunt you according to the riches of his glorie, that ye may be strengthened by his Spirit in the inner man, 17 That Christ may dwell in your heartes by faith: 18 That ye, being rooted and grounded in loue, may be able to comprehend with al Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: 19 And to knowe the loue of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all fulnesse of God. 20 Vnto him therefore that is able to do exceeding aboundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in vs, 21 Be praise in the Church by Christ Iesus, throughout all generations for euer, Amen.
Paul's Work for the Gentiles
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, pray to God. 2 Surely you have heard that God in his grace has given me this work to do for your good. 3 God revealed his secret plan and made it known to me. (I have written briefly about this, 4 and if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ.) 5 In past times human beings were not told this secret, but God has revealed it now by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God's blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus.
7 I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power. 8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms. 11 God did this according to his eternal purpose, which he achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In union with Christ and through our faith in him we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence. 13 I beg you, then, not to be discouraged because I am suffering for you; it is all for your benefit.
The Love of Christ
14 For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. 16 I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, 17 and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, 18 so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. 19 Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.
20 To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: 21 to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.