Ephesians · Chapter 3
Ephesians 3
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain · Source credits
The Mystery of the Gospel
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...*
2Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
8Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.*
10His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.*
13So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
14... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,*
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
19of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now to Him who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Source notes
Old Testament references
References from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Text from the Berean Standard Bible.
Isaiah 43:13Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
Proverbs 30:2Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man.
Proverbs 30:3I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
1 Chronicles 17:16Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
1 Chronicles 29:14But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
1 Chronicles 29:15For we are foreigners and strangers in Your presence, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.
Psalms 31:19How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
Psalms 33:6By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
Isaiah 44:24Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,
Exodus 25:17And you are to construct a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.
Exodus 25:18Make two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat,
Exodus 25:19one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold.