1 F or this reason I Paul, prisoner of the Christ Jesus for you nations,

For this reason '> because I preached that you are thus built up together], I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus the Christ for the sake and on behalf of you Gentiles—

2 ( if indeed ye have heard of the administration of the grace of God which has been given to me towards you,

Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace (His unmerited favor) that was entrusted to me for your benefit,

3 t hat by revelation the mystery has been made known to me, (according as I have written before briefly,

that the mystery (secret) was made known to me and I was allowed to comprehend it by direct revelation, as I already briefly wrote you.

4 b y which, in reading it, ye can understand my intelligence in the mystery of the Christ,)

When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.

5 w hich in other generations has not been made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in Spirit,

was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the Spirit.

6 t hat the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of promise in Christ Jesus by the glad tidings;

that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs, members of the same body and joint partakers in the same divine promise in Christ through the glad tidings (the Gospel).

7 o f which I am become minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me, according to the working of his power.

Of this I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power.

8 T o me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ,

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ,

9 a nd to enlighten all what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things,

Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in God Who created all things by Christ Jesus.

10 i n order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the assembly the all-various wisdom of God,

that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.

11 a ccording to purpose of the ages, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,

This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in Christ Jesus our Lord,

12 i n whom we have boldness and access in confidence by the faith of him.

In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear).

13 W herefore I beseech not to faint through my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

So I ask you not to lose heart at what I am suffering in your behalf. for it is an honor to you.

14 F or this reason I bow my knees to the Father,

For this reason '> seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 o f whom every family in heavens and on earth is named,

For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

16 i n order that he may give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man;

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Spirit.

17 t hat the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love,

May Christ through your faith dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

18 i n order that ye may be fully able to apprehend with all the saints what the breadth and length and depth and height;

That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth;

19 a nd to know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge; that ye may be filled to all the fulness of God.

to know '> through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge; that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God '> become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

20 B ut to him that is able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think, according to the power which works in us,

Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the power that is at work within us, is able to do superabundantly, far over and above all that we ask or think —

21 t o him be glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus unto all generations of the age of ages. Amen).

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).