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

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 i f indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for 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 h ow that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

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, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

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

5 w hich in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

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 Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

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 became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. Purpose of the Mystery

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, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of 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 make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

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 t o the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

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 the eternal purpose which He accomplished 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 with confidence through faith in 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 T herefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. Appreciation of the Mystery

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 of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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 f rom whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

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

16 t hat He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through 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 Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded 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 m ay be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width 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 t o know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness 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 N ow to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that 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 church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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