1 F or this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of 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 it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward 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 the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,

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 can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;

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

5 w hich in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the 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 Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,

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 was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given 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, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to 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 men see what is the administration of the mystery which for 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 through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the 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 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 through our 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 may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are 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 cause, 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 every family in heaven and on 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, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward 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; to the end 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 strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,

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 Christ’s love which surpasses 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 the glory in the assembly and in 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).