The Mystery of the Gospel

1For this cause I Paul am the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of you Gentiles: 2as ye have heard the dispensation of the grace of God, which was given me to preach unto you: 3that by immediate revelation He made known to me the mystery, (as I wrote before in brief, by which, 4when ye read it, ye may perceive my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,) 5which in other generations was not made known to men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be co-heirs, 6and of the same body, and joint-partakers of his promise in Christ, by the gospel: 7of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God conferred on me by the effectual operation of his power. 8On me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace bestowed, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9and make all men to see the communication of the mystery, which from the ages past hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; 10that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly regions; 11according to the ancient purpose, which He executed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12by whom we have freedom and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13Wherefore I desire that ye would not be discouraged at my afflictions on your account, which is your glory.

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

14For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named, 16that He would grant you, according to his glorious riches, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit, as to the inner man; 17that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: and be ye rooted and grounded in love, 18that ye may be able, with all the saints, to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, 19and height, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasseth knowledge; that ye may be filled according to the abundant fulness of God.

20Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power operating in us, 21to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all the generations of eternal ages. Amen.