Ephesians
Chapter 3
Overview
Paul writes from prison to believers who were not born Jewish. He explains a plan once hidden but now brought into the open: through Jesus the Messiah, Jews and non-Jews belong equally to one people and share the same promise. Paul sees his difficult mission as part of God’s vast purpose, one that even spiritual powers are learning through this new community. The chapter then turns from explanation to prayer. Paul asks that his readers be strengthened within, grounded in love, and filled with a love so immense that knowing it means discovering how much remains beyond knowledge.
1This is why I, Paul, am a prisoner because of Messiah Jesus for the sake of you non-Jews—
2surely you have heard that God entrusted me with the work of bringing his generous favor to you.
3God revealed his once-hidden plan to me, as I briefly wrote earlier.
4When you read what I wrote, you can understand my insight into this hidden plan about the Messiah.
5In earlier generations, God did not make this plan known to humanity as he has now revealed it by his Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.
6The plan is this: through the good news, non-Jews share the same inheritance with Jewish believers. They belong to the same body and share the same promise through Messiah Jesus.
7I became a servant of this good news because God gave me this generous favor through the working of his power.
8I am less important than the least of all God’s people, yet God gave me this favor: to announce to the non-Jews the Messiah’s riches, which are too vast to trace,
9and to help everyone see how God is carrying out the plan that had been hidden through all past ages in God, who created everything.
10God’s purpose was that, through the community of believers, the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms would now come to know his wisdom in all its rich variety.
11This follows the eternal purpose God accomplished through Messiah Jesus, our Lord.
12United with Jesus, we can approach God openly and confidently because we trust in him.
13So I ask you not to lose heart because of the suffering I endure for you. My suffering is an honor for you.
14This is why I kneel before the Father,
15from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its name.
16I pray that, from the riches of his majesty, he will strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trust in him. May you be rooted and firmly founded in love,
18so that, together with all God’s people, you may have the strength to grasp how wide and long and high and deep that love is,
19and to know the Messiah’s love, even though it surpasses knowledge. Then you may be filled with all the fullness that comes from God.
20God’s power is at work within us, and he is able to do far beyond everything we ask or even imagine.
21May he receive honor in the community of believers and in Messiah Jesus throughout every generation, forever and ever. Amen.