God's Plan for Church

Paul’s Ministry to the Gentiles

3 For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner^(A) of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that he gave me for you. ³ The mystery was made known to me by revelation,^(B) as I have briefly written above. ⁴ By reading this you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.^{(C) 5} This was not made known to people^[a] in other generations as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets^(D) by the Spirit: ⁶ The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and partners in the promise^(E) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ⁷ I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power.^(F)

⁸ This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches^(G) of Christ, ⁹ and to shed light for all about the administration of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created^(H) all things. ¹⁰ This is so that God’s multi-faceted wisdom^(I) may now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavens.^{(J) 11} This is according to his eternal purpose^(K) accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In him we have boldness and confident access^(L) through faith in him.^{[b] 13} So, then, I ask you not to be discouraged^(M) over my afflictions on your behalf, for they are your glory.^(N)

Prayer for Spiritual Power

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel^(O) before the Father^{[c] 15} from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. ¹⁶ I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches^(P) of his glory,^(Q) to be strengthened with power^(R) in your inner being^(S) through his Spirit, ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,^{(T) 19} and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who is able^(U) to do above and beyond all that we ask or think^(V) according to the power^(W) that works in us— ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.^(X)