The Mystery Revealed
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of Godwhich was given to me for you,
3 how that by revelationHe made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,
4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),
5 which 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:
6 that the Gentilesshould be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
7 of which I became a ministeraccording to the gift of the grace of God given to me bythe effective working of His power.
Purpose of the Mystery
8 To me,who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentilesthe unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see whatisthe fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God whocreated all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that nowthe manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the churchto the principalities and powers in the heavenlyplaces,
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and accesswith confidence through faith in Him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you,which is your glory.
Appreciation of the Mystery
14 For this reason I bow my knees to theFather of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you,according to the riches of His glory,to be strengthened with might through His Spirit inthe inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you,being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saintswhatisthe width and length and depth and height—
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filledwith all the fullness of God.
20 Nowto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantlyabove all that we ask or think,according to the power that works in us,
21 to Himbeglory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.