Ephesians 3

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

1Paul says: I am in prison because I belong to Jesus Christ. I am here for the good of you Gentiles, people who are not Jewish.

NotePaul starts a sentence here and then stops to explain things. He picks the sentence up again in verse 14.

2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

2You have surely heard that God was kind to me. He gave me a job to do for you.

3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

3God himself showed me his hidden plan. I already wrote to you about it in a few words.

NoteThe old word "mystery" here means a secret God kept for a long time and has now told people. It does not mean a puzzle.

4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

4When you read what I wrote, you can see what I understand. You will see what I know about Christ's hidden plan.

5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

5Long ago God did not tell people this plan. Now his Spirit has shown it to his holy apostles, the messengers Jesus sent out, and to his prophets, people who told others what God said.

6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

6Here is the plan. Through the good news, Gentiles get the same gifts as Jewish believers. They belong to the same body. They share the same promise in Christ.

7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

7God was kind and made me a servant of this good news. His strong power made me able to do it.

8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

8I am the smallest of all God's people. Even so, God let me do this. I get to tell Gentiles about the riches of Christ, riches too great to count.

Note"Saints" in the old wording means all of God's people, not only special ones.

9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

9God also sent me to help everyone see how his hidden plan works. He kept it hidden with himself since the world began. He made everything through Jesus Christ.

10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

10God wanted the rulers and powers in the heavenly places to learn something now. Through the church, God's people together, they see how wise God is. His wisdom has many sides.

11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

11This was always God's plan, long before the world began. He carried it out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

12Because we belong to Christ and trust him, we can come to God. We can come freely and without fear.

13Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

13So please do not lose heart because I suffer for you. My suffering brings honor to you.

14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

14Because of all this, I kneel down and pray to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

15Every family in heaven and on earth gets its name from him.

16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

16I ask God to use his great riches to help you. I ask that his Spirit make you strong deep inside.

17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

17I ask that Christ will live in your hearts as you trust him. I ask that love will hold you like deep roots hold a tree.

18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

18Then, along with all God's people, you will be able to take it in. You will begin to see how wide and long and deep and high it is.

Note"Comprehend" in the old wording means to take something in or get hold of it in your mind.

19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

19I mean the love of Christ. That love is greater than anyone can ever know. I pray you will be filled with everything God is.

20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

20God is able to do far more than we ask for. He can do far more than we even imagine. His power is at work inside us.

21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

21Let people give him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Let it be so always, forever and ever. Amen.