Paul's Mission to the Gentiles
1 Christ Jesus made me his prisoner, so I could help you Gentiles. 2 You have surely heard about God's gift of undeserved grace in choosing me to help you. 3 In fact, this letter tells you a little about how God has shown me his mysterious ways. 4 As you read the letter, you will also find out how well I really do understand the mystery about Christ. 5 No one knew about this mystery until God's Spirit told it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 And the mystery is this: Because of Christ Jesus, the good news has given the Gentiles a share in the promises God gave to the Jews. God has also let the Gentiles be part of the same body.
7 God treated me with kindness. His power worked in me, and it became my job to spread the good news. 8 I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. 9 God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. 10 Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.
11 God did this according to his eternal plan. And he was able to do what he had planned because of all Christ Jesus our Lord had done. 12 Christ now gives us courage and confidence, so we can come to God by faith. 13 This is why you should not be discouraged when I suffer for you. After all, it will bring honor to you.
Christ's Love for Us
14 I kneel in prayer to the Father. 15 All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him. 16 God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18 I pray that you and all God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. 19 I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.
20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.
1 For this cause, I Paul am the prisoner of Iesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye haue heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which is giuen me to you warde, 3 That is, that God by reuelation hath shewed this mysterie vnto me (as I wrote aboue in fewe wordes, 4 Whereby when ye reade, ye may knowe mine vnderstanding in the mysterie of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not opened vnto the sonnes of men, as it is nowe reueiled vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit, 6 That the Gentiles should be inheriters also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel, 7 Whereof I am made a minister by the gift of the grace of God giuen vnto me through the effectuall working of his power. 8 Euen vnto me the least of all Saints is this grace giuen, that I should preach among the Gentiles the vnsearchable riches of Christ, 9 And to make cleare vnto all men what the fellowship of the mysterie is, which from the beginning of the world hath bene hid in God, who hath created all things by Iesus Christ, 10 To the intent, that nowe vnto principalities and powers in heauenly places, might be knowen by the Church the manifolde wisedome of God, 11 According to the eternall purpose, which he wrought in Christ Iesus our Lord: 12 By whom we haue boldenes and entrance with confidence, by faith in him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for your sakes, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bowe my knees vnto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, 15 (Of whom is named the whole familie in heauen and in earth) 16 That he might graunt you according to the riches of his glorie, that ye may be strengthened by his Spirit in the inner man, 17 That Christ may dwell in your heartes by faith: 18 That ye, being rooted and grounded in loue, may be able to comprehend with al Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: 19 And to knowe the loue of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all fulnesse of God. 20 Vnto him therefore that is able to do exceeding aboundantly aboue all that we aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in vs, 21 Be praise in the Church by Christ Iesus, throughout all generations for euer, Amen.