Ephesians 3 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

The Mystery of the Gospel Revealed

Eph 3:1

Eph 3:1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—

Eph 3:2

Eph 3:2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

Eph 3:3

Eph 3:3how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.

Eph 3:4

Eph 3:4When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ,

Eph 3:5

Eph 3:5which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Eph 3:6

Eph 3:6This mystery is[fn] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Eph 3:7

Eph 3:7Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

Eph 3:8

Eph 3:8To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Eph 3:9

Eph 3:9and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[fn] God, who created all things,

Eph 3:10

Eph 3:10so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Eph 3:11

Eph 3:11This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Eph 3:12

Eph 3:12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Eph 3:13

Eph 3:13So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

Eph 3:14

Eph 3:14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

Eph 3:15

Eph 3:15from whom every family[fn] in heaven and on earth is named,

Eph 3:16

Eph 3:16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Eph 3:17

Eph 3:17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Eph 3:18

Eph 3:18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

Eph 3:19

Eph 3:19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph 3:20

Eph 3:20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Eph 3:21

Eph 3:21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(3:6)

The words This mystery is are inferred from verse 4

(3:9)

Or by

(3:15)

Or from whom all fatherhood; the Greek word patria in verse 15 is closely related to the word for Father in verse 14

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.