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For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...(a)
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Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
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that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
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In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
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which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
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This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
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I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
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Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
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and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship (b) of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
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His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
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according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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In Him and through faith in Him (c) we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
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So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
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... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,(d)
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from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
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I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
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so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
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will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
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of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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Now to Him who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
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to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Footnotes