The Mystery of the Gospel

1FOR this cause am I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2if so be, that ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you: 3that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote unto you before briefly; 4wherein when ye read, ye may be able to perceive my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, 5which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it hath been now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6that the Gentiles should be co-heirs, and of the same body, and sharers with them of his promise in Christ by the Gospel: 7of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which was given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8To 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; 9and to make all men see what the communication of that mystery means, which was hid from the beginning in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10that now to the principalities and powers in the heavenly regions, the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church, 11according to the purpose from everlasting, which he formed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12in whom we have boldness and access with confidence to God by the faith of him. 13Wherefore I beseech you, that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians

14For this end I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; 16that he would give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; 17that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that rooted and grounded in love, 18ye may be strengthened to comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth and length, and height and depth; 19and to know the love of Christ, transcendently surpassing knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God.

20Now to him that is able to do above all things, exceeding abundantly, beyond what we ask or think, according to the power which effectually worketh in us; 21to him be glory in the church, in Christ Jesus, unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.