Paul’s Stewardship

1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. 4[a]By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight [b]into the mystery of Christ, 5which in other generations was not made known to [c]mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets [d]in the Spirit; 6to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. 8To me, the very least of all [e]saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9and to [f]enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11This was in accordance with the [g]eternal purpose which He [h]carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12in whom we have boldness and [i]confident access through faith [j]in Him. 13Therefore I ask [k]you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, [l]since they are your glory.

14For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15from whom [m]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner [n]self, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may be able to comprehend with all the [o]saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

20Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations [p]forever and ever. Amen.