Updated on

Read Ephesians Chapter 3

Up and down arrows move from one verse to the next.

1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8Unto 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 is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

You are readingKing James Version

Explanation

Ephesians 3

In short

Paul writes about a secret that God kept hidden for ages but has now made known: that non-Jewish people are now included as full members of God's family through Jesus Christ. He then prays for his readers to understand how much Christ loves them and to be filled with God's presence.

What the text says

Verses 1-2 introduce Paul as a prisoner writing to Gentiles about God's grace. Verses 3-5 explain that God revealed to Paul a mystery that was hidden in earlier ages: that this mystery is now known through the apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Verse 6 states the core of this mystery: Gentiles are now "fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." Verses 7-9 explain that Paul was given the job of making this mystery known to non-Jews, so that all people would understand "the fellowship of the mystery." Verses 10-11 say the purpose is for spiritual powers in heaven to learn God's wisdom through the church, according to God's eternal plan in Christ.

Verses 12 shows confidence comes through faith. Verse 13 asks readers not to lose heart because of Paul's suffering. Verses 14-21 contain Paul's prayer for them: he prays that God would strengthen them inwardly through the Spirit, that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith, that they would understand the greatness of Christ's love (described in four dimensions: breadth, length, depth, height), and that they would be filled with God's fullness. Verses 20-21 close with praise to God's power.

Takeaways

  • A hidden plan to include non-Jewish believers as full members of God's family has been revealed through the gospel.
  • Paul's prayer shows that spiritual growth comes through the Spirit's strength and trust in Christ dwelling in the heart.
  • God is praised as able to do far more than what people ask for or can imagine.

Explanation written with the help of AI. The Bible text above is not changed. Context and interpretation are flagged as such; always come back to the text itself.