Ephesians Chapter 3 in Simple English

Updated on October 1, 2026

Read Ephesians Chapter 3

1For this reason I, Paul, am the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.

2You must have heard how God gave me the work of bringing his grace to you.

3God showed me the secret by a revelation. I wrote about it a little while ago in a few words.

4When you read them, you can understand what I know about the secret of Christ.

5In other ages this secret was not made known to people, but now the Spirit has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

6The secret is this: through the gospel the Gentiles share the same inheritance, belong to the same body, and share in his promise in Christ.

7I was made a servant of this gospel, by the gift of the grace of God that was given to me through the powerful working of his power.

8I am less than the least of all God's holy people, yet this grace was given to me: to preach among the Gentiles the riches of Christ, riches no one can measure,

9and to make everyone see how the secret works out. From the beginning of the world it was hidden in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

10His purpose was that now, through the church, the rulers and powers in the heavenly places should come to know the many-sided wisdom of God.

11This was his eternal purpose, which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12In him, and through faith in him, we may come to God boldly and with confidence.

13So I ask you not to lose heart because of the troubles I suffer for you. They are your glory.

14For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15Every family in heaven and on earth is named after him.

16I pray that out of the riches of his glory he will grant you to be made strong with power by his Spirit in your inner being,

17so that Christ may live in your hearts by faith. I pray that you may have your roots and your foundation in love,

18so that you may be able to understand, with all God's holy people, how wide and long and deep and high it is,

19and to know the love of Christ, which is greater than knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do far more than everything we ask or think, by the power that works in us,

21to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus through all ages, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Explanation

Ephesians 3

In short

Paul tells the Gentile readers that God has revealed a mystery kept secret for ages: that non-Jewish people are now full members of God's family alongside Jews, through faith in Christ. He then prays that they will experience the strength and love of Christ deeply and be filled with God's presence.

Context

Paul is writing to Christians at Ephesus, both Jewish and Gentile believers. In chapter 2, he explained how Christ broke down the wall between Jews and Gentiles. Now he develops this further by revealing God's long-hidden plan. Paul calls himself a prisoner because he is imprisoned for preaching this gospel to Gentiles. Everything in this chapter flows from that central announcement.

What the text says

Verses 1-7: Paul introduces himself as a prisoner for the sake of the Gentile readers and refers to his commission. God revealed to him a mystery (verse 3) that he had touched on briefly in writing before (verse 4). This mystery, kept secret in previous ages (verse 5), is now made clear: Gentiles are "fellowheirs" and "of the same body" and sharers in God's promise through Christ and the gospel (verse 6). Paul became a minister of this message through God's gift and power (verse 7).

Verses 8-10: Paul, describing himself as the least of all saints, received grace to preach Christ's "unsearchable riches" to Gentiles and to show everyone the fellowship of this mystery. This mystery was hidden since the world's creation but is now revealed through the church to spiritual powers (verse 10).

Verses 11-12: All this fits God's eternal purpose in Christ, giving believers "boldness and access" through faith in him.

Verses 13-19: Paul prays for the readers. He bows his knees to the Father (verse 14) and asks that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith (verse 17) and that they comprehend with all believers the dimensions of Christ's love (verse 18), which surpasses knowledge, so they are filled with God's fullness (verse 19).

Verses 20-21: The passage closes with a doxology, giving glory to God, who can do far beyond what we ask or think, through the church and Christ Jesus forever.

Takeaways

The revelation that Gentiles are full members of God's family was hidden through history but is now unveiled through the gospel.
Paul's imprisonment itself is framed as service on behalf of Gentile believers, not as failure or punishment.
The prayer reveals what Paul hopes for his readers: deep experience of Christ's presence and love, and growth into God's fullness.

Ephesians 3 - Simple English