For this reason because I preach that you and believing Jews are joint heirs I, Paul, am athe prisoner of bChrist Jesus con behalf of you dGentiles—Acts 23:18; Eph 4:1; 2 Tim 1:8; Philem 1, 9, 23Gal 5:242 Cor 1:6; Eph 3:13Eph 3:8 2 assuming that you have heard of the astewardship of God’s grace that was entrusted to me to share with you for your benefit;Eph 1:10; 3:9; Col 1:25; 1 Tim 1:4 3 and athat bby divine revelation cthe mystery was dmade known to me, eas I have already written in brief. Eph 1:9Acts 22:17, 21; 26:16ffGal 1:12Rom 11:25; 16:25; Eph 3:4, 9; 6:19; Col 1:26f; 4:3Eph 1:9; 3:4, 6, 9Eph 1:9f; Heb 13:22; 1 Pet 5:12 4 By referring to this, when you read it you can understand amy insight into the bmystery of Christ,2 Cor 11:6Rom 11:25; 16:25; Eph 3:3, 9; 6:19; Col 1:26f; 4:3 5 which in other generations was not disclosed to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy aapostles and prophets by the Holy Spirit;1 Cor 12:28; Eph 2:20 6 it is this: that the Gentiles are now ajoint heirs with the Jews and bmembers of the same body, and cjoint partakers sharing in the same divine promise in dChrist Jesus through their faith in the good news of salvation.Gal 3:29Eph 2:16Eph 5:7Gal 5:24 7 aOf this gospel I was made a bminister by the gift of cGod’s grace given me dthrough the working of His power.Col 1:23, 251 Cor 3:5Acts 9:15; Rom 12:3; Eph 3:2Eph 1:19; 3:20 8 To me, though I am athe very least of all the saints , this grace which is undeserved was graciously given, to bproclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the incomprehensible criches of Christ that spiritual wealth which no one can fully understand,1 Cor 15:9Acts 9:15; Eph 3:1fRom 2:4; Eph 1:7; 3:16 9 and to make plain to everyone the plan of the amystery regarding the uniting of believing Jews and Gentiles into one body which until now was kept bhidden through the ages in the mind of God cwho created all things.Rom 11:25; 16:25; Eph 3:3, 4; 6:19; Col 1:26f; 4:3Col 3:3Rev 4:11 10 So now through the church the multifaceted awisdom of God in all its countless aspects might now be bmade known revealing the mystery to the angelic crulers and authorities in dthe heavenly places.Rom 11:33; 1 Cor 2:7Eph 1:23; 1 Pet 1:12Eph 1:21; 6:12; Col 2:10, 15Eph 1:3 11 This is in aaccordance with the terms of the eternal purpose which He carried out in bChrist Jesus our Lord,Eph 1:11Gal 5:24; Eph 3:1 12 in whom we have boldness and aconfident baccess through faith in Him that is, our faith gives us sufficient courage to freely and openly approach God through Christ.2 Cor 3:4; Heb 4:16; 10:19, 35; 1 John 2:28; 3:21Eph 2:18 13 So I ask you not ato lose heart at my sufferings bon your behalf, for they are your glory and honor.2 Cor 4:1Eph 3:1
14 For this reason grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ I abow my knees in reverence before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,Phil 2:10 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth 1derives its name God—the first and ultimate Father.In Greek, the word for family is patria, which is derived from pater, the word for “father.” The concept of family originates with God. 16 May He grant you out of athe riches of His glory, to be bstrengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in cyour inner self, indwelling your innermost being and personality,Eph 1:18; 3:81 Cor 16:13; Phil 4:13; Col 1:11Rom 7:22 17 so that aChrist may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been deeply brooted and securely cgrounded in love,John 14:23; Rom 8:9f; 2 Cor 13:5; Eph 2:221 Cor 3:6; Col 2:7Col 1:23 18 be fully capable of comprehending with aall the saints bthe width and length and height and depth of His love fully experiencing that amazing, endless love;Eph 1:15Job 11:8f 19 and that you may come to know practically, through personal experience athe love of Christ which far bsurpasses mere knowledge without experience, that you may be cfilled up throughout your being to all the dfullness of God so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself.Rom 8:35, 39Phil 4:7Col 2:10Eph 1:23
20 aNow to Him who is bable to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams, caccording to His power that is at work within us,Rom 16:252 Cor 9:8Eph 3:7 21 ato Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.Rom 11:36