1 This is why I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of the heathen -- 2 that is, if you have heard how God's favor has been entrusted to me for you, 3 and how by revelation the secret was made known to me, as I have briefly written before. 4 By reading this you will be able to understand my insight into the secret about the Christ -- 5 which in the earlier ages, so different from the present, was not made known to mankind as fully as now, but through the Spirit it has been revealed to His Holy apostles and prophets -- 6 that the heathen through union with Christ Jesus are fellow-heirs with the Jews, are members with them of the same body, and sharers with them of the promise through the good news, 7 for which I was called to serve in accordance with the gift of God's unmerited favor which was bestowed on me by the exercise of His power--
8 yes, on me, the very least of all His people, this unmerited favor was bestowed -- that I might preach as good news to the heathen the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make clear how is to be carried out the trusteeship of this secret which has for ages been hidden away in God, the Creator of all things, 10 so that the many phases of God's wisdom may now through the church be made known to the rulers and authorities in heaven, 11 in accordance with the eternal purpose which God executed in the gift of Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 By union with Him and through faith in Him we have a free and confidential introduction to God. 13 So I beg you not to lose heart over the sorrows that I am suffering for your sake, for they bring you honor.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 and beg Him to grant you, in accordance with the riches of His perfect character, to be mightily strengthened by His Spirit in your inmost being, 17 and that Christ in His love, through your faith, may make His permanent home in your hearts. You must be deeply rooted, your foundations must be strong, 18 so that you with all God's people may be strong enough to grasp the idea of the breadth and length, the height and depth, 19 yes, to come at last to know the love of Christ, although it far surpasses human understanding, so that you may be filled with the perfect fullness of God.
20 To Him who by His power that is at work within us can do surpassingly more than all we ask or imagine, 21 be glory in the church and through Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.