Ephesians 3:1-13 - The Mystery Of Christ Revealed
1 This it is that makes me Paul a prisoner for Jesus Christ upon your account, O Gentiles; 2 if so be you have heard of the charge, which God has graciously dispens'd to me for you Gentiles; 3 having revealed to me the secret, I now mention'd in short, 4 by the reading whereof you may perceive how far I am let into the secret of Christ. 5 which preceeding was not discover'd to men, as now it is to his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; to wit, 6 "that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel." 7 of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence:
8 upon me, who am the meanest of all christians, is this favour bestowed, that I should proclaim to the Gentiles the undiscoverable advantages by Christ; 9 and display to all the world that mysterious dispensation, which from all past ages has been conceal'd in the secret purpose of God, who created all things: 10 that the manifold wisdom of God, in ordering his heavenly kingdom, might by his church be now made known, to princes and magistrates, 11 in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 by whom we have freedom of access to God, with confidence, by faith in him. 13 Wherefore I desire that you be not dejected at the tribulations I am under for your sake, which are matter of glory to you.