1 By reason of this grace, I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles. 2 Now certainly, you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which has been given to me among you: 3 that, by means of revelation, the mystery was made known to me, just as I have written above in a few words. 4 Yet, by reading this closely, you might be able to understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ. 5 In other generations, this was unknown to the sons of men, even as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit, 6 so that the Gentiles would be co-heirs, and of the same body, and partners together, by his promise in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel. 7 Of this Gospel, I have been made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which has been given to me by means of the operation of his virtue. 8 Although I am the least of all the saints, I have been given this grace: to evangelize among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to enlighten everyone concerning the dispensation of the mystery, hidden before the ages in God who created all things, 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God may become well-known to the principalities and powers in the heavens, through the Church, 11 according to that timeless purpose, which he has formed in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him we trust, and so we approach with confidence, through his faith. 13 Because of this, I ask you not to be weakened by my tribulations on your behalf; for this is your glory. 14 By reason of this grace, I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom all paternity in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16 And I ask him to grant to you to be strengthened in virtue by his Spirit, in accord with the wealth of his glory, in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may live in your hearts through a faith rooted in, and founded on, charity. 18 So may you be able to embrace, with all the saints, what is the width and length and height and depth 19 of the charity of Christ, and even be able to know that which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do all things, more abundantly than we could ever ask or understand, by means of the virtue which is at work in us: 21 to him be glory, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout every generation, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians · Catholic Public Domain Version
Ephesians 3 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
Cross references (21)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Colossians 1:24; 2 Timothy 1:8; Ephesians 4:1; Ephesians 6:20; Philippians 1:13–16
- 2 1 Timothy 1:11; Colossians 1:25–27; Galatians 1:15–16; Romans 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:11
- 3 Galatians 1:12; Romans 16:25; Ephesians 1:9–11; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26–27
- 4 Colossians 4:3; 2 Corinthians 11:6; 1 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 2:6–7; Colossians 2:2
- 5 1 Peter 1:10–12; 2 Peter 3:2; Jude 17; Titus 1:1–3; Ephesians 2:20
- 6 Galatians 3:26–29; Galatians 3:14; Romans 8:15–17; 1 John 1:3; 1 John 2:25
- 7 Ephesians 1:19; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 3:2; Ephesians 3:20; Hebrews 13:21
- 8 1 Corinthians 15:9; Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 1:13; Ephesians 3:16; Ephesians 2:7
- 9 Colossians 1:26; Matthew 13:35; 2 Timothy 1:9; Colossians 3:3; Hebrews 3:3–4
- 10 1 Peter 1:12; Ephesians 6:12; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 1:3
- 11 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 9:11; Isaiah 46:10–11
- 12 Ephesians 2:18; Romans 5:2; Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 10:19–22; John 14:6
- 13 2 Thessalonians 3:13; Colossians 1:24; Isaiah 40:30–31; 2 Corinthians 1:6; Philippians 1:12–14
- 14 Ephesians 1:16–19; Psalm 95:6; Philippians 2:10; Acts 21:5; Ephesians 1:3
- 15 Ephesians 1:10; Revelation 5:8–14; Ephesians 1:21; Revelation 2:17; Jeremiah 33:16
- 16 Colossians 1:11; Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 40:29–31; Isaiah 41:10; Zechariah 10:12
- 17 Colossians 2:7; John 14:23; 1 John 4:16; Galatians 2:20; Romans 5:5
- 18 Psalm 103:11–12; Job 11:7–9; Ephesians 1:18–23; John 15:13; Ephesians 3:19
- 19 Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 2:9–10; Colossians 1:10; 1 John 4:9–14; 2 Corinthians 5:14
- 20 2 Corinthians 9:8; Romans 4:21; Jeremiah 32:27; 1 Corinthians 2:9; Jude 24
- 21 Jude 25; Romans 11:36; 2 Peter 3:18; Revelation 7:12–17; 1 Peter 5:11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
We relate how it came to pass,--she leapeth for joy, and triumpheth, and blesseth Thee, who art "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think; for she perceived Thee to have given her more for me than she used to ask by her pitiful and most doleful groanings.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… we also say like the Apostle, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation: and, We bow our knees unto the Father from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named: glorifying Him with the Only-begotten: for he that denieth the Father, denieth the Son …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… Ghost, which is given unto us;" and where, "concerning spiritual gifts," he teacheth and showeth unto us a more excellent way of charity; and where he bows his knees unto Thee for us, that we may know the super-eminent knowledge of the love of Christ. And, therefore, from the beginning was He super-eminently "borne above the waters." To whom shall …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… says, For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you; and again Paul saith, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father, and the rest;...that He would grant you to be strengthened by His Spirit.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
Now this is a meek and lowly herb, and yet nothing is stronger and more penetrating than its roots; that being rooted and grounded in love, we may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, --that is, to comprehend the cross of our Lord, the breadth of which is indicated …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)