1 Because of this I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles. 2 I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of the grace of God that was given to me for you. 3 I am writing according to the revelation made known to me. This is the hidden truth about which I briefly wrote to you. 4 When you read about this, you will be able to understand my insight into this hidden truth about Christ. 5 In other generations this truth was not made known to the sons of men. But now it has been revealed by the Spirit to his apostles and prophets who were set apart for this work. 6 This hidden truth is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and they share the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 For I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given to me through the working of his power. 8 This grace was given to me, although I am the least of all the saints, that I should proclaim to the Gentiles the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 so that I will bring to light for everyone the plan—the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. 10 This plan was made known through the church so the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places would come to know the many-sided nature of the wisdom of God. 11 This happened according to the eternal plan that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 For in Christ we have boldness and access with confidence because of our faith in him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to be discouraged because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. 14 For this reason I bend my knees to the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit, who is in you. 17 I pray that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, that you will be rooted and grounded in his love. 18 May you have strength so you can understand, along with all the believers, what is the width, the length, the height, and the depth, 19 and that you may know the love of Christ, which goes beyond knowledge, and that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, according to his power that works in us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians · Unlocked Literal Bible
Ephesians 3 Unlocked Literal Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)