¹I, Paul, am in prison because of my work on behalf of you Gentiles. That’s how I’m serving Christ Jesus.

²I’m sure you’ve heard how God gave me a special work to do

³by revealing a mystery to me. I’ve written about this just a little.

^4-5-6The mystery is that because of the good news, Gentiles can also receive what God promised to the Jews. Both groups can be part of the same body, and in Christ Jesus, both share in the promise. So by reading this, you’ll be able to recognize the insight I have into the mystery of Christ. It wasn’t made known to people of other times the way the Spirit has now revealed it to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

⁷I became a servant of this good news through the gift of God’s grace. It came through his power, which was at work in me.

⁸I’m less than the least of all the Lord’s people. But he gave me the grace to preach to the Gentiles about the unlimited riches that Christ gives.

⁹God has enabled me to explain to everyone how this mystery has become a reality. In times past it was kept hidden in the mind of God, who created all things.

¹⁰But now God wants the rulers and authorities in the heavenly world to recognize his great wisdom, and he’s using the church to let them see it.

¹¹That was God’s plan from the beginning, and he has fulfilled it through Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹²Through him and through faith in him we can approach God freely and confidently.

¹³So here’s what I’m asking you to do: Don’t be discouraged that I’m suffering for you, because these sufferings are actually an honor for you.

¹⁴Because of this I bow in prayer to the Father,

¹⁵from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.

¹⁶I pray that he will use his glorious riches to make you strong with power from his Spirit deep inside of you.

¹⁷Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him. And I pray that your love will have deep roots and a strong foundation.

¹⁸May you have power together with all the Lord’s people to understand how wide and long and high and deep Christ’s love is.

¹⁹And may you know his love, even though it can’t be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you.

²⁰God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by his power that is at work in us.

²¹So may he receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, in every generation, forever and ever! Amen.