Study Desk

For this reason I, Paul, ^(C1)the prisoner of ^(C2)Christ Jesus ^(C3)for the sake of you ^(C4)Gentiles—

if indeed you have heard of the ^(C1)administration of God's grace which was given to me for you;

^(C1)that ^(C2)by revelation there was ^(C3)made known to me ^(C4)the mystery, ^(C5)as I wrote before briefly.

^(F1)By referring to this, when you read you can understand ^(C1)my insight ^(F2)into the ^(C2)mystery of Christ,

which in other generations was not made known to ^(F1)mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy ^(C1)apostles and prophets ^(F2)in the Spirit;

to be specific, that the Gentiles are ^(C1)fellow heirs and ^(C2)fellow members of the body, and ^(C3)fellow partakers of the promise in ^(C4)Christ Jesus through the gospel,

^(C1)of which I was made a ^(C2)minister, according to the gift of ^(C3)God's grace which was given to me ^(C4)according to the working of His power.

To me, ^(C1)the very least of all ^(F1)saints, this grace was given, to ^(C2)preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable ^(C3)riches of Christ,

and to ^(F1)enlighten all people as to what the plan of the ^(C1)mystery is which for ages has been ^(C2)hidden in God, ^(C3)who created all things;

so that the multifaceted ^(C1)wisdom of God might now be ^(C2)made known through the church to the ^(C3)rulers and the authorities in ^(C4)the heavenly places.

This was in ^(C1)accordance with the ^(F1)eternal purpose which He ^(F2)carried out in ^(C2)Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whom we have boldness and ^(F1)(C1)confident ^(C2)access through faith ^(F2)in Him.

Therefore I ask ^(F1)you not ^(C1)to become discouraged about my tribulations ^(C2)in your behalf, ^(F2)since they are your glory.

For this reason I ^(C1)bend my knees before the Father,

from whom ^(F1)every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

that He would grant you, according to ^(C1)the riches of His glory, to be ^(C2)strengthened with power through His Spirit in ^(C3)the inner ^(F1)self,

so that ^(C1)Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being ^(C2)rooted and ^(C3)grounded in love,

may be able to comprehend with ^(C1)all the ^(F1)saints what is ^(C2)the width and length and height and depth,

and to know ^(C1)the love of Christ which ^(C2)surpasses knowledge, that you may be ^(C3)filled to all the ^(C4)fullness of God.

^(C1)Now to Him who is ^(C2)able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, ^(C3)according to the power that works within us,

^(C1)to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^(F1)forever and ever. Amen.