1 For this reason I, Paul, *ch. 4:1;Acts 23:18;Phil. 1:7;[ch. 6:20] a prisoner of Christ Jesus *ver. 13;Col. 1:24on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of *ch. 1:10;Col. 1:25;1 Tim. 1:4the stewardship of *ver. 7;ch. 4:7;See Acts 11:23;Rom. 1:5God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 *Acts 22:17,21;26:16-18how the mystery was made known to me *[Dan. 2:29]; See Rom. 16:25;2 Cor. 12:1by revelation, *[ch. 1:9,10]as I have written briefly. 4 *[2 Cor. 11:6] When you read this, you can perceive my insight into *Col. 4:3the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is*3:6 The words This mystery is are inferred from verse 4 that the Gentiles are *See Gal. 3:29fellow heirs, *ch. 2:16members of the same body, and *ch. 5:7partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7 *Col. 1:23,25Of this gospel I was made *See 2 Cor. 3:6a minister according to the gift of *See ver. 2God’s grace, which was given me *[ver. 20]; See ch. 1:19by the working of his power. 8 To me, *See 1 Cor. 15:9though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, *See Acts 9:15to preach to the Gentiles the *[Job 5:9;Rom. 11:33]unsearchable *See ch. 1:18;Rom. 2:4riches of Christ, 9 and *See ver. 2, 3to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery *Col. 1:26hidden for ages in*3:9 Or by God, *Rev. 4:11;[ch. 2:10]who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold *Rom. 11:33wisdom of God *[1 Pet. 1:12] might now be made known to *ch. 1:21;[ch. 6:12]the rulers and authorities *See ch. 1:3in the heavenly places. 11 This was *See ch. 1:11according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have *Heb. 4:16;10:19boldness and *See ch. 2:18access with *2 Cor. 3:4confidence through our *Mark 11:22;Phil. 3:9faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering *ver. 1for you, *[2 Cor. 1:6]which is your glory.

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom *See ch. 1:10,21every family*3:15 Or from whom all fatherhood; the Greek word patria in verse 15 is closely related to the word for Father in verse 14 in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to *See ver. 8the riches of his glory *1 Cor. 16:13;[ch. 6:10;Phil. 4:13;Col. 1:11]he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit *See Rom. 7:22in your inner being, 17 *[ch. 2:22]so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being *Col. 2:7rooted and *Col. 1:23grounded in love, 18 may have strength to *[John 1:5]comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and *Rom. 8:39;[Job 11:8,9]height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ *[Phil. 4:7]that surpasses knowledge, that *Col. 2:10you may be filled with all *ch. 1:23the fullness of God.

20 *Rom. 16:25;Jude 24Now to *[2 Cor. 9:8]him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, *[ver. 7]according to the power at work within us, 21 *See Rom. 11:36to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.