1WITH THIS IN MIND I make my prayer, I, Paul, who in the cause of you Gentiles am now the prisoner of Christ Jesus— 2for surely you have heard how God has assigned the gift of his grace to me for your benefit. 3It was by a revelation that his secret was made known to me. I have already written a brief account of this, 4and by reading it you may perceive that I understand the secret of Christ. 5In former generations this was not disclosed to the human race; but now it has been revealed by inspiration to his dedicated apostles and prophets, 6that through the Gospel the Gentiles are joint heirs with the Jews, part of the same body, sharers together in the promise made in Christ Jesus. 7Such is the gospel of which I was made a minister, by God's gift, bestowed unmerited on me in the working of his power. 8To me, who am less than the least of all God's people, he has granted of his grace the privilege of proclaiming to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9and of bringing to light how this hidden purpose was to be put into effect. It was hidden for long ages in God the creator of the universe, 10in order that now, through the church, the wisdom of God in all its varied forms might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the realms of heaven. 11This is in accord with his age-long purpose, which he achieved in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him we have access to God with freedom, in the confidence born of trust in him. 13I beg you, then, not to lose heart over my sufferings for you: indeed, they are your glory.
14With this in mind, then, I kneel in prayer to the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, 16that out of the treasures of his glory he may grant you strength and power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17that through faith Christ may dwell in your hearts in love. With deep roots and firm foundations, 18may you be strong to grasp, with all God's people, what is the breadth and length and height and depth 19of the love of Christ, and to know it, though it is beyond knowledge. So may you attain to fullness of being, the fullness of God himself.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, by the power which is at work among us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus from generation to generation evermore! Amen.
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