1 With all this in mind, I, Paul, a prisoner because of my service to Messiah Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard about the stewardship, that is, the God-given assignment and authority, that was freely entrusted to me for your sake, 3 how it was by revelation that the mystery was made known to me, in accordance with what I have discussed above in brief. 4 When reading this, you will be able to perceive my understanding in the mystery about the Messiah, 5 which in previous generations was not made known to mankind as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 namely, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body and fellow sharers in the promise in union with Messiah Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I became a servant because of God’s gracious choice to commission me and put his power to work through me. 8 It was to me, the very least of all the Lord’s holy people,+ that this assignment was graciously entrusted: The task of proclaiming the unfathomable riches of the Messiah to the \it Gentiles, 9 and bringing light to all peoples concerning God’s plan of salvation, the mystery kept hidden for ages in the mind of God, who is of all things the Creator, 10 so that there may now be made known to the rulers and the authorities among the heavenly ones, through the assembly, the wisdom of God in all its many different colors, 11 according to the plan of the ages, which he accomplished in the Messiah, Jesus our Lord, 12 in union with whom we have the right to come before God confidently and without fear through his faith.+ 13 That is why I ask God to keep me from giving up in the midst of the trials and suffering I go through for your benefit, sufferings that mean glory for you.

14 With all this in mind, I kneel in prayer before the Father, 15 from whom is named every family in the heavens and on the earth, 16 asking him to strengthen you, out of the riches of his glory, with power, through his Spirit in the inner person, 17 that the Messiah would dwell, through faith, so deeply in your minds and hearts that you are in love well rooted and firmly established. 18 I pray that you would be able to fully understand, together with all the Lord’s holy people, the width and length and height and depth of his wisdom and riches,+ 19 and to know the love of the Messiah that indeed surpasses knowledge, and that you would be filled completely with the life and nature of God.

20 Now to the one who is able to do, according to the power that is at work within us, so much more than anything we can ask or imagine— 21 to him be the glory in the assembly and in Messiah Jesus to all generations, into the age of the ages. Amen.