Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 This is why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ for you Gentiles.
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This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 You've heard, of course, about the responsibility to distribute God's grace, which God gave to me for you, right?
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for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you,
3 God showed me his secret plan in a revelation, as I mentioned briefly before (
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and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words,
4 when you read this, you'll understand my insight into the secret plan about Christ).
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a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.
5 Earlier generations didn't know this hidden plan that God has now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets through the Spirit.
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In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:
6 This plan is that the Gentiles would be coheirs and parts of the same body, and that they would share with the Jews in the promises of God in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
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that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
7 I became a servant of the gospel because of the grace that God showed me through the exercise of his power.
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Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power.
8 God gave his grace to me, the least of all God's people, to preach the good news about the immeasurable riches of Christ to the Gentiles.
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Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,
9 God sent me to reveal the secret plan that had been hidden since the beginning of time by God, who created everything.
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and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;
10 God's purpose is now to show the rulers and powers in the heavens the many different varieties of his wisdom through the church.
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so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
11 This was consistent with the plan he had from the beginning of time that he accomplished through Christ Jesus our Lord.
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This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 In Christ we have bold and confident access to God through faith in him.
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in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
13 So then, I ask you not to become discouraged by what I'm suffering for you, which is your glory.
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I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
14 This is why I kneel before the Father.
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For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him.
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from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
16 I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit.
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I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,
17 I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love,
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and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
18 I ask that you'll have the power to grasp love's width and length, height and depth, together with all believers.
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I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 I ask that you'll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God.
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and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us;
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Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,
21 glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen.
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to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.