Common English Bible CEB
Revised Standard Version RSV
1 This is why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ for you Gentiles.
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For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf 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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assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you,
3 God showed me his secret plan in a revelation, as I mentioned briefly before (
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how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.
4 when you read this, you'll understand my insight into the secret plan about Christ).
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When you read this you can perceive my insight into 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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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 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, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of 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 was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace which 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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To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable 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 all men 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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that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers 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 according to the eternal purpose which he has realized 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 boldness and confidence of access through our 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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So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is 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 is named,
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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that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man,
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; that you, 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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may have 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 which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness 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 do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
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, for ever and ever. Amen.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.