New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
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For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles,
2 for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you,
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If that ordering of the grace of God has come to your knowledge, which was given to me for you,
3 and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words,
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How by revelation the secret was made clear to me, as I said before in a short letter,
4 a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.
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By the reading of which you will be clear about my knowledge of the secret of Christ;
5 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:
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Which in other generations was not given to the sons of men, but the revelation of it has now been made to his holy Apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
6 that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
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Which is that the Gentiles have a part in the heritage, and in the same body, and in the same hope in Christ through the good news,
7 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.
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Of which I was made a preacher, through that grace of God which was given to me in the measure of the working of his power.
8 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,
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To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, was this grace given, so that I might make clear to the Gentiles the good news of the unending wealth of Christ:
9 and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things;
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And make all men see what is the ordering of the secret which from the first has been kept in God who made all things;
10 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.
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So that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavens might be made clear through the church the wide-shining wisdom of God,
11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,
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Which is seen in his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.
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By whom we come near to God without fear through faith in him.
13 I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.
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For this reason it is my prayer that you may not become feeble because of my troubles for you, which are your glory.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
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For this cause I go down on my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.
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From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 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,
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That in the wealth of his glory he would make you strong with power through his Spirit in your hearts;
17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
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So that Christ may have his place in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and based in love,
18 I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
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May have strength to see with all the saints how wide and long and high and deep it is,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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And to have knowledge of the love of Christ which is outside all knowledge, so that you may be made complete as God himself is complete.
20 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,
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Now to him who is able to do in full measure more than all our desires or thoughts, through the power which is working in us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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To him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations for ever and ever. So be it.
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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.