The hidden Congregation is now revealed
1 This is why I, Paul, am a prisoner of Christ Jesus, for the sake of the other nations. 2 Surely you have heard of the detailed plan of God’s favor to me for your sakes. 3 He revealed the secret to me, as I wrote to you briefly before. 4 By reading what I wrote about that, you are able to grasp my full understanding of the secret of Christ. 5 It was not revealed to people in other generations but now is revealed in spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 This secret is that the other nations would be joint-heirs, of the same body, sharing in the promise of Christ Jesus through the good news.
7 I was appointed to present this secret according to the gift of God’s favor, a gift granted to me by his power. 8 This favor was given to me, though I am lower than the lowest of the holy ones, to bring the other nations the good news of Christ’s unfathomable riches, 9 and to make one and all see the detailed secret plan that God, who created everything, kept hidden for ages. 10 Now, by means of the Congregation, the celestial rulers and authorities can know the multi-faceted wisdom of God, 11 whose purpose from the ages was to make Christ Jesus our Master. 12 Because of our faith in him, we can approach God boldly and confidently.
Prayer for the Ephesian believers
13 I say all of that so you will not be discouraged over my suffering for you; it is in your honor. 14 For this reason I humble myself before the Father, 15 for whom all people groups in heaven and earth are named. 16 I ask that from his rich supply of honor he may empower you through his Spirit, 17 so that Christ may live within you by the faith in your hearts. Being rooted and founded in love, I pray 18 that you will be strong and that you will grasp, along with all the other holy ones, the width and length and height and depth of Christ’s love, 19 a love that is really beyond us. Then you will be entirely filled with God.
20 Now all honor belongs to the One who is able to do extravagantly more than we ask or imagine by his power operating in us, 21 the Congregation of Christ Jesus, for all generations and endless ages, absolutely!