Ephesians Chapter 3
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.
2
For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,
3
having abolished in his flesh the enmity,
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even the law of commandments
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contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man,
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so making peace;
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and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
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and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:
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for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.
10
So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
11
being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;
12
in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;
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in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
14
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,—
15
if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;
16
how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,
17
whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;
18
which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
19
to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
20
whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
21
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
For this reason I Paul, prisoner of the Christ Jesus for you nations,
2
(if indeed ye have heard of the administration of the grace ofGod which has been given to me towards you,
3
that by revelation the mystery has been made known to me, (according as I have written before briefly,
4
by which, in reading it, ye can understand my intelligence in the mystery of the Christ,)
5
which in other generations has not been made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in [the power of the] Spirit,
6
that [they who are of] the nations should be joint heirs, and a joint body, and joint partakers of [his] promise in Christ Jesus by the glad tidings;
7
of which I am become minister according to the gift of the grace ofGod given to me, according to the working of his power.
8
To me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ,
9
and to enlighten all [with the knowledge of] what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages inGod, who has created all things,
10
in order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the assembly the all-various wisdom ofGod,
11
according to [the] purpose of the ages, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12
in whom we have boldness and access in confidence by the faith of him.
13
Wherefore I beseech [you] not to faint through my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father [of our Lord Jesus Christ],
15
of whom every family in [the] heavens and on earth is named,
16
in order that he may give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man;
17
that the Christ may dwell, through faith, in your hearts, being rooted and founded in love,
18
in order that ye may be fully able to apprehend with all the saints what [is] the breadth and length and depth and height;
19
and to know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge; that ye may be filled [even] to all the fulness ofGod.
20
But to him that is able to do far exceedingly above all which we ask or think, according to the power which works in us,
21
to him be glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus unto all generations of the age of ages. Amen).
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Huius rei gratia, ego Paulus vinctus Christi Iesu, pro vobis Gentibus,
2
si tamen audistis dispensationem gratiæ Dei, quæ data est mihi in vobis:
3
quoniam secundum revelationem notum mihi factum est sacramentum, sicut supra scripsi in brevi:
4
prout potestis legentes intelligere prudentiam meam in mysterio Christi:
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quod aliis generationibus non est agnitum filiis hominum, sicuti nunc revelatum est sanctis Apostolis eius, et Prophetis in Spiritu,
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Gentes esse coheredes, et concorporales, et comparticipes promissionis eius in Christo Iesu per Evangelium:
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Cuius factus sum minister secundum donum gratiæ Dei, quæ data est mihi secundum operationem virtutis eius.
8
Mihi omnium sanctorum minimo data est gratia hæc, In Gentibus evangelizare investigabiles divitias Christi,
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et illuminare omnes, quæ sit dispensatio sacramenti absconditi a sæculis in Deo, qui omnia creavit.
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ut innotescat principatibus, et potestatibus in cælestibus per Ecclesiam, multiformis sapientia Dei,
11
secundum præfinitionem sæculorum, quam fecit in Christo Iesu Domino nostro:
12
In quo habemus fiduciam, et accessum in confidentia per fidem eius.
13
Propter quod peto ne deficiatis in tribulationibus meis pro vobis: quæ est gloria vestra.
14
Huius rei gratia flecto genua mea ad Patrem Domini nostri Iesu Christi,
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ex quo omnis paternitas in cælis, et in terra nominatur,
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ut det vobis secundum divitias gloriæ suæ, virtute corroborari per Spiritum eius in interiorem hominem,
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Christum habitare per fidem in cordibus vestris: in charitate radicati, et fundati,
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ut possitis comprehendere cum omnibus sanctis, quæ sit latitudo, et longitudo, et sublimitas, et profundum:
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scire etiam supereminentem scientiæ charitatem Christi, ut impleamini in omnem plenitudinem Dei.
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Ei autem, qui potens est omnia facere superabundanter quam petimus, aut intelligimus, secundum virtutem, quæ operatur in nobis:
21
Ipsi gloria in Ecclesia, et in Christo Iesu in omnes generationes sæculi sæculorum. Amen.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles,
2
if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you,
3
how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words,
4
by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ,
5
which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit,
6
that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News,
7
of which I was made a servant according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
8
To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9
and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ,
10
to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places,
11
according to the eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12
In him we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
13
Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.
14
For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16
that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person,
17
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18
may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,
19
and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21
to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
wh1881 (wh1881) - Westcott-Hort Greek NT 1881 eBible USFM
1
τουτου χαριν εγω παυλος ο δεσμιος του χριστου ιησου υπερ υμων των εθνων
2
ει γε ηκουσατε την οικονομιαν της χαριτος του θεου της δοθεισης μοι εις υμας
3
[οτι] κατα αποκαλυψιν εγνωρισθη μοι το μυστηριον καθως προεγραψα εν ολιγω
4
προς ο δυνασθε αναγινωσκοντες νοησαι την συνεσιν μου εν τω μυστηριω του χριστου
5
ο ετεραις γενεαις ουκ εγνωρισθη τοις υιοις των ανθρωπων ως νυν απεκαλυφθη τοις αγιοις αποστολοις αυτου και προφηταις εν πνευματι
6
ειναι τα εθνη συγκληρονομα και συσσωμα και συμμετοχα της επαγγελιας εν χριστω ιησου δια του ευαγγελιου
7
ου εγενηθην διακονος κατα την δωρεαν της χαριτος του θεου της δοθεισης μοι κατα την ενεργειαν της δυναμεως αυτου
8
εμοι τω ελαχιστοτερω παντων αγιων εδοθη η χαρις αυτη τοις εθνεσιν ευαγγελισασθαι το ανεξιχνιαστον πλουτος του χριστου
9
και φωτισαι τις η οικονομια του μυστηριου του αποκεκρυμμενου απο των αιωνων εν τω θεω τω τα παντα κτισαντι
10
ινα γνωρισθη νυν ταις αρχαις και ταις εξουσιαις εν τοις επουρανιοις δια της εκκλησιας η πολυποικιλος σοφια του θεου
11
κατα προθεσιν των αιωνων ην εποιησεν εν τω χριστω ιησου τω κυριω ημων
12
εν ω εχομεν την παρρησιαν και προσαγωγην εν πεποιθησει δια της πιστεως αυτου
13
διο αιτουμαι μη ενκακειν εν ταις θλιψεσιν μου υπερ υμων ητις εστιν δοξα υμων
14
τουτου χαριν καμπτω τα γονατα μου προς τον πατερα
15
εξ ου πασα πατρια εν ουρανοις και επι γης ονομαζεται
16
ινα δω υμιν κατα το πλουτος της δοξης αυτου δυναμει κραταιωθηναι δια του πνευματος αυτου εις τον εσω ανθρωπον
17
κατοικησαι τον χριστον δια της πιστεως εν ταις καρδιαις υμων
18
εν αγαπη ερριζωμενοι και τεθεμελιωμενοι (3:18) ινα εξισχυσητε καταλαβεσθαι συν πασιν τοις αγιοις τι το πλατος και μηκος και υψος και βαθος
19
γνωναι τε την υπερβαλλουσαν της γνωσεως αγαπην του χριστου ινα πληρωθητε εις παν το πληρωμα του θεου
20
τω δε δυναμενω υπερ παντα ποιησαι υπερεκπερισσου ων αιτουμεθα η νοουμεν κατα την δυναμιν την ενεργουμενην εν ημιν
21
αυτω η δοξα εν τη εκκλησια και εν χριστω ιησου εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων αμην
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you the nations,
2
if, indeed, ye did hear of the dispensation of the grace of God that was given to me in regard to you,
3
that by revelation He made known to me the secret, according as I wrote before in few <FI>words<Fi> --
4
in regard to which ye are able, reading <FI>it<Fi> , to understand my knowledge in the secret of the Christ,
5
which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit--
6
that the nations be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in the Christ, through the good news,
7
of which I became a ministrant, according to the gift of the grace of God that was given to me, according to the working of His power;
8
to me--the less than the least of all the saints--was given this grace, among the nations to proclaim good news--the untraceable riches of the Christ,
9
and to cause all to see what <FI>is<Fi> the fellowship of the secret that hath been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ,
10
that there might be made known now to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly <FI>places<Fi> , through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God,
11
according to a purpose of the ages, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12
in whom we have the freedom and the access in confidence through the faith of him,
13
wherefore, I ask <FI>you<Fi> not to faint in my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15
of whom the whole family in the heavens and on earth is named,
16
that He may give to you, according to the riches of His glory, with might to be strengthened through His Spirit, in regard to the inner man,
17
that the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and founded,
18
that ye may be in strength to comprehend, with all the saints, what <FI>is<Fi> the breadth, and length, and depth, and height,
19
to know also the love of the Christ that is exceeding the knowledge, that ye may be filled--to all the fulness of God;
20
and to Him who is able above all things to do exceeding abundantly what we ask or think, according to the power that is working in us,
21
to Him <FI>is<Fi> the glory in the assembly in Christ Jesus, to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).