The Stewardship of the Mystery

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles,
2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,
3 that by revelation was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote in brief,
4 by which, when you read, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
6 to the end that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, fellow-body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,
7 of which I became a minister by the gift of that grace of God which was given to me according to the working of his power,
8 to me, the very least of all the saints, was given this grace: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to bring to light for all what is the dispensation of the mystery hidden away in God, who created all things through Christ Jesus,
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God should now be made known through the assembly to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places,
11 according to the eternal purpose which he made in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason 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 may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled unto 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 glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.