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Ephesians 3

Paul begins to pray ("For this cause I, Paul...") but breaks off to explain himself, and the digression becomes the chapter. He describes the "mystery" entrusted to him: that Gentiles are "fellow heirs" with Israel — a secret hidden for ages, now disclosed. He calls himself "the very least of all saints" and writes as a prisoner. Watch how he reframes his chains (verse 13) not as defeat but as something for the readers' glory, before the prayer finally arrives.

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Ephesians 3 (WEB)

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.

Efésios 3 (WPB)

1
Por esta causa eu, Paulo, sou prisioneiro de Cristo Jesus em favor de vocês, gentios,
2
se é que vocês ouviram falar da administração da graça de Deus que me foi dada em favor de vocês,
3
como por revelação o mistério me foi dado a conhecer, conforme escrevi antes em poucas palavras,
4
pelo qual, ao lerem isso, vocês podem perceber a minha compreensão do mistério de Cristo,
5
o qual em outras gerações não foi dado a conhecer aos filhos dos homens, como agora foi revelado aos seus santos apóstolos e profetas no Espírito,
6
que os gentios são coerdeiros, membros do mesmo corpo e coparticipantes da sua promessa em Cristo Jesus por meio do Evangelho,
7
do qual me tornei servo de acordo com o dom da graça de Deus que me foi dada segundo a operação do seu poder.
8
A mim, o menor de todos os santos, foi dada esta graça de pregar aos gentios as insondáveis riquezas de Cristo,
9
e de fazer com que todos vejam qual é a administração do mistério que durante as eras esteve oculto em Deus, que criou todas as coisas por meio de Jesus Cristo,
10
com o propósito de que agora, por meio da igreja, a multiforme sabedoria de Deus seja tornada conhecida aos principados e às autoridades nas regiões celestiais,
11
de acordo com o propósito eterno que ele realizou em Cristo Jesus, nosso Senhor.
12
Nele temos ousadia e acesso com confiança, por meio da nossa fé nele.
13
Portanto, peço que vocês não desanimem por causa das minhas tribulações em favor de vocês, as quais são a glória de vocês.
14
Por esta causa, dobro os meus joelhos diante do Pai de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo,
15
de quem toda família nos céus e na terra recebe o nome,
16
para que ele lhes conceda, de acordo com as riquezas da sua glória, que vocês sejam fortalecidos com poder por meio do seu Espírito no ser interior,
17
para que Cristo habite em seus corações por meio da fé, a fim de que vocês, estando enraizados e alicerçados no amor,
18
possam ser fortalecidos para compreender, com todos os santos, qual é a largura, o comprimento, a altura e a profundidade,
19
e conhecer o amor de Cristo, que excede o conhecimento, para que vocês sejam cheios de toda a plenitude de Deus.
20
Ora, àquele que é poderoso para fazer infinitamente mais do que tudo o que pedimos ou pensamos, de acordo com o poder que opera em nós,
21
a ele seja a glória na igreja e em Cristo Jesus, por todas as gerações, para todo o sempre. Amém.

The interrupted prayer

The sentence started in verse 1 is only resumed at verse 14 — "For this cause I bow my knees" — once the mystery is explained. The prayer asks not for relief but for inner strength, that Christ may dwell in their hearts and they grasp a love that "surpasses knowledge."

It closes the whole first half of the letter with a doxology to the God "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think." After this, the letter turns to how to live.

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