1
By reason of this grace, I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles.
2
Now certainly, you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which has been given to me among you:
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that, by means of revelation, the mystery was made known to me, just as I have written above in a few words.
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Yet, by reading this closely, you might be able to understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ.
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In other generations, this was unknown to the sons of men, even as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit,
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so that the Gentiles would be co-heirs, and of the same body, and partners together, by his promise in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel.
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Of this Gospel, I have been made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which has been given to me by means of the operation of his virtue.
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Although I am the least of all the saints, I have been given this grace: to evangelize among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
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and to enlighten everyone concerning the dispensation of the mystery, hidden before the ages in God who created all things,
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so that the manifold wisdom of God may become well-known to the principalities and powers in the heavens, through the Church,
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according to that timeless purpose, which he has formed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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In him we trust, and so we approach with confidence, through his faith.
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Because of this, I ask you not to be weakened by my tribulations on your behalf; for this is your glory.
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
14
By reason of this grace, I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
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from whom all paternity in heaven and on earth takes its name.(a)
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And I ask him to grant to you to be strengthened in virtue by his Spirit, in accord with the wealth of his glory, in the inner man,(b)
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so that Christ may live in your hearts through a faith rooted in, and founded on, charity.
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So may you be able to embrace, with all the saints, what is the width and length and height and depth
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of the charity of Christ, and even be able to know that which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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Now to him who is able to do all things, more abundantly than we could ever ask or understand, by means of the virtue which is at work in us:
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to him be glory, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout every generation, forever and ever. Amen.
Footnotes