God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom every family3:15 The Greek for family (patria) is derived from the Greek for father (pater). in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Huduma Ya Paulo Kwa Watu Wa Mataifa
13:1 2Tim 1:8; Flp 1:1-9Kwa sababu hii, mimi Paulo, mfungwa wa Kristo Yesu kwa ajili yenu ninyi watu wa Mataifa:
23:2 Kol 1:25; Rum 1:5; 11:13; 1Kor 4:1; Efe 4:7; Kol 1:25; Mdo 9:15Kwa hakika mmekwisha kusikia kuhusu ile huduma ya neema ya Mungu niliyopewa kwa ajili yenu, 33:3 Rum 16:25; 1Kor 2:10yaani, ile siri iliodhihirishwa kwangu kwa njia ya ufunuo, kama nilivyotangulia kuandika kwa kifupi. 43:4 2Kor 11:6; 1Kor 4:1; Efe 6:19Kwa kusoma haya, basi mtaweza kuelewa ufahamu wangu katika siri ya Kristo. 53:5 Rum 16:26; Mdo 10:28; Rum 16:25; Efe 3:9; 2:20Siri hii haikudhihirishwa kwa wanadamu katika vizazi vingine kama vile sasa ilivyodhihirishwa na Roho kwa mitume na manabii watakatifu wa Mungu. 63:6 Gal 3:29; Efe 2:15-16Siri hii ni kwamba, kwa njia ya Injili, watu wa Mataifa ni warithi pamoja na Israeli, viungo vya mwili mmoja na washiriki pamoja wa ahadi katika Kristo Yesu.
73:7 1Kor 3:6; Efe 1:19Nimekuwa mtumishi wa Injili hii kwa kipawa cha neema ya Mungu niliyopewa kwa nguvu yake itendayo kazi. 83:8 1Kor 15:19; 1Tim 1:13, 15; Gal 1:16; 2:8; 1Tim 2:7; 2Tim 1:11; Efe 1:7; Kol 1:27Ingawa mimi ni mdogo kuliko aliye mdogo kabisa miongoni mwa watakatifu wote, nilipewa neema hii: ili niwahubirie watu wa Mataifa kuhusu utajiri usiopimika ulio ndani ya Kristo, 93:9 Rum 16:25; Efe 3:3; 1:9; Rum 16:25; 1Kor 2:7; Kol 1:26; Za 33:6na kuweka wazi kwa kila mtu siri hii iliyokuwa imefichwa tangu zamani katika Mungu, aliyeumba vitu vyote. 103:10 1Kor 2:7; 1Pet 1:12; Efe 6:12Ili sasa kwa njia ya Kanisa, hekima yote ya Mungu ipate kujulikana kwa watawala na wenye mamlaka katika ulimwengu wa roho, 113:11 Efe 1:9; 1:11sawasawa na kusudi lake la milele katika Kristo Yesu Bwana wetu. 123:12 Efe 2:18; Kol 3:4Ndani yake na kwa njia ya imani katika yeye twaweza kumkaribia Mungu kwa uhuru na kwa ujasiri. 133:13 Mdo 14:22; Flp 1:14; 1The 3:3; 2Kor 3:4Kwa hiyo, nawaomba msikate tamaa kwa sababu ya mateso yangu kwa ajili yenu, hayo ni utukufu wenu.
Maombi Ya Paulo Kwa Waefeso
143:14 Flp 2:10Kwa sababu hii nampigia Baba magoti, 153:15 Efe 1:10; Flp 2:9, 10, 11ambaye ubaba wote wa kila jamaa za mbinguni na za duniani unatokana naye. 163:16 Kol 1:11; Rum 7:22Namwomba Mungu awaimarishe kwa kuwatia nguvu mioyo yenu kwa njia ya Roho wake kwa kadiri ya utajiri wa utukufu wake, 173:17 Yn 14:23; Kol 1:22ili kwamba, Kristo apate kukaa mioyoni mwenu kwa njia ya imani. Nami ninaomba kwamba ninyi mkiwa wenye mizizi tena imara katika msingi wa upendo, 18mwe na uwezo wa kufahamu pamoja na watakatifu wote jinsi ulivyo upana, urefu, kimo na kina upendo wa Kristo, 193:19 Kol 2:10; Efe 1:23na kujua upendo huu unaopita fahamu, ili mpate kujazwa na kufikia kipimo cha ukamilifu wote wa Mungu.
203:20 Rum 16:25; Yud 24; 1Kor 2:9; Kol 1:29; Efe 3:7Basi kwa yeye awezaye kutenda mambo ya ajabu yasiyopimika kuliko yote tuyaombayo au tuyawazayo, kwa kadiri ya uweza wake ule utendao kazi ndani yetu, 213:21 Rum 11:36; 16:27; Ebr 13:21yeye atukuzwe katika kanisa na katika Kristo Yesu kwa vizazi vyote, milele na milele. Amen.
