EPH 3:1-13

The Mystery of the Gospel

1For this reason, I myself, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you — the Gentiles — [3:2] if indeed you have heard of the administration of the grace of God that was given to me toward you, [3:3] that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in brief, [3:4] by which, as you read, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, [3:5] which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit: [3:6] that the Gentiles are joint-heirs and a joint-body and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, [3:7] of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God having been given to me according to the working of his power. [3:8] To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given: to evangelise among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [3:9] and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the mystery having been hidden from the ages in God, the One having created all things through Jesus Christ, [3:10] so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and to the authorities in the heavenly realms through the church, [3:11] according to the purpose of the ages, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, [3:12] in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him. [3:13] Therefore I ask not to lose heart over my afflictions on your behalf, which is your glory.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, the term (administration) often referred to the management of a household or estate, a concept familiar to Paul’s audience. Here, it is repurposed to describe God’s divine plan, a stewardship entrusted to Paul for the Gentiles. The (mystery) Paul speaks of was not an esoteric secret but a previously hidden truth now revealed: the inclusion of the Gentiles as joint-heirs, a joint-body , and joint-partakers in God’s promises. This revelation would have been startling in a Jewish context, where Gentiles were often seen as outsiders to God’s covenant. The (boldness) Paul mentions reflects the confidence and access believers now have in Christ, a concept rooted in the Greco-Roman practice of free speech and access to authority. For Paul’s audience, this passage underscored the radical unity and equality of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, a unity that challenged both Jewish exclusivism and Roman social hierarchies.

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How other translations render this

EPH 3:1

KJV: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
BSB: For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...
Koinōnos: For this reason, I myself, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you — the Gentiles —

EPH 3:2

KJV: If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
BSB: Surely you have heard about the stewardship of Godʼs grace that was given to me for you,
Koinōnos: if indeed you have heard of the administration of the grace of God that was given to me toward you,

EPH 3:3

KJV: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
BSB: that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
Koinōnos: that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in brief,

EPH 3:4

KJV: Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
BSB: In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
Koinōnos: by which, as you read, you are able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

EPH 3:5

KJV: Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
BSB: which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to Godʼs holy apostles and prophets.
Koinōnos: which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:

EPH 3:6

KJV: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
BSB: This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
Koinōnos: that the Gentiles are joint-heirs and a joint-body and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

EPH 3:7

KJV: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
BSB: I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of Godʼs grace, given me through the working of His power.
Koinōnos: of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace of God having been given to me according to the working of his power.

EPH 3:8

KJV: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
BSB: Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Koinōnos: To me, the very least of all the saints, this grace was given: to evangelise among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

EPH 3:9

KJV: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
BSB: and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Koinōnos: and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the mystery having been hidden from the ages in God, the One having created all things through Jesus Christ,

EPH 3:10

KJV: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
BSB: His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Koinōnos: so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and to the authorities in the heavenly realms through the church,

EPH 3:11

KJV: According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
BSB: according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Koinōnos: according to the purpose of the ages, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,

EPH 3:12

KJV: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
BSB: In Him and through faith in Him we may enter Godʼs presence with boldness and confidence.
Koinōnos: in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through faith in him.

EPH 3:13

KJV: Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
BSB: So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Koinōnos: Therefore I ask not to lose heart over my afflictions on your behalf, which is your glory.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

EPH 3:2

administration:The word translated 'administration' refers to the management of a household or estate, implying careful stewardship and a plan for how things are to be run.

EPH 3:3

the:The term used here for 'mystery' refers to a secret rite or a truth previously hidden, now revealed, rather than something unknowable or puzzling.

EPH 3:6

a joint-body:The word translated 'a joint-body' emphasizes being united into one single, cohesive body, highlighting a deep organic connection.

EPH 3:12

boldness:The word translated 'boldness' carried the sense of freedom of speech and frankness, often implying confidence and courage in speaking openly.