Chapter 3

  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,--  

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  if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;  

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  how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,  

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  whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;  

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  which in other generation was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;  

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  [to wit], that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,  

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  whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.  

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  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;  

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  and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;  

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  to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly [places] might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,  

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  according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  

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  in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.  

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  Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.  

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  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,  

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  from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  

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  that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;  

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  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  

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  may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,  

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  and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.  

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  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  

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  unto him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.  

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