Paul's Work for the Gentiles
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles, pray to God. 2 Surely you have heard that God in his grace has given me this work to do for your good. 3 God revealed his secret plan and made it known to me. (I have written briefly about this, 4 and if you will read what I have written, you can learn about my understanding of the secret of Christ.) 5 In past times human beings were not told this secret, but God has revealed it now by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 The secret is that by means of the gospel the Gentiles have a part with the Jews in God's blessings; they are members of the same body and share in the promise that God made through Christ Jesus.
7 I was made a servant of the gospel by God's special gift, which he gave me through the working of his power. 8 I am less than the least of all God's people; yet God gave me this privilege of taking to the Gentiles the Good News about the infinite riches of Christ, 9 and of making all people see how God's secret plan is to be put into effect. God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, 10 in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms. 11 God did this according to his eternal purpose, which he achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In union with Christ and through our faith in him we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence. 13 I beg you, then, not to be discouraged because I am suffering for you; it is all for your benefit.
The Love of Christ
14 For this reason I fall on my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth receives its true name. 16 I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves, 17 and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love, 18 so that you, together with all God's people, may have the power to understand how broad and long, how high and deep, is Christ's love. 19 Yes, may you come to know his love—although it can never be fully known—and so be completely filled with the very nature of God.
20 To him who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of: 21 to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen.
Pāvila kalpošana pagāniem
1 Tādēļ es, Pāvils, esmu kļuvis par Jēzus Kristus cietumnieku jūsu, pagānu, labad. 2 Jūs jau esat dzirdējuši par Dieva žēlastības mantību, kas man jums jānodod. 3 Tas ir noslēpums, kas man ar atklāsmi darīts zināms, kā jau esmu par to īsumā rakstījis. 4 To lasīdami, jūs varat noprast manu Kristus noslēpuma izpratni. 5 Šis noslēpums cilvēku dēliem citās paaudzēs netika darīts zināms, kā tas tagad Garā ir atklāts viņa svētajiem apustuļiem un praviešiem. 6 Tādējādi pagāni ir kļuvuši par līdzmantiniekiem, tās pašas miesas locekļiem un apsolījuma līdzdalībniekiem Jēzū Kristū caur evaņģēliju, 7 kura kalps es esmu kļuvis caur to Dieva žēlastības dāvanu, kas man dota pēc viņa spēka darbīgās izpausmes. 8 Man, vismazākajam no svētajiem, dota žēlastība caur evaņģēliju sludināt pagāniem Kristus neizdibināmo bagātību 9 un celt gaismā, kā jārīkojas ar noslēpumu, kas kopš mūžīgiem laikiem bija apslēpts visa radītājā Dievā, 10 lai caur draudzi darītu zināmu visām varām un spēkiem debesīs Dieva daudzveidīgo gudrību, 11 kas pēc viņa mūžīgā nolūka ir īstenota Jēzū Kristū, mūsu Kungā. 12 Kristū mums ir drošs prāts un ticībā uz viņu ir paļāvība tuvoties Dievam. 13 Tad nu es lūdzu: nezaudējiet drosmi manu ciešanu dēļ, ko panesu jūsu labā, – tas ir jūsu gods.
Lai jūs saprastu Kristus mīlestību
14 Tādēļ es loku savus ceļus Tēva priekšā, 15 no kā ikviena cilts debesīs un virs zemes iegūst savu vārdu. 16 Es lūdzu, lai viņš pēc savas godības bagātības dod stiprinājumu jūsu iekšējam cilvēkam caur savu Garu, 17 tā ka Kristus caur ticību iemājo jūsu sirdīs un jūs iesakņojaties un nostiprināties mīlestībā, 18 lai līdz ar visiem svētajiem jūs būtu spējīgi izprast tās plašumu, garumu, augstumu un dziļumu 19 un atzītu Kristus mīlestību, kas pārāka par atziņu, un lai Dievs jūs piepildītu visā savā pilnībā. 20 Dievam, kas, ar savu spēku darbodamies mūsos, spēj darīt neizmērojami vairāk, nekā mēs lūdzam vai nojaušam, 21 lai viņam gods draudzē un Jēzū Kristū paaudžu paaudzēs, mūžu mūžos! Āmen!
