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Legacy Standard Bible Translation Notes
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NOTES

BIBLE

Ephesians 3

1

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles⁠—

Τούτου χάριν ἐγὼ Παῦλος ὁ δέσμιος τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν τῶν ἐθνῶν—

 
2

if indeed you heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you;

εἴ γε ἠκούσατε τὴν οἰκονομίαν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι εἰς ὑμᾶς·

 
3

that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief.

κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν ἐγνωρίσθη μοι τὸ μυστήριον, καθὼς προέγραψα ἐν ὀλίγῳ,

 
4

About which, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

πρὸς ὃ δύνασθε ἀναγινώσκοντες νοῆσαι τὴν σύνεσίν μου ἐν τῷ μυστηρίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ,

 
5

which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it was now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit:

ὃ ἑτέραις γενεαῖς οὐκ ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων ὡς νῦν ἀπεκαλύφθη τοῖς ἁγίοις ἀποστόλοις αὐτοῦ καὶ προφήταις ἐν πνεύματι,

 
6

that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

εἶναι τὰ ἔθνη συγκληρονόμα καὶ σύσσωμα καὶ συμμέτοχα τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου,

 
7

of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

οὗ ἐγενήθην διάκονος κατὰ τὴν δωρεὰν τῆς χάριτος τοῦ θεοῦ τῆς δοθείσης μοι κατὰ τὴν ἐνέργειαν τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ—

 
8

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ,

ἐμοὶ τῷ ἐλαχιστοτέρῳ πάντων ἁγίων ἐδόθη ἡ χάρις αὕτη—τοῖς ἔθνεσιν εὐαγγελίσασθαι τὸ ἀνεξιχνίαστον πλοῦτος τοῦ Χριστοῦ,

 
9

and to bring to light for all what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;

καὶ φωτίσαι πάντας τίς ἡ οἰκονομία τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ ἀποκεκρυμμένου ἀπὸ τῶν αἰώνων ἐν τῷ θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα κτίσαντι,

 
10

so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.

ἵνα γνωρισθῇ νῦν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς καὶ ταῖς ἐξουσίαις ἐν τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις διὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ πολυποίκιλος σοφία τοῦ θεοῦ,

 
11

This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

κατὰ πρόθεσιν τῶν αἰώνων ἣν ἐποίησεν ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν,

 
12

in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

ἐν ᾧ ἔχομεν τὴν παρρησίαν καὶ προσαγωγὴν ἐν πεποιθήσει διὰ τῆς πίστεως αὐτοῦ.

 
13

Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my afflictions on your behalf, which are your glory.

διὸ αἰτοῦμαι μὴ ἐγκακεῖν ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσίν μου ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν δόξα ὑμῶν.

afflictions
“Afflictions” translates the Greek term θλίψις (thlipsis), which is usually rendered “tribulation” in eschatological contexts where “the tribulation” is in view (e.g., Matt 24; Mark 14; Revelation), and “affliction” elsewhere when it refers more generally to pain (e.g., Acts 7:10; 14:22). The term itself refers to a form of pressure that brings distress. Paul here is not referring to the tribulation which characterizes the end times, but the afflictions from those opposed to Christ as he lives for Him and works to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.

 
14

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,

Τούτου χάριν κάμπτω τὰ γόνατά μου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα,

 
15

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

ἐξ οὗ πᾶσα πατριὰ ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς ὀνομάζεται,

named
The verb “named” is a more straightforward, literal translation of ὀνομάζεται (onomazetai) than something like “derives its name.” This also better accounts for the passive voice of the verb. To be named in ancient cultures was not simply to be called something distinct, but to be included in a certain group or family under the authority of the one naming. By referring to God as the one from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, Paul ascribes to God all authority over everything in heaven and on earth because He created and owns them all (cf. Ps 24:1).

 
16

that He would give you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,

ἵνα δῷ ὑμῖν κατὰ τὸ πλοῦτος τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ δυνάμει κραταιωθῆναι διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸν ἔσω ἄνθρωπον,

 
17

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being firmly rooted and grounded in love,

κατοικῆσαι τὸν Χριστὸν διὰ τῆς πίστεως ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν ἐν ἀγάπῃ· ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι,

 
18

may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

ἵνα ἐξισχύσητε καταλαβέσθαι σὺν πᾶσιν τοῖς ἁγίοις τί τὸ πλάτος καὶ μῆκος καὶ ὕψος καὶ βάθος,

 
19

and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

γνῶναί τε τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν τῆς γνώσεως ἀγάπην τοῦ Χριστοῦ, ἵνα πληρωθῆτε εἰς πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ θεοῦ.

 
20

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, according to the power that works within us,

Τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ ὑπὲρ πάντα ποιῆσαι ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ ὧν αἰτούμεθα ἢ νοοῦμεν κατὰ τὴν δύναμιν τὴν ἐνεργουμένην ἐν ἡμῖν,

 
21

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ εἰς πάσας τὰς γενεὰς τοῦ αἰῶνος τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν.

 
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