Ephesians
Chapter 3
1 1 Because of this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ 2 (Jesus) for you Gentiles—
因此，我保禄为你们外邦人的缘故，作基督耶稣囚犯的，为你们祈祷──
2 if, as I suppose, you have heard of the stewardship 3 of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit,
想你们必听说过天主的恩宠，为了你们赐与我的职分：
3 (namely, that) the mystery 4 was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier.
就是借着启示，使我得知我在上边已大略写过的奥秘；
4 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
你们照着读了，便能明白我对基督的奥秘所有的了解，
5 which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
这奥秘在以前的世代中，没有告诉过任何人，有如现在一样，藉圣神已启示给他的圣宗徒和先知；
6 that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
这奥秘就是：外邦人藉著福音在基督耶稣内与犹太人同为承继人，同为一身，同为恩许的分享人。
7 Of this I became a minister by the gift of God's grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.
至於我，我依照天主大能的功效所赐与我的恩宠，作了这福音的仆役；
8 To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
我原是一切圣徒中最小的，竟蒙受了这恩宠，得向外邦宣布基督那不可测量的丰富福音，
9 and to bring to light [for all] 5 what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
并光照一切人，使他们明白，从创世以来，即隐藏在创造万有的天主内的奥秘，
10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the principalities and authorities 6 in the heavens.
为使天上的率领者和掌权者，现在借着教会，得知天主的各样智慧，
11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
全是按照他在我们的主基督耶稣内所实现的永远计划；
12 in whom we have boldness of speech and confidence of access through faith in him.
所以只有在基督内，我们才可藉著对他所怀的信德，放心大胆地怀著依恃之心，进到天主面前。
13 So I ask you not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory.
为此，我请求你们，不要因我为你们所受的苦难而沮丧，我的苦难原是你们的光荣。
14 7 8 For this reason I kneel before the Father,
因此，我在天父面前屈膝──
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
上天下地的一切家族都是由他而得名──
16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
求他依照他丰富的光荣，藉著他的圣神，以大能坚固你们内在的人，
17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love,
并使基督因着你们的信德，住在你们心中，叫你们在爱德上根深蒂固，奠定基础，
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
为使你们能够同众圣徒领悟基督的爱是怎样的宽、广、高、深，
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
并知道基督的爱是远超人所能知的，为叫你们充满天主的一切富裕。
20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us,
愿光荣归於天主，他能照他在我们身上所发挥的德能，成就一切，远超我们所求所想的。
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
愿他在教会内，并在基督耶稣内，获享光荣，至於万世万代！阿们。
Footnotes(注解)
1 [1-13] Paul reflects on his mission to the Gentiles. He alludes to his call and appointment to the apostolic office (Eph 3:2-3) and how his insight through revelation, as well as that of the other apostles and charismatic prophets in the church (Eph 3:4-5), has deepened understanding of God's plan of salvation in Christ. Paul is the special herald (Eph 3:7) of a new promise to the Gentiles (Eph 3:6): that the divine plan includes them in the spiritual benefits promised to Israel. Not only is this unique apostolic role his; Paul also has been given the task of explaining to all the divine plan of salvation (Eph 3:8-9), once hidden. Through the church, God's plan to save through Christ is becoming manifest to angelic beings (eph 3:10; cf Eph 1:21), in accord with God's purpose (Eph 3:11). The fulfillment of the plan in Christ gives the whole church more confidence through faith in God (Eph 3:12). The readers of this letter are also thereby encouraged to greater confidence despite Paul's imprisonment (Eph 3:13).
2 [1] A prisoner of Christ: see Introduction. Paul abruptly departs from his train of thought at the end of Eph 3:1 leaving an incomplete sentence.
3 [2] Stewardship: the Greek is the same term employed at Eph 1:10 for the plan that God administers (Col 1:25) and in which Paul plays a key role.
4 [3-4] The mystery: God's resolve to deliver Gentiles along with Israel through Christ; cf the notes on Eph 1:9; 3:9.
5 [9] [For all]: while some think this phrase was added so as to yield the sense "to enlighten all about the plan . . . ," it is more likely that some manuscripts and Fathers omitted it accidentally or to avoid the idea that all conflicted with Paul's assignment to preach to the Gentiles (Eph 3:8) specifically.
6 [10] Principalities and authorities: see the note on Eph 1:15-23 regarding Eph 3:21.
7 [14-21] The apostle prays that those he is addressing may, like the rest of the church, deepen their understanding of God's plan of salvation in Christ. It is a plan that affects the whole universe (Eph 3:15) with the breadth and length and height and depth of God's love in Christ (Eph 3:18) or possibly the universe in all its dimensions. The apostle prays that they may perceive the redemptive love of Christ for them and be completely immersed in the fullness of God (Eph 3:19). The prayer concludes with a doxology to God (Eph 3:20-21).
8 [14-15] Every family: in the Greek there is wordplay on the word for the Father (patria, pater). The phrase could also mean "God's whole family" (cf Eph 2:21).