« | Ephesians 3 | » |
1 So I, Paul, am a prisoner because I serve Christ Jesus for you who are not Jews.
2 Surely you know that God gave me this work through his grace to help you.
3 God let me know his secret plan by showing it to me. I have already written a little about this.
4 And if you read what I wrote, you can see that I understand the secret truth about the Christ.
5 People who lived in other times were not told that secret truth. But now, through the Spirit, God has made it known to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And this is the secret truth: that by hearing the Good News, those who are not Jews will share with the Jews in the blessings God has for his people. They are part of the same body, and they share in the promise God made through Christ Jesus.
7 By God's special gift of grace, I became a servant to tell that Good News. He gave me that grace by using his power.
8 I am the least important of all God's people. But he gave me this gift—to tell the non- Jewish people the Good News about the riches Christ has. These riches are too great to understand fully.
9 And God gave me the work of telling all people about the plan for his secret truth. That secret truth has been hidden in him since the beginning of time. He is the one who created everything.
10 His purpose was that all the rulers and powers in the heavenly places will now know the many different ways he shows his wisdom. They will know this because of the church.
11 This agrees with the plan God had since the beginning of time. He did what he planned, and he did it through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In Christ we come before God with freedom and without fear. We can do this because of our faith in Christ.
13 So I ask you not to be discouraged because of what is happening to me. My sufferings are for your benefit—for your honor and glory.
14 So I bow in prayer before the Father.
15 Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him.
16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit.
17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.
18 And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is.
19 Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.
20 With God's power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.
21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.