---
title: "Ephesians 3 – Catholic Bible (CPDV) & Latin Vulgate · Bless"
url: https://blessbible.app/bible/ephesians/3/
description: "The mystery hidden from former ages was discovered to the apostle, to be… Ephesians 3 in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin Vulgate."
---

# Ephesians 3

Ephesians 3 is chapter 3 of 6 in the Letter to the Ephesians. Here are all 21 verses in the Catholic Public Domain Version, with the Latin of the Clementine Vulgate beside them.

> The mystery hidden from former ages was discovered to the apostle, to be imparted to the Gentiles. He prays that they may be strengthened in God.
>
> — Bp. Richard Challoner, chapter summary

## Ephesians 3 (Catholic Public Domain Version)

1. By reason of this grace, I, Paul, am a prisoner of Jesus Christ, for the sake of you Gentiles.
2. Now certainly, you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God, which has been given to me among you:
3. that, by means of revelation, the mystery was made known to me, just as I have written above in a few words.
4. Yet, by reading this closely, you might be able to understand my prudence in the mystery of Christ.
5. In other generations, this was unknown to the sons of men, even as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and Prophets in the Spirit,
6. so that the Gentiles would be co-heirs, and of the same body, and partners together, by his promise in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel.
7. Of this Gospel, I have been made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God, which has been given to me by means of the operation of his virtue.
8. Although I am the least of all the saints, I have been given this grace: to evangelize among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9. and to enlighten everyone concerning the dispensation of the mystery, hidden before the ages in God who created all things,
10. so that the manifold wisdom of God may become well-known to the principalities and powers in the heavens, through the Church,
11. according to that timeless purpose, which he has formed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12. In him we trust, and so we approach with confidence, through his faith.
13. Because of this, I ask you not to be weakened by my tribulations on your behalf; for this is your glory.
14. By reason of this grace, I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15. from whom all paternity in heaven and on earth takes its name.
16. And I ask him to grant to you to be strengthened in virtue by his Spirit, in accord with the wealth of his glory, in the inner man,
17. so that Christ may live in your hearts through a faith rooted in, and founded on, charity.
18. So may you be able to embrace, with all the saints, what is the width and length and height and depth
19. of the charity of Christ, and even be able to know that which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20. Now to him who is able to do all things, more abundantly than we could ever ask or understand, by means of the virtue which is at work in us:
21. to him be glory, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, throughout every generation, forever and ever. Amen.

## Ephesians 3 in Latin (Clementine Vulgate, 1592)

1. Hujus rei gratia, ego Paulus vinctus Christi Jesu, pro vobis gentibus,
2. si tamen audistis dispensationem gratiæ Dei, quæ data est mihi in vobis:
3. quoniam secundum revelationem notum mihi factum est sacramentum, sicut supra scripsi in brevi,
4. prout potestis legentes intelligere prudentiam meam in mysterio Christi:
5. quod aliis generationibus non est agnitum filiis hominum, sicuti nunc revelatum est sanctis apostolis ejus et prophetis in Spiritu,
6. gentes esse cohæredes, et concorporales, et comparticipes promissionis ejus in Christo Jesu per Evangelium:
7. cujus factus sum minister secundum donum gratiæ Dei, quæ data est mihi secundum operationem virtutis ejus.
8. Mihi omnium sanctorum minimo data est gratia hæc, in gentibus evangelizare investigabiles divitias Christi,
9. et illuminare omnes, quæ sit dispensatio sacramenti absconditi a sæculis in Deo, qui omnia creavit:
10. ut innotescat principatibus et potestatibus in cælestibus per Ecclesiam, multiformis sapientia Dei,
11. secundum præfinitionem sæculorum, quam fecit in Christo Jesu Domino nostro:
12. in quo habemus fiduciam, et accessum in confidentia per fidem ejus.
13. Propter quod peto ne deficiatis in tribulationibus meis pro vobis: quæ est gloria vestra.
14. Hujus rei gratia flecto genua mea ad Patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi,
15. ex quo omnis paternitas in cælis et in terra nominatur,
16. ut det vobis secundum divitias gloriæ suæ, virtute corroborari per Spiritum ejus in interiorem hominem,
17. Christum habitare per fidem in cordibus vestris: in caritate radicati, et fundati,
18. ut possitis comprehendere cum omnibus sanctis, quæ sit latitudo, et longitudo, et sublimitas, et profundum:
19. scire etiam supereminentem scientiæ caritatem Christi, ut impleamini in omnem plenitudinem Dei.
20. Ei autem, qui potens est omnia facere superabundanter quam petimus aut intelligimus, secundum virtutem, quæ operatur in nobis:
21. ipsi gloria in Ecclesia, et in Christo Jesu, in omnes generationes sæculi sæculorum. Amen.

## Catechism of the Catholic Church

Paragraph numbers and the Catechism's own section headings (never quoted); text at vatican.va.
- cf. CCC ¶ 1066: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 424: I Believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son of God ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 221: I Believe in God ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 772: The Church in God's Plan ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1066: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2778: "We Dare To Say" ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 239: The Father ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2367: The Love of Husband and Wife ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1073: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 1995: Justification ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2714: Contemplative Prayer ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- cf. CCC ¶ 2565: Prayer in the Christian Life ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))
- CCC ¶ 2641: Prayer of Praise ([vatican.va index](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM))

## The saints

- “O Jesus, keep me under the standard of Your cross. Let me not just look at You crucified but have You living in my heart.” — St. Bernadette Soubirous, Words to a fellow sister, c. 1870 (On this theme: verse 17)
- “The measure of love is to love without measure.” — St. Francis de Sales, popular saying, source unconfirmed (Attributed: verse 18)

## Bishop Challoner's notes

Bp. Richard Challoner, notes on the Douay-Rheims (1750); they comment on its older wording.
- Verse 15: “All paternity” … Or, the whole family. God is the Father, both of angels and men; whosoever besides is named father, is so named with subordination to him.

## Read at Mass (US)

- Sun, Jan 3, 2027: The Epiphany of the Lord — Second Reading, Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
- Fri, Jun 4, 2027 (computed): Most Sacred Heart of Jesus — Second Reading, Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19
- Sun, Jan 2, 2028 (computed): The Epiphany of the Lord — Second Reading, Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
- Wed, Oct 25, 2028 (computed): Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time — First Reading, Ephesians 3:2-12

1 more date through December 31, 2028, in the [liturgical calendar](https://blessbible.app/calendar/).

Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

Source: Catholic Public Domain Version (Ronald L. Conte Jr., 2009), public domain; Latin: Clementine Vulgate (1592).