Ephesians 3.15a-In Relation to Creation, God is the Father of Every Human and Angelic Being
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday August 13, 2024
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 3:15a-In Relation to Creation, God is the Father of Every Human and Angelic Being
Lesson # 170
Ephesians 3:14 For this reason, I make it my habit of bending my knees in the presence of the Father 15 from whom each and every family located in the heavens as well as located upon the earth is designated a name. (Lecturer’s translation)
Ephesians 3:15 is composed of the declarative statement ex hou pasa patria en ouranois kai epi gēs onomazetai (ἐξ οὗ πᾶσα πατριὰ ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς ὀνομάζεται), “from whom each and every family located in the heavens as well as located upon the earth is designated a name.”
It is composed of the third person singular present passive indicative conjugation of the verb onomazō (ὀνομάζω), “is designated a name,” which is modified by three prepositional phrases.
The first of these is ex hou pasa patria (ἐξ οὗ πᾶσα πατριὰ), “from whom each and every family,” the second is en ouranois (ἐν οὐρανοῖς), “located in the heavens” and the third is epi gēs (ἐπὶ γῆς), “located upon the earth.”
This declarative statement is modifying the articular accusative masculine singular form of the noun patēr (πατήρ), “Father,” which appears at the end of Ephesians 3:14.
So therefore, the contents of Ephesians 3:15 and the syntax of this verse make clear that it is a description of God the Father asserting that each and every family located in the heavens as well as those located upon the earth is designated a name, which originates from Him.
The verb onomazō (ὀνομάζω) means “to designate a name to someone” since the word pertains to identifying someone by name.
The referent of the third person singular form of this verb is nominative feminine singular form of the noun patria (πατριά), which functions as the nominative subject of this verb, which means that it receives the action of this verb.
The noun patria (πατριά) pertains to the descendants of one individual or persons of successive generations who are related by birth.
In a unique sense, this word pertains to the idea of a group of people forming a family, patterned after God’s fatherhood.
This word is modified by the adjective pas (πᾶς), which pertains in context to not only the totality of God’s moral rational creatures (human beings and angels) but is also used in a distributive sense emphasizing no exceptions.
This word is in the first attributive position (adjective-noun), which indicates that this adjective expresses an attributive relation to the noun patria (πατριά).
The noun patēr (πατήρ), “Father” in Ephesians 3:14 forms a word play with the noun patria (πατριά), “family,” which appears here in Ephesians 3:15.
James Parks writes “The initial sounds of “Father” (πατέρα patera) are the same as ‘family’ (πατριὰ patria). The similarity between the initial sounds of these words creates the wordplay.”
Now, in Ephesians 3:15, the apostle Paul is not teaching that God is the father of unregenerate human beings and non-elect angels but rather that He is the prototype of all fatherhood.
In fact, God is the father to everyone of His moral rational creatures in relation to creation.
In other words, He is their creator and thus in this sense He is their father but not in a relationship and fellowship sense which requires one to be declared justified faith through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
In relation to creation, God is the father of every regenerate and unregenerate human being as well as every elect and non-elect angel whether they are living on the earth, under the earth or throughout the three levels of heaven.
Therefore, Paul’s assertion here in Ephesians 3:15 simply asserts and affirms that God the Father is the creator of every one of His moral rational creatures, i.e., regenerate and unregenerate human beings and elect and non-elect angels.
Grant Osborne writes “There is a play on words between ‘father’ (patēr) and ‘family’ (patria); in the same way fathers have authority over their family, the heavenly Father has sovereignty and power over every aspect of creation. Adam’s naming the animals in the garden of Eden (Gen 2:19–20) signified his authority over the animal world and his responsibility to take care of them. God as Creator has supremacy over his creation.”
So therefore, in relation to relationship and fellowship, God the Father is the Father of all believers and is not the Father of unbelievers.
God is the Father of all believers who are sons of God through regeneration (Jn. 1:12-13; Rm. 8:15; Gal. 3:26-28; 4:6; Eph. 2:18).
Regeneration takes place at the moment of justification when a person expresses faith alone in Christ alone (Jn. 3:16-17, 36; Acts 16:31; Gal. 3:26-28).
Those who are sons of God through regeneration are considered by God to be His children as a result of honoring His Son by accepting the Son as Savior.
The Father deals with believers as a father in the natural realm would deal with his children (1 Th. 2:11; Heb. 12:4-13).
Unlike the Greek philosophers of the ancient world and of modern twenty-first century society, the New Testament considers only those who have accepted Christ as Savior as children of God.
Unbelievers are considered children of the devil and are designated “sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2; 5:6; Col. 3:6; cf. Jn. 8:44).
It is true that as Creator, God is Father of all but in terms of relationship and fellowship, He is the Father of only believers who have been born into the royal family of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:7, 9).
One cannot claim to have or know experientially the Father without the Son (1 Jn. 2:22-23; 2 Jn. 9; cf. Jn. 8).
Harold Hoehner writes “Paul was not saying that God is the Father of all but rather that He is the Prototype of all fatherhood. ‘Father’ is derived from God, not man. He is the first Father, the only One with ‘underived’ fatherhood. Thus every human family derives its name, that is, exists as a family with a father, because of Him. It is to this Father that Paul prayed.”