Ephesians 3:14-21 Study

Verses 14-15

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father

Paul finally continues his thought from verse 1. For this reason… is referring to the salvation of and ministry towards the Gentiles. This is all Paul has talked about in the past few chapters.

In chapter one, Paul laid out the spiritual blessings that come with knowing Christ. He then delves into how he is praying for the Ephesian believers, and ends by speaking of the immeasurable greatness of [God’s] power toward us who believe.

In chapter two, Paul gives two explanations for the salvation of those he is writing to. The first is regarding them being brought from death to life by Christ and the second is regarding those who were far off (the Gentiles) being brought near to Christ.

In chapter three, so far, Paul has spoken about the great mystery and glory in God’s ministry to the Gentiles through Paul. He does this to encourage them.

Now Paul speaks about how he is praying for the Ephesians again, yet first, in verse 15, speaks of who God is:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

Paul states it is from God the Father that every family in heaven and on earth is named. Paul is emphasizing God’s omniscience and omnipotence in pointing out that He is the namer of every created thing! Everything and everyone’s very identity stems from their Creator.

Verses 16-19

Now Paul will begin describing the many ways he is praying for them.

God may grant them strength in their inner being through His Spirit

Paul emphasizes heavily, once again, whom the strength would be coming from. It is not from themselves or from their inner being, but according to the riches of His glory and …through His Spirit.

When Paul says inner being, he is referring to the depths of who they are. This is their heart, their soul, their mind. All of that which you cannot see in a person is their inner person. Therefore, Paul desires their inner being may be strengthened with God’s Spirit according to His glory.

Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith

We must see that Paul is telling us how Christ dwells in our hearts: through faith in Christ. So, think about this: Christ dwells in your heart when you put your faith in Christ. This is referring to salvation.

Those who have not put their faith in Christ do not have Christ dwelling in their hearts.

And so, Paul desires and prays that Christ may be dwelling in their hearts through a strong faith in Christ. He wants them all to know Christ intimately and have a firm faith in Him.

They be rooted and firmly established in love

The way Paul words this, he seems to expect them to be rooted and firmly established in love. Therefore, this is a prayer as well.

The emphasis in this, and the next couple points, is love. Paul wants God’s holy love to be what these believers are established in. Not their pride, not their possessions. Only the love of God. This leads to the next point.

They may be able to comprehend God’s vast love

The way he words this one is important: what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love. This is referring to the full extent of the love of God. What is that full extent? Him sending His Son to die on the cross in our place for our salvation. This is the extent of the love of God. He remains faithful to us because He so deeply loves us.

What could be more important, then, to comprehend but the extent of God’s love? We must strive to comprehend this uncomprehendable truth! God loves us so much!

They may know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge

Almost the same as the last point. Paul wants the Ephesians to know how much Christ loves them. The fact that Paul says this after praying they comprehend God’s love for them and earlier speaking of God’s Spirit giving them strength points to the Trinity.

Christ loves them so much that He Himself let us kill Him for our sake. He sanctifies us. He dwells in us. This is true, faithful love.

They may be filled with the fullness of God

He adds this at the end of the last prayer with the word so… in between. This means Paul is saying knowing the extent of the love of God will lead to you being filled with the fullness of God. The fullness of God refers to His Spirit. The more we feed the Spirit, the more He envelopes us. The less, the stronger our flesh is over the Spirit. The Spirit cannot be completely removed, but it can be stifled by sin.

Paul prays all these things for the Ephesian church because He wants them, ultimately, to know God and be unified in Christ.

Verses 20-21

This section closes the orthodoxy section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Chapter four begins the application (orthopraxy) section. Therefore, Paul closes this half with a benediction, or a prayer for them.

20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord our God is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to His great power. This doesn’t mean that He will give you even more money than you’re praying for. This is simply referring to God’s great power and how we must trust Him. We are so minute compared to Him. We are so much smaller. But our God is not restricted to our thoughts and our requests. He can and does do even more.

Paul’s benediction is one to give God glory for who He is. This is a moment of praise from Paul to the Lord for being who He is. But Paul names two areas in which He desires the Lord to be glorified.

The Church

this is where God should be most glorified!

In Christ to all generations

This is referring to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all generations. Paul is praying this even for ours and those past us. Amen.