Ephesians 3:14-19
Summary for Eph 3:14-21: 3:14-21 a Paul closes this section (1:3–3:21 b) with a second prayer for his readers. The first (1:15-23 c) was for their spiritual understanding, the second (3:14-21 d) is for their spiritual growth and empowerment. 3:14 e When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray: Paul resumes what he started to say at the beginning of the chapter (see 3:1 f).Summary for Eph 3:15-16: 3:15-16 g the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth (or from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name): There is a play on words between Father (Greek patēr, 3:14 h) and family (Greek patria). God is the Creator of everything, including every family—angelic or human, Gentile or Jew (see 2:14-22 i; 3:6 j). So he is the source of glorious, unlimited resources that he gladly gives his children.
3:17 k Having Christ ... make his home in your hearts is the source of spiritual power for life and ministry (see John 14:16-17 l, 23 m; 15:4-5 n; Gal 2:20 o).
3:18 p how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is: Christ’s love is great in every dimension (cp. Rom 8:38-39 q).
3:19 r May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1 s).
• it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8 t).
• The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23 u; Gal 2:20 v; Col 1:27 w). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14 x, 24 y; 5:1-2 z; Rom 8:29 aa; 2 Cor 3:16-18 ab).
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