You can purchase one of Dr. Wilson's complete Bible studies in PDF, Kindle, or paperback format. Be worthy of the calling you have received. Luke Amen. Paul glorifies God that this incredible new birth occurs, the Holy Spirit is somehow fused with our human spirit making us alive to God, vitally connected to Him through the Spirit, and infused with life of an eternal quality and magnitude (see Romans 8:1-11). Can you see why Paul prays that the "eyes of our hearts" be opened? And whatever changes in us that will require, we offer you both our permission and our humble desire that you might complete your full work in our hearts and lives. Ephesians 3.14-21. come to know him better and better. My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon. The first Only if we know the experience of loving hard-to-love people, can we truly comprehend the ins and outs of Christ's immense love. How can we feel so powerless when the unbounded power of God is ready to work through us? Study Questions for the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Letters of St. Paul to the Galatians & Ephesians 3 . Are the leaders of the church being exalted or is Christ? Christ is our high priest who himself has suffered trials on earth. Paul has recently heard of the Ephesians' "love for all the saints" (1:15b), so they are not without love. One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Father. The Greek words for “able” and for “power” are related to δυναμις (dunamis) meaning mighty power. 7 Last Words of Christ "14 Paul prays for the Ephesian Christians to be filled with "all the fullness of God." Paul now prays a parallel, explanatory statement -- " that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith" (3:17a). Psalms in heavenly places. Pentecost VIII Lutheran Senior Services at Meramec Bluffs Ballwin, Missouri: Sun, Jul 26, 2009 8th S. a. Pentecost. (Hebrews 12:14), nor can we be truly filled with the Spirit. Our ability to comprehend God's power and desire to bless is surely limited, thus limiting the scope of our prayers. "12 This is When we can see that in our mind's eye, our faith can rise to the occasion without Great Prayers yes, the Church is to bring glory and credit to God. en Español Whose power? heart to a home. (Matthew 16:18). 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Both Christ and the Spirit intercede for us when we pray (Romans 8:26,34). To engage in Bible study to expand the mental understanding without a commensurate willingness to surrender Ephesians 3:14-21 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. We do not pray only for ourselves, but for others and our concerns for them. This befits your calling: you were called to one hope, 5one Lord, one faith, one immersion, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:1-6). Isaiah Wow! Praise God for a Pentecost-like experience of the God of the supernatural! Therefore "we come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16). Joshua us -- "...that you may be filled to the measure of all the It was fine with me, that is, until we got into the actual ceremony, and Mike’s pastor repeatedly brought up the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. When we think of St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, we tend to recall only the part which addresses one of our most practical preoccupations, the relationship between husbands and wives. Let's examine this one: Paul uses two words to describe the degree of God's ability to answer prayer: Notice that the limiting factor is not what we can ask or imagine. Paul concludes the first part of his Letter with another prayer for the Ephesians and a doxology of praise to God. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. both your love and your power. Dear friends, may we all be truly "Spirit-filled," not as a mark of distinction from lesser Christians, but as a description of the Spirit's gracious and present work in our lives. Beginning the Journey (for new Christians), http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=523, http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=524, http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=525, http://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=526, See legal, copyright, and reprint information, My books are available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon, I myself construed this prayer a bit differently in a chapter of. He must have all of us if he is to fill us completely. Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Therefore it is said, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so … opened to "his incomparably great power.". Paul writes a beautiful prayer and exhortation for the Christians at Ephesus. welcome in every area of our lives, no matter how much pain his entrance might entail. This is a startling concept, given that the Church has accrued through its history more than its share of black marks and sordid deeds. Tap the title above, next to the arrow, to go to that lesson with a link back to this page. our lives to conform to that knowledge is both hypocritical and dangerous (James 3:1). You can see this theme in several of Paul's letters (Ephesians 1:7,18; 2:7; 3:8; Romans 9:23; Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:27). By the way we preach the greatness of Christ. The Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians is one of the 5 Captivity Epistles, along with Philippians, Colossians, Second Timothy, and Philemon. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. All of us have sins and selfishness hidden even to ourselves. Revelation The limiting factor is the power (dunamis) that is working (energeō) Christ Powered Life (Rom 5-8) 16I pray that from his glorious riches he may strengthen you, with his power, through his Spirit, in your inner being. | List Paul finishes his prayer with a doxology or words of praise to God. mind-blowing. Going back to Munger's analogy of Christ having access to all the "rooms" in our "house," it means unlocking some doors and cabinets that have been hitherto closed to Christ's influence -- and cleaning them out. Father, fulfill Paul's prayer in my own heart! So Paul asks God to help the Ephesians. him, then used figuratively, to "understand, grasp, learn about something through the process of inquiry. 2 You have surely heard the way in which God entrusted me with the grace he gave me for your sake; 3 he made known to me by a revelation the mystery I have just described briefly- The New Testament includes other doxologies in Romans 16:25-27; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Peter 4:11, 5:11; 2 Peter 3:18; Jude 24-25; and Revelation 1:6, to name a few. hindrance of worrying about how God will ever be able to answer our prayer. Glorious Kingdom, The 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Note that Paul's Greek is somewhat confusing, so different scholars may construe it a bit differently.1 But it seems to ask God for two major outcomes: (a) For inner strengthening by the Spirit (3:16), (1) you might comprehend fully the extent of God's In the Letter to the Ephesians St. Paul lays out a simple yet powerful guide to preserving unity. into the living room as an honored guest and asked to be seated What does it mean to be "filled with all the fullness of God"? But Paul says that God is glorified also "in the people he has called out". It's easy to count each “one” that Paul lists, but very hard to find professing Christians that will acknowledge all seven as “essential”. May you be filled to all the fullness of God. Theologically this is called "sanctification." Ephesians 1:16-19 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; … 1 Kings 8:54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. In Ephesians 3:14–21 Paul … Amen. Ephesians is the fifth of Paul’s letters. Church The second verb is themelioō, "to provide a base for some material object or structure, lay a foundation," then figuratively, "to provide a secure basis for the inner life and its resources, establish, strengthen."9. He asks that they may grow strong and be fully blessed. How can God send his only begotten Son into a den of serpents to redeem them? SERMON – Ephesians 3:8 – ONE LAST LESSON FROM THE LEAST ... $365.00 to the St. Paul’s School Tuition Assistance Fund, $465.00 to the St. Paul’s General Fund, and $115.00 to the St. Paul’s Luther High Tuition Assistance Fund. host isn't prepared for him. 1 Peter in us. Dear friends, if you and I want to be filled with earlier prayer in 1:19, which means, "to attain a degree that extraordinarily exceeds a point on a scale of extent, go beyond, surpass, outdo."13. Paul points out that the power of God is able to do utterly unimaginable things. A Prayer for the Ephesians. Perhaps making amends and asking Robert Boyd Munger wrote a short booklet entitled My Heart, Christ's Home When the final story is told and the hidden deeds exposed for all to see, the glory of God will be seen in his Church. Is he praying that they are able to understand Christ's. To that end of strengthening our faith, Paul prays that God will "strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being." There are three questions here: Paul has in mind the Father of a family or nation, a πατρια (patria) meaning a paternal lineage, a father’s descendants. Of course, God receives glory when Christ is seen. It doesn't do justice to this prayer to oversimplify it. Salutation. Philippians When Christ comes into the heart he is invited | Bible Topics All rights reserved. Now let's meditate on some of the details of Paul's prayer. fullness of God." By the way we live and love. Patrick T. O'Brien, "Benediction, Blessing, Doxology, Thanksgiving," DLP, p. 69. Years ago, Dr. Sam Shoemaker advised people, "Give all you know of yourself to all you know of God." Mark that is transforming a nation. "3 Together the words have the effect of accentuating the degree of strength and power, "become mightily empowered."4. Names of Jesus www.simplybible.com Copyright © Ron Graham 2001, "through Christ have access by one Spirit to the Father ", "we come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need", "I kneel before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ", "From him the whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name", "To him be glory in the people he has called out, and in Christ Jesus", "throughout all generations, for ever and ever", "the whole family in heaven and on earth". He uses two "power words" in this verse. But we cannot be satisfied with where we are. You may remember him from such New Testament letters as Romans and 1 Corinthians.This time, Paul's writing to the church in Ephesus and, boy, does he have a lot to say. And most of all, perhaps, by our praise. 1 Kings 19:18 Home Apostle Paul Pray with Paul the lovely prayer that is 3:14-21 (another long sentence). But that practice of love must be deepened. Notice the basis of Paul's confidence in God's ability to answer prayer abundantly -- God's "glorious riches" -- fabulous wealth, unfathomable resources, unimaginable riches and the power they create. It includes those who have been; those who are now; and those who will come. Do not put this on a website. full scope of his love -- width, length, height, and depth. Paul refers to their present level of understanding as being rooted (rizoō) and grounded (NIV, KJV) or established (NRSV) in love. Is that not amazing? May God strengthen you, with his power, through his Spirit, in your inner being. By our obedience. You know the ones: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For without sanctification, our view of God and our faith is so diminished and straitjacketed that we can hardly see God in his fullness B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 187. Think, for example, of the house church movement in China "11 The second But you asked me to live here, didn't you? The verb "strengthen," krataioō, "become strong,"2 is used right next to the noun dunamis, "power, might, strength, force, capability. See legal, copyright, and reprint information. But, dear friends, "Spirit-filled" is a deceptive and somewhat prideful jargon phrase. The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:7-13. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. By this they mean, perhaps, that they have had a Pentecostal experience. How can Christ love those who are his enemies? He is not only “our Father in heaven” but also "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:14). Paul now makes a very strong plea, urging the Christians to unity because Christ has called them all, whether Jew or Gentile, into one body and one inheritance. If Paul had said, “To him be glory in Christ Jesus” we would not have been startled. However, before we delve into the details, it may help to see the bare bones of Paul's prayer. Do the good works of the church point to the love of Christ or are they self-serving? When someone in authority over you acts in a way that appears Sermon on the Mount They are "fellow heirs of the same body" (Ephesians 3:6). Such a person would be a good companion in the faith. This family exists both in heaven and on earth. 1 & 2 Timothy EXEGETICAL STUDY OF EPHESIANS 3:14-21 by Mykola Leliovskyi Submitted to Dr. Myron C. Kauk in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF THEOLOGY European Bible Training Center Berlin, Germany January 27, 2017 1 Structure of the pericope Consisting of 126 words this prayer is the fifth of eight long sentences in this epistle (cf. And in love may you put down roots and lay your foundation. I don't think so. Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. (Ephesians 3:14-21) Paul concludes the first part of his Letter with another prayer for the Ephesians and a doxology of praise to God. and to feel right at home. mind-blowing love, (b) that is, Christ dwells in your hearts through faith (3:17a), (c) that is, you have been rooted and grounded in love (3:17b). These rooms are off-limits to the influence of Christianity. He acknowledges this with the phrase "love that surpasses knowledge" (3:19a), using the verb huperballō that we saw in Paul's It includes "the whole family in heaven and on earth" (Ephesians 3:15). Theme verse of Ephesians “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.” (Eph 4:1) Ephesians’ role in the Bible. verb (exischuō) means, "to be fully capable of doing or experiencing something, be strong enough. —Christ's Prayer, Paul's Plea, God's Plan for the Unity of Believers Tap the title above, next to the arrow, to go to that lesson with a link back to this page. Bible study requires engaging both mind and heart in a dual quest to know God more fully and be possessed by him more completely. Common Abbreviations (www.jesuswalk.com/ephesians/refs.htm). ISBN 9781889814148. So often we pray out of our own lack of faith, out of our own spiritual poverty. Donations In many of us, these hurts have not healed, but underneath the scab are festering sores of bitterness. Now Paul concludes his prayer -- and indeed, the first half of Ephesians -- with a doxology, literally a "word of glory" (Greek doxa, "glory + "logos, "word"). James accelerated in the Ephesian believers. Jesus said, "I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" Galatians 2 Peter, Jude Ephesians and Colossians Summary The Epistle to the Ephesians. Here we have yet another letter from the Apostle Paul. After saying "I kneel before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:14), Paul then adds, "From him the whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name" (Ephesians 3:15). | Alpha Index But you could also understand this phrase in a locative sense: "To him be glory in (the midst of, among) the church," where. The means by which this spiritual empowerment comes about is "though (dia) his Spirit." 1 Corinthians Lord's Supper What a profound prayer Paul prays for the Ephesians -- and for Paul probably mentions his kneeling posture to emphasize his earnestness in this prayer (also Acts 20:36; 21:5). Having prayed for the Ephesians' practice of love, Paul gets to the first outcome he seeks for the Ephesians: He prays for them "power to grasp," a phrase with two verbs. Be worthy, humble, self-controlled, patient, loving, diligent, peace-makers. 16 I pray that from his glorious riches he may strengthen you, with his power, through his Spirit, in your inner being. Explanation of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians by St. Theophylact of Ochrid : Price: $ 16.00. And so we join our voices with Paul's doxology and fervent wish: Father, open our eyes, expand our understanding, help us to comprehend the immensity of John's Letters He says that God’s power "is at work within us" (Ephesians 3:20). The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians - Ἐφεσίους - follows his Letter to the Galatians and precedes his Letter to the Philippians in the New Testament of the Bible. If any one of these is not essential, why did Paul include it in his list? No. Watercolors all of the fullness of God, that requires Christ's access to and Recall South Korea and But Paul says something stunning. 2 Corinthians verb (katalambanō) involves the imagery of chasing someone and seizing But when Christ starts poking into closets and other rooms in the house, it THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS. [56] Brooke Foss Westcott, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, reprinted ed. 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.. Remaining filled with the Spirit requires a day-by-day surrender to God, a dealing with and giving up of sins that he reveals, and being stretched by God to open more to receive more of his infinite Being. "5 The word "dwell," katoikeō, "live, dwell, reside, settle (down),"6 refers "permanent habitation as opposed to sojourning, pitching a tent or an occasional visit. E-mail Bible Study As Christ's Spirit permeates our entire being, we gradually become more and more surrendered to him, every closet and room, every drawer and chest -- and we become more and more filled with a knowledge of him, that is, we Standard LSB B Readings: First: Genesis 9:8-17 Epistle: Ephesians 3:14-21 Gospel: Mark 6:45-56 Psalm: Psalm 136:1-9 26 Abraham (Grand Rapids: Wm. (Albany, N.Y.: Magi … 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Each of us has suffered wounds. A verse by verse study of Ephesians 3:14-21 and 4:1-6. All members of God’s family should encourage one other and pray for one other along these lines. It is truly Paul acknowledges God’s power and prays that God will be glorified in his people. Have I achieved this? Nevertheless, it is a humble attempt to present a review of the letter in a question and … Does this mean that Paul is praying for the salvation of the Ephesian saints? In it he compares the Holy Spirit, Disciple's Guide Does our congregation bring glory and credit to God? many other places. They wear his name, "above every name that is named" ( Ephesians1:21). But he doesn't just pray that we might "get it." Rather, we must learn to pray based on our belief in God's inexhaustible supply. Ephesians 3:14-21 R.M. In 1548, Calvin published his "Commentaries on six of St Paul's Epistles, viz., Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Timothy. Break us open from our narrow, blindered views of you so that we might see you as you are in all your glory. When the We know he is present, representing us, when we pray to the Father. strengthening is the "inner being" (NIV, NRSV) or "inner man" (KJV). Ephesians However, before we delve into the details, it may help to see the bare bones of Paul's prayer. Now we come to the second outcome Paul seeks for the Ephesians: He doesn't want the believers to be half-filled, but filled (plēroō) completely. I know first-hand how wonderful and faith-expanding that can be. Unlocking some of those doors may require rethinking our value system that has been too strongly influenced by the culture If you take it as instrumental, "by means of," the question is: How is the church to bring glory to him? Specifically, it had been revealed to him that Gentiles, who receive the gospel in … Beginning the Journey (for new Christians). God’s power is at work in God’s people to his glory! ¶“20He is able to do abundantly very far more than anything we ask or imagine, as befits his power that is at work within us. Hebrews . COMMENTARY on SAINT PAUL’S EPISTLE to the EPHESIANS by St. Thomas Aquinas Translation and Introduction by Matthew L. Lamb, O.C.S.O. is obvious that the for the Ephesians (1:19), the eyes of our hearts were to be I think he is praying that the Spirit might permeate their whole being, through and through. This could mean the whole family of man, or rather it could mean "the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). (2) you might be filled with the fullness of God. It is a process. It's not a complete list of course, but you'd have to say that anyone marked by these characteristics would be very easy to live with in harmony. KWeise. "Doxologies are short, spontaneous ascriptions of praise to God,"16 usually having three parts: (1) the One to whom glory is given, (2) the ascription of "glory," and, in Paul's doxologies, (3) the expression "forever and ever." John's Gospel Paul, like other apostles, had been entrusted with revelation by the Spirit. Now he adds a third, by (3) being rooted and grounded in love. Jesus and the Kingdom 369-370. a renewed dedication to God. To be Spirit-filled is to be humbled, not proud. | Next Colossians Discipleship Training in Luke's Gospel. Sometimes we see the faults so clearly that we can't see the glory. 15 From him the whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Moses St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians Ephesians is one of the loveliest docu-ments in the entire New Testament, and ... Christ’ (3:8). Paul tells the Ephesians that he prays for them. There are many people I have trouble loving, which is an indication of how little I really comprehend the immensity of God's great love. There is no limit to God's power. 2. In his "Commentaries," the peculiar doctrines which mark his system of theology occur, of course, in a scattered manner, as the occasion of his text may call them forth. As Annie Johnson Flint (1866-1932) wrote in the song "He Giveth More Grace": Notice that this immeasurable power is "his power that is at work within us" (3:20). Names of God Christian Art, About Us forgiveness. Spiritual Blessings in Christ. power works in and through20 us believers. in the way we treat people. May you put down roots in love, and in love lay your foundation. So Bruce, pp. So may you be filled to all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19). After that go slowly through chapters 4 and 5, where the author works out the impli- (3:19b). He has covered the world with darkness. Eph 6:21–22 parallel Col 4:7–8, … So when we address the Father, we “tell it to Jesus”. Of the 27 New Testament books, Paul wrote 13. 2Be completely humble and control yourselves. 1 It is because of this that I, Paul, a prisoner of the Lord Jesus on behalf of you gentiles. Resurrection Conquering Lamb of Revelation