Advanced Commentary
Texts -- Ephesians 3:10-21 (NET)
Pericope
NET
- Eph 3:14-21 -- Prayer for Strengthened Love
Bible Dictionary
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Prayer
[ebd] is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching t...
[isbe] PRAYER - prar (deesis, proseuche, (enteuxis; for an excellent discussion of the meaning of these see Thayer's Lexicon, p. 126, under the word deesis; the chief verbs are euchomai, proseuchomai, and deomai, especially in Luke...
[smith] The object of this article will be to touch briefly on -- The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; Its types and examples of prayer. Scripture ...
[nave] PRAYER. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Answer to, Promised; Answered, Instances of Answered; Confession in; Importunity in, Instances of Importunity in; Intercessor...
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Intercession
[isbe] INTERCESSION - in-ter-sesh'-un (pagha`, "to make intercession"; originally "to strike upon," or "against"; then in a good sense, "to assail anyone with petitions," "to urge," and when on behalf of another, "to intercede" (Ru...
[nave] INTERCESSION. Of One Person with Another 1 Sam. 2:25 Instances of: Reuben for Joseph, Gen. 37:21, 22. Judah for Joseph, Gen. 37:26, 27. Pharaoh's chief baker for Joseph, Gen. 41:9-13, with Gen. 40:14. Jonathan for David...
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Fellowship
[ebd] (1.) With God, consisting in the knowledge of his will (Job 22:21; John 17:3); agreement with his designs (Amos 3:2); mutual affection (Rom. 8: 38, 39); enjoyment of his presence (Ps. 4:6); conformity to his image (1 John 2:...
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Jesus, The Christ
[nave] JESUS, THE CHRIST. Index of Sub-topics History of; Miscellaneous Facts Concerning; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Ascension of; Atonement by; Attributes of; Compassion of; Confessing; Creator; Death of; Design of His...
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Wisdom
[nave] WISDOM Of Joseph, Gen. 41:16, 25-39; Acts 7:10. Of Moses, Acts 7:22. Of Bezaleel, Ex. 31:3-5; 35:31-35; 36:1. Of Aholiab, Ex. 31:6; 35:34, 35; 36:1; of other skilled artisans, Ex. 36:2; of women, Ex. 35:26. Of Hiram, 1 K...
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Church
[isbe] CHURCH - church: I. PRE-CHRISTIAN HISTORY OF THE TERM II. ITS ADOPTION BY JESUS III. ITS USE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. In the Gospels 2. In Acts 3. In the Pauline Epistles IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH 1. Faith 2. Fellowship 3. ...
[nave] CHURCH, the collective body of believers. Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics Called in the O.T., The Congregation, Ex. 12:3, 6, 19, 47; 16:1, 2, 9, 10, 22; Lev. 4:13, 15; 10:17; 24:14. Called in the N.T., Church, Matt. 16:18; ...
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REGENERATION
[isbe] REGENERATION - re-jen-er-a'-shun, re-: I. THE TERM EXPLAINED 1. First Biblical Sense (Eschatological) 2. Second Biblical Sense (Spiritual) II. THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF REGENERATION 1. In the Old Testament 2. In the Teaching ...
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God
[nave] GOD. List of Sub-Topics Miscellany; Unclassified Scriptures Relating to; Access to; Compassion of; Creator; Creator of Mankind; Eternity of; Faithfulness of; Fatherhood of; Favor of; Foreknowledge of; Glory of; Goodness of...
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Love
[nave] LOVE. Of Children for Parents See: Children. Of God See: God, Love of. Of Mankind for God Ex. 20:6 Deut. 5:10. Deut. 6:5; Deut. 7:9; Deut. 10:12; Deut. 11:1; Deut. 13:3; Deut. 30:6 vs. 16,20.; Josh. 22:5 Deut. 11:1, 13...
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EPHESIANS, EPISTLE TO THE
[isbe] EPHESIANS, EPISTLE TO THE - I. AUTHENTICITY 1. External Evidence 2. Internal Evidence II. PLACE AND DATE OF WRITING III. DESTINATION 1. Title 2. The Inscription 3. The Evidence of the Letter Itself 4. Conclusion IV. RELATION...
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DWELL
[ebd] Tents were in primitive times the common dwellings of men. Houses were afterwards built, the walls of which were frequently of mud (Job 24:16; Matt. 6:19, 20) or of sun-dried bricks. God "dwells in light" (1 Tim. 6:16; 1 Joh...
[isbe] DWELL - dwel: (1) In the Old Testament "dwell" is a translation of 9 words, of which by far the most frequent is yashabh, "to sit down," translated "dwell" over 400 times (Gen 4:20; Josh 20:4; 1 Ch 17:1,4,5, etc.); also very...
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PAUL, THE APOSTLE, 1
[isbe] PAUL, THE APOSTLE, 1 - pol, I. Sources 1. The Acts 2. The Thirteen Epistles (1) Pauline Authorship (2) Lightfoot's Grouping (a) First Group (1 and 2 Thessalonians) (b) Second Group (1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Romans, (c...
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TRINE IMMERSION; TRIUNE IMMERSION
[isbe] TRINE IMMERSION; TRIUNE IMMERSION - trin tri'-un i-mur'-shun: I. LINGUISTIC BASIS 1. Immersion 2. Triple Action II. DOCTRINAL ARGUMENT III. HISTORICAL PRACTICE 1. The Jews 2. John the Baptist 3. The Didache 4. Justin Martyr ...
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Glory
[isbe] GLORY - glo'-ri (substantive): I. METHOD OF TREATMENT II. GENERAL USE OF THE TERM 1. As Applied to External Things 2. As Applied to Yahweh III. THE USES OF KABHODH 1. Material Wealth 2. Human Dignity and Majesty 3. "My Soul"...
[nave] GLORY God is, to his people, Psa. 3:3; Zech. 2:5. Christ is, to his people, Isa. 60:1; Luke 2:32. The gospel ordained to be, to saints, 1 Cor. 2:7. Of the gospel exceeds that of the law, 2 Cor. 3:9, 10. The joy of saints...
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Paradox
[nave] PARADOX. Prov. 13:7; Matt. 10:39 Matt. 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33. John 12:25; 1 Cor. 3:18; 2 Cor. 6:4, 8-10; 2 Cor. 12:4, 10, 11; Eph. 3:17-19; Phil. 3:7; Rev. 21:18, 21
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MYSTERY
[ebd] the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph. 1:9, 10; 3:8-11; Col. 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51)...
[isbe] MYSTERY - mis'-ter-i (musterion; from mustes, "one initiated into mysteries"; mueo "to initiate," muo, "to close" the lips or the eyes; stem mu-, a sound produced with closed lips; compare Latin mutus, "dumb"): Its usual mod...
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Righteous
[nave] RIGHTEOUS. Index of Sub-Topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics; Contrasted with the Wicked; Described; Promises to, Expressed or Implied. Miscellany of Minor Sub-Topics Compared with: The sun, Judg. 5:31; Matt. 13:43; sta...
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Salvation
[isbe] SALVATION - sal-va'-shun: I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 1. General 2. Individualism 3. Faith 4. Moral Law 5. Sacrifices 6. Ritual Law II. INTERMEDIATE LITERATURE 1. General 2. The Law III. THE TEACHING OF CHRIST 1. The Baptist 2. ...
[nave] SALVATION (Scriptures relating directly and remotely to a topic of the nature of this one, are difficult to separate accurately into sub-topics without giving space beyond reasonable limits. The plan of salvation, begun and ...
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Predestination
[ebd] This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all...
[isbe] PREDESTINATION - pre-des-ti-na'-shun (prothesis, prognosis proorismos): 1. Predestination as a Biblical Question 2. Its Fundamental Importance 3. The Nature of Predestination 4. The Doctrine in Scripture 5. Historic Rise and...
[nave] PREDESTINATION. Gen. 21:12, 13; Ex. 9:16; Ex. 33:19; Deut. 7:7, 8; Deut. 10:15 Deut. 4:37. Deut. 32:8; Josh. 11:20; 1 Sam. 12:22; 1 Kin. 12:15; 1 Kin. 20:42; 2 Kin. 19:25; 2 Chr. 6:6; Job 23:13, 14; Psa. 33:12; Psa. 65:4; P...
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LIGHT
[isbe] LIGHT - lit ('or, ma'or; phos; many other words): 1. Origin of Light 2. A Comprehensive Term (1) Natural Light (2) Artificial Light (3) Miraculous Light (4) Mental, Moral, Spiritual Light 3. An Attribute of Holiness (1) God ...
Hymns
(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
- BagiMu Tuhan, Nyanyianku [KJ.8]
- Berlutut di PalunganMu [KJ.115]
- Di Salib Yesus di Kalvari [KJ.34] ( Down at the Cross / Glory to His Name )
- Gapuramu Lapangkanlah [KJ.87]
- Hai Dunia, Gembiralah [KJ.119] ( Joy to the World )
- Jauh dari Sorga Datangku' [KJ.98] ( From Heaven Above to Earth I Come / Vom Himmel hock da komm ich her )
- Kami Berdoa, Ya Roh Kudus [KJ.230]
- Kasih Tuhanku [KJ.185]
- Kau Mutiara Hatiku [KJ.324]
- Mahakasih Yang Ilahi [KJ.58] ( Love Divine, All Loves Excelling )
- O Roh Pencipta, Datanglah [KJ.229a]
- O Roh Pencipta, Datanglah [KJ.229b]
- Pandang, ya Bapa dalam RahmatMu [KJ.304]
- Pujilah Khalik Semesta [KJ.303a]
- Pujilah Khalik Semesta [KJ.303b]
- Pujilah Tuhan, Sang Raja [KJ.10]
- Roh Kudus, Turunlah [KJ.233]
- T'lah Kutemukan Dasar Kuat [KJ.38]
- Takhta Mulia di Tempat Baka [KJ.108] ( Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne )
- Tuhan Allah, NamaMu [KJ.5] ( Grosser Gott, wir loben dich / Holy God, We praise Thy Name / Te Deum laudamus )
- Tuhan, Ambil Hidupku [KJ.365a] ( Take My Life and Let It Be )
- Tuhan, Ambil Hidupku [KJ.365b] ( Take My Life and Let It Be )
- Tuhan, Ambil Hidupku [KJ.365c] ( Take My Life and Let It Be )
- Turun, Roh Allah, dalam Hatiku [KJ.239] ( Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart )
- Ya Tuhan, Kami Puji NamaMu Besar [KJ.7]
- Ya Yesus, Dikau Kurindukan [KJ.84]
- [Eph 3:14] O Lord, Our God, In Adoration
- [Eph 3:15] Hail! Sweetest, Dearest Tie That Binds
- [Eph 3:15] How Sweet The Hour
- [Eph 3:15] Let Saints On Earth In Concert Sing
- [Eph 3:16] Come, Gracious Lord, Descend And Dwell
- [Eph 3:16] Spirit, Strength Of All The Weak
- [Eph 3:17] Come, Dearest Lord
- [Eph 3:17] Into My Heart
- [Eph 3:17] Jesus Loves Me
- [Eph 3:17] O Love, How Deep
- [Eph 3:17] O The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus
- [Eph 3:17] O Thou Whose Gracious Presence Blest
- [Eph 3:18] Jesus, Thy Boundless Love To Me
- [Eph 3:19] Grander Than Ocean’s Story
- [Eph 3:19] He Is All In All To Me
- [Eph 3:19] His Love Is All I Need
- [Eph 3:19] His Love Passeth Knowledge
- [Eph 3:19] In The Heart Of Jesus
- [Eph 3:19] It Passeth Knowledge
- [Eph 3:19] Love Surpassing Human Love
- [Eph 3:19] My Song Is Love Unknown
- [Eph 3:19] O The Depth Of Love Divine
- [Eph 3:19] Precious Love Of Jesus, The
- [Eph 3:19] Sweeter As The Days Go By
- [Eph 3:19] Tender Love Of Jesus
- [Eph 3:20] How Glorious Is The Life Above
- [Eph 3:21] Far Down The Ages Now
- [Eph 3:21] Glory Be To The Father
Questions
- The only way out of any form of spiritual darkness is a firm faith in Christ. Spiritual darkness always means that in some way or other we are doubting him. We are often tempted to think that something else is necessary to be...
- God want's us to be compassionate to others in need, but we must always realize our prime purpose is to proclaim the gospel and nurture them to maturity in Christ. The New Testament does not proclaim a social gospel as it is ...
- Prophets are clearly distinct from teachers. In basic terms, a prophet is one through whom revelation is given, while a teacher is one who explains revelation. In Acts 13:1 we find that both prophets and teachers were mini...
- "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). We are commanded to have faith in God and in Christ (John 14:1; John 6:29) and yet it, of itself, is the gift and work of God in us, t...
- The literary context and argument must be kept in view when looking at this or any other passage. Paul has clearly affirmed his confidence of their salvation along with their calling to live as set apart believers. They had r...
- We find the assurance of heavenly recognition in a number of passages both in the Old Testament and New Testament David said of his dead son: "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (II Sam. 12:23). See also the pa...
- Old Testament saints went to a place called Abraham's bosom, which apparently refers to a paradise for Old Testament believers at the time of their death (cf. Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4). This was a heavenly place, but evidently...
- If you have not read Dan Wallace's outstanding article, What is the Head Covering in 1 Corinthians 11 and Does It Apply to Us Today? I would encourage you to do so. You'll find it in the "Prof's Soapbox" section on our web si...
- Too often people use phrases in a ritualistic, religious way without understanding why, but the concept of praying "in Jesus' name" has biblical origins and is how we should pray because of what it means. All aspects of one's...
- People should not pray to Mary or to any of the Patron Saints. The teaching of Scripture and of the Savior is that we are to pray to the Father through the Son (our one and only mediator) in the power of the Holy Spirit. Comp...
Sermon Illustrations
Dont Quit
;
Ephesians 3:12;
Qualities Needed in Parenting;
Biblical Resources;
2 Peter 1:11;
Ephesians 2:18;
Romans 5:1-2;
Football Scenario;
Greek Words;
Ephesians 4:11-15;
We Have Access!;
Categories of Angels
Resources/Books
Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)
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Chapters 1-9, as we have seen, contain discourses that Solomon evidently wrote urging his sons to choose the way of wisdom for their lives.92At 10:1 we begin the part of the book that sets forth what the wise way is in a vari...
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8:5 Centurions were Roman military officers each of whom controlled 100 men, therefore the name "centurion."They were the military backbone of the Roman Empire. Interestingly every reference to a centurion in the New Testamen...
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Luke organized his narrative so Jesus' praying in the garden follows immediately His instructions to the disciples about their preparing for the crisis to come. The present pericope shows Jesus' proper approach to it and the ...
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17:24 Here Jesus' request clearly included the Eleven with all the elect. He wanted them all to observe (Gr. theorosin) the glory that the Father would restore to the Son following His ascension (v. 5; cf. 1 John 3:2). This a...
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Luke recorded this incident to show the method and direction of the church's expansion to God-fearing Gentiles who were attracted to Judaism at this time. This man had visited Jerusalem to worship, was studying the Old Testam...
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Luke now returned to Peter's continuing ministry in Judea. Luke apparently recorded the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabitha to show that the gospel was being preached effectively in a region of Palestine that both Je...
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10:44 Peter did not need to call for his hearers to repent on this occasion. As soon as he gave them enough information to trust Jesus Christ, they did so. Immediately the Holy Spirit fell on them filling them (v. 47; 11:15; ...
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Paul's original readers would have had another question because of what he had written in chapters 1-4. Is this method of justification safe? Since it is by faith, it seems quite unsure. Paul next gave evidence that this meth...
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8:5 Here Paul began to elaborate the difference between "flesh"and "Spirit."This distinction is difficult to grasp because both terms have more than one meaning. To "walkaccording to the flesh"(v. 4) means to carry out in con...
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The apostle brought together words and ideas from his earlier epistles as well as from this one in this doxology.16:25 The apostle was confident that God could do for his readers what they needed (cf. 1:11; Eph. 3:20). The go...
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Paul's reference to the Holy Spirit's power (vv. 4-5) led him to elaborate on the Spirit's ministry in enlightening the minds of believers and unbelievers alike. The Corinthians needed to view ministry differently. The key to...
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Paul proceeded with a second supporting argument to correct the Corinthians' perversion regarding women's head coverings.11:7 Men should not cover their heads in Christian worship because they are the glory of God. Whereas Pa...
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Paul turned next to show that the resurrection of Christ makes the resurrection of believers both necessary and inevitable. The consequences of this fact are as glorious as the effects of His not being raised are dismal. Thos...
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4:16 In view of the reasons just sited, the apostle restated that he did not lose heart (cf. v. 1). However, Paul's sufferings, while not fatal, were destroying his body. Nevertheless even this did not discourage him for even...
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Paul had cited his freedom to minister without the Corinthians' financial support and his sufferings in ministry as grounds for boasting. He next mentioned the special visions and revelations that God had granted him. He refe...
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The Book of Ephesians enables us to view God's creation from an alpine altitude. When we study this book, it is as though we have climbed a high mountain peak because the book gives us that kind of perspective on what God has...
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I. Salutation 1:1-2II. The Christian's calling 1:3-3:21A. Individual calling 1:3-2:101. The purpose: glory 1:3-142. The means: knowledge 1:15-233. The motive: grace 2:1-10B. Corporate calling 2:11-3:191. Present unity 2:11-22...
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In most of his epistles Paul began by setting forth foundational truth and then concluded by applying that truth to the lives of his readers. This pattern is very obvious in Ephesians where the first three chapters deal with ...
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". . . the first three chapters are one long prayer, culminating in the great doxology at the end of chapter 3. There is in fact nothing like this in all Paul's letters. This is the language of lyrical prayer, not the languag...
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Christians should bless or praise (Gr. eulogetos, speak well of) God the Father for bestowing these blessings. Paul was thinking of God as both the Father of believers (v. 2) and the Father of His Son (v. 3). God has already ...
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The spiritual blessings that have come to us are the work of all three members of the Trinity. God Himself is the basis of these blessings.1:4 The first blessing is election. God has sovereignly chosen some people for salvati...
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1:17 Paul returned to his concept of God as the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 3; cf. Matt. 6:9). He combined with this fact the idea that all glory belongs to the Father (vv. 6, 12, 14; cf. Acts 7:2; 1 Cor. 2:8).Paul as...
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Essentially Jesus Christ's death has resulted in peace between Gentile believers and Jewish believers and peace between Gentile believers and God.2:14 To understand this verse we must discover what dividing wall Paul had in m...
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Paul began to pray for his readers again (cf. vv. 1, 14), but he interrupted himself to tell them more about the church. What he said in this section gives background information concerning the church as a mystery.3:1 "For th...
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Paul had explained that Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ (2:15). Therefore he prayed that they might experience the unity that was theirs spiritually in their relations with one another. Verses 14-19 are also one sentence ...
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Practical application (chs. 4-6) now follows doctrinal instruction (chs. 1-3).
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Paul had explained the unity of Jewish and Gentile believers in the church and had prayed for the realization of that unity in experience (2:11-3:21). He now told how to attain a spiritual walk, namely a life that manifests t...
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4:1 "Therefore"or "then"refers to what Paul had said in chapters 1-3. To walk worthily or in balance means to harmonize one's conduct with his or her calling. Calling here refers to God's calling to live in unity as Jews and ...
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Having described the basis of Christian unity Paul next explained the means by which we can preserve it, namely with the gifts that the Spirit gives.4:7 Whereas each believer has received grace (unmerited favor and divine ena...
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The resumptive inferential particle translated "Therefore"marks the beginning of a new paragraph in Paul's thought (cf. 4:1, 17; 5:1, 15). He related three commands concerning walking (living) in the light in these verses and...
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That this section is distinct from the five that precede it is evident from two facts. Paul introduced it differently, and the emphasis in it is on God's resources. Earlier Paul urged the strengthening and growth of the body ...
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Paul's anticipation of his defense before Nero brought him back to the present in his thinking. His exposition of the mystery of the church to his readers had ended. He had also explained their proper conduct in view of their...
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Abbot, T. K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians. International Critical Commentary series. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1897.Aldrich, Roy L. "The Gift of God."Biblioth...
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So far everything Paul had written about Christ other New Testament writers also revealed, but what follows in verse 18 is uniquely Pauline.In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Romans 12:4-8 Paul used the human body to illustrate th...
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Paul's role in the household of God (the meaning of "stewardship") was that of a servant who fully expounded God's revelation for the benefit of his Gentile readers."He was a servant of the church, but in the deepest sense he...
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Paul explained his reason for writing this epistle and, in particular, what he had just said. He did so to impress on Timothy a view of the church that was foundational to all his instructions in this letter.3:14-15 In view o...
Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)
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The whole family in heaven and earth.'--Eph. 3:15.GRAMMATICALLY, we are driven to recognise that the Revised Version is more correct than the Authorised, when it reads every family,' instead of the whole family.' There is in ...
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That Be would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.'--Eph. 3:16.IN no part of Paul's letters does he rise to a higher level than in his prayers, and non...
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That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; ye being rooted and grounded in love.'--Eph. 3:17.WE have here the second step of the great staircase by which Paul's fervent desires for his Ephesian friends climbed towards tha...
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That ye, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.'--Eph. 3:18-19.THIS constitutes the third of the petitions in...
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The breadth, and length, and depth, and height.'--Eph. 3:18.OF what? There can, I think, be no doubt as to the answer. The next clause is evidently the continuation of the idea begun in that of our text, and it runs: And to k...
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That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.'--Eph. 3:19.THE Apostle's many-linked prayer, which we have been considering in successive sermons, has reached its height. It soars to the very Throne of God. There can be...
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Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21. Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages. world without end. Amen....