Having reviewed his readers' blessings in Christ, Paul next prayed that they would appreciate and appropriate these good things in their own lives. Verses 15-23 are one sentence in the Greek text as are verses 3-14. Intellectual understanding is one thing, but it is also important that we use this knowledge to come into intimate relationship with God.
As was his custom, Paul first commended his readers for what they were doing well. Then he told them what his prayer requests for them were.
1:15 In view of their spiritual blessings, Paul felt constrained to pray for his original readers. Even though God had greatly blessed them, they needed even more from God. In addition to informing them, Paul also interceded for them.
The apostle had personally witnessed the faith and love of the Ephesians a few years earlier, but he had evidently received fresh reports of their condition. His statement also suggests that "you"may include other churches beside the one or ones located in Ephesus. Faith is the expression of the believer's trust in God, our vertical relationship. Love is the evidence of his or her proper relationship with other people, our horizontal relationship (cf. 6:23; Col. 1:14; 2 Thess. 1:3).
1:16 These qualities in his readers stimulated Paul to give thanks to God for their present condition and to petition Him for their present and future needs. He said he prayed for them repeatedly.35
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 asked God to give the Ephesians a spirit of wisdom and revelation. The spirit in view probably refers to an attitude rather than to the Holy Spirit, wisdom and revelation being the description of that attitude (cf. 1 Cor. 4:21). These attitudes become ours through the ministry of the Holy Spirit to us, however (cf. Isa. 11:2). Wisdom (Gr. sophia, v. 8; 3:10) enables one to perceive reality accurately. Revelation is the unveiling of the subject contemplated, in this case God Himself.
"William Chillingworth said: The Bible, and the Bible only, is the religion of Protestants.' That is true; but so often we would not think so. The exposition of scripture from the pulpit is a first necessity of religious wakening. We are interested, not in what a preacher thinks, but in what God says."36
The end in view was that the readers might gain greater knowledge of God. The Greek word translated "knowledge"(epignosis) refers to exact, complete, experiential knowledge, not just abstract knowledge of God or even facts about Him.37Paul wanted his readers to get to know God more intimately as their Father, to become closer friends with Him (cf. John 15:14).
"To know God personally is salvation (John 17:3). To know Him increasingly is sanctification (Phil 3:10). To know Him perfectly is glorification (1 Cor. 13:9-12)."38
1:18 They would gain this greater knowledge as God would enlighten their understanding. The heart refers to the center of personality in the Bible. The eyes of the heart, a vivid mixed metaphor, suggests not just intellectual understanding but total apprehension of God.39
The reason Paul prayed this prayer was three-fold. He wanted his readers to know (Gr. eidenai) factually three things. First, he wanted them to know the hope that was theirs because God had called them to salvation through election. Every Christian should appreciate his or her sure hope for the future that rests on his or her calling to salvation in the past.
Second, the readers needed to realize that they themselves would be an inheritance that God would receive when they went to be with Him. Paul spoke of the believer's inheritance in verse 14. Here he spoke of God's inheritance. This inheritance will be valuable because believers are people for whom God paid dearly with the blood of His own Son. It is glorious because when we see the Lord we will experience glorification, cleansing, and removal from sin (cf. vv. 6, 17 for other glorious things).
1:19 Third, Paul wanted the Ephesians to know the great power of God that affects the Christian. Power (Gr. dunamis) refers to a spiritually dynamic living force. "Working,""strength,"and "might"or "mighty"further describe this power. These three words describe it as energetic, inherent in God, and able to overcome resistance respectively. This is the power of God that is available to believers.
"By making us His inheritance, God has shown His love. By promising us a wonderful future, He has encouraged our hope. Paul offered something to challenge our faith: the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe' (Eph. 1:19)."40
1:20 God manifested this power in Christ in three instances that Paul cited to help us appreciate it more. God's power resurrected Jesus from the dead and exalted Him to God's right hand in heaven.41The same power is available to us now (cf. Phil. 3:10; Col. 1:11).
1:21 Christ's ascension has resulted in His exaltation over every other authority (cf. Col. 1:16), human and angelic (cf. Phil. 2:8-11), present and future (cf. 1 Cor. 15:23-28). The Jews believed angels controlled human destiny, but Paul saw Jesus Christ doing this.
1:22 The second manifestation of God's power in Christ was the Father's making all things subject to Christ. Adam lost his lordship over creation when he sinned, but Jesus gained lordship over creation by His obedience (1:10; Rom. 5:12-21). His lordship over creation will be obvious in the future when He reigns during the Millennium (Ps. 8:6; 1 Cor. 15:27; Heb. 2:6-8).42
The third manifestation of God's power in Christ is the Son's appointment as Head over the church (cf. 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18). This aspect of His lordship is evident now.43
"There is given to the Church, and for the Church's benefit, a Head who is also Head over all things. The church has authority and power to overcome all opposition because her Leader and Head is Lord of all."44
1:23 The church is both the body of Christ and the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way, namely Jesus Christ. The church is the fullness of Christ probably in the sense that He fills for Himself (middle voice in Greek) the church with blessings (cf. 4:10-11). Jesus Christ who fills all things with all things (i.e., with blessings) is filling the church with blessings. The church could not come into existence until Jesus Christ had ascended into heaven to become its head.45
After showing that believers have received all spiritual blessings (vv. 3-14), Paul prayed that believers might come to know God intimately (v. 17). This is necessary so we might better appreciate our past calling to salvation that gives us hope (v. 18), the future inheritance that we constitute for God (v. 18), and the present power of God available to us (v. 19). God manifested this power in the past in Christ's resurrection and ascension (v. 20-21). He will manifest it in the future by making Jesus Christ the head over all creation (v. 22). He is now manifesting this power in Jesus Christ's headship over the church (vv. 22-23).
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