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 in the Greek text.
"In the first prayer [1:15-23], the emphasis is on enlightenment; but in this prayer, the emphasis is on enablement. It is not so much a matter of knowingas being--laying our hands on what God has for us and by faith making it a vital part of our lives."92
3:14 "For this reason"goes back to verse 1 from which Paul departed in verses 2-13 to give more information about the mystery. Bowing the knees and kneeling in prayer were postures that reflected an attitude of submission to God. Kneeling was not the common posture for prayer. Usually people stood when they prayed (cf. Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 13). Praying on one's knees signified especially fervent praying (cf. Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60).93"Before"suggests intimate face-to-face contact with the heavenly Father (cf. Matt. 6:9).
3:15 Paul made a word play from the word "father"(v. 14, Gr. patera). A father is the head of the typical family (Gr. patria). God is not only the Father of the family in which Gentile and Jewish believers are one (i.e., the church), but He is the prototype father. He is the ultimate Father over every other family that has a father. Every human family exists as a family with a father because of God's relationships as a Father.
3:16 In this prayer Paul requested one thing: that God would strengthen his readers in the inner man. He asked that God would provide this power (Gr. dunamis) according to his vast resources (cf. 1:18). The power comes to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit (cf. Phil. 1:19) who strengthens our inner man, namely our innermost being (i.e., not just our muscles but our entire person).
3:17 The result of this request is that Christ may be "at home"in the personality of the believer. He indwells every Christian (1 Cor. 12:13) but is at home in the lives of those believers who let Him be first in their attitudes and activities (John 15:14). As the believer keeps trusting and obeying, Jesus Christ can continue to occupy this place in his or her life. Paul was praying that his readers would enjoy intimate fellowship with their Lord (cf. 1 John 1:1-4).
The believer may grasp Christ's love because God has rooted the Christian as a plant and grounded him or her as a building in love. Jesus Christ's lordship over the life produces the love in view here.
Note another reference to the Trinity in verses 14-17: Father (v. 14), Spirit (v. 16), and Son (v. 17; cf. 1:13-14, 17; 2:18, 22).
3:18 When believers accept Jesus Christ's revelation of the mystery of the church, they are able to comprehend that God's love is broad enough to embrace both Jews and Gentiles in the church. They can appreciate that it is long enough to stretch from eternity to eternity. They can see that it is high enough to raise both Jews and Gentiles into the heavenly places. They can understand that it is deep enough to rescue both kinds of people from sin's degradation and from Satan's grip.
3:19 Paul desired that his readers would apprehend the love of Christ fully. Yet he acknowledged that full comprehension of that love is impossible because it is greater than mortals can conceive.
"No matter how much we know of the love of Christ, there is always more to know."94
The ultimate goal of Paul's request was that his readers might be so full of knowledge and appreciation for God that they might allow Christ to control them fully (4:13).
"These four requests are more like four parts to a telescope. One request leads into the next one, and so on."95
