Ephesians 1:18

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

A prayer for understanding (1:15-23)Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians combines thanksgiving and praise with requests offered in true faith. Paul knows they are converts from paganism, but he expects them to develop a mature understanding of Christianity. He is not content that they should have a few basic Christian beliefs. He wants them to have true wisdom, based on a proper knowledge of God and a clear understanding of all the riches that are theirs through Christ, both in this world and in the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 1:18

understanding = mind. Compare Matthew 22:37 ; &c. Greek. dianoia, but the texts read kardia, heart. being = having been. that . Greek. eis . See Ephesians 1:12 . know . App-132 . the hope of His calling . i.e. to the sonship, Ephesians 1:4-5 ; our acceptance as sons in the "Beloved" (Son). Compare Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:5-7 . His inheritance in the saints . Compare Ephesians 2:7 . Titus 2:14 ; &c. Israel will be God's inheritance ("peculiar treasure", Exodus 19:5 ) on... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Ephesians 1:18

Having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.The eyes of your heart enlightened ... This was a prayer by Paul that God would give true spiritual discernment to the Ephesians. "Both Plato and Aristotle spoke of the `eye of the soul'."[30]; and it is this human faculty that Paul had in mind.Nothing can bless people any more than sensitivity to spiritual truth. It is a sad fact that people... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 1:18

Ephesians 1:18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;— And would give you to have the eyes of your understanding enlightened: Doddridge, more agreeable to the original. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 1:18

18. understanding—The oldest manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read "heart." Compare the contrary state of unbelieving, the heart being in fault (Ephesians 4:18; Matthew 13:15). Translate, "Having the eyes of your heart enlightened" (Ephesians 5:14; Matthew 4:16). The first effect of the Spirit moving in the new creation, as in the original physical creation (Genesis 1:3; 2 Corinthians 4:6). So THEOPHILUS to AUTOLYCUS (1.3), "the ears of the heart." Where spiritual light is, there is life... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:3-21

II. THE CHRISTIAN’S CALLING 1:3-3:21". . . 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 language of argument, and controversy, and rebuke." [Note: William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, p. 76.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:15-23

2. The means: knowledge 1:15-23Having reviewed his readers’ blessings in Christ, Paul next prayed that they would appreciate and appropriate these good things in their own lives. He moved from benediction to intercession. Ephesians 1:15-23 are one sentence in the Greek text, as are Ephesians 1:3-14. Intellectual understanding is one thing, but it is also important that we use this knowledge to come into intimate relationship with God. That is what Paul prayed for in this prayer."For a healthy... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 1:17-23

Supplication 1:17-23 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 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 whole inward self, comprising mind and emotion. The eyes of the heart, a vivid mixed metaphor, suggests not just intellectual understanding but total apprehension of God. In Hebrew thinking, which Paul employed, mixed metaphors enriched the thought rather than confusing it, as in English. [Note: See Derek Kidner, Psalms 1-72, p. 151.] The reason Paul... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:1-23

Thanksgiving for Blessings and Prayer for Wisdom1, 2. The salutation. I. In the Salutations to the Colossians and to Philemon, written at the same time, ’Timothy the brother’ is coupled with St. Paul. He is omitted here because of the general character of the letter. At Ephesus was omitted for the same reason (see Intro.). The Apostle takes the whole responsibility of instructing Christians at large respecting ’the whole counsel of God’ (Acts 20:27).2. This is the usual salutation in the... read more

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