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Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 3:17

(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.—What that indwelling power is he now indicates, so passing to another Person of the Holy Trinity. It is (see Colossians 1:27) “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The indwelling of Christ (as here the construction of the original plainly shows) is not a consequence of the gift of the Spirit; it is identical with it, for the office of the Holy Spirit is to implant and work out in us the likeness of Christ. So in John 14:16-20, in immediate... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 3:18

(18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height.—It has been asked, Of what? Various answers have been given; but as St. Paul has obviously of set purpose omitted all definition, leaving the phrase incomplete in absolute generality, no answer can be perfectly satisfactory. The early fathers delighted to refer it to the cross, and to trace in the four dimensions of the cross a symbol of this four-fold extension of the love of God in Christ.... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 3:19

(19) To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.—The intentional paradox of this expression is weakened if (with many interpretations) we suppose that there is opposition in kind between knowledge referred to in the two clauses: as if “to know” meant to know by faith and spiritual experience, while the “knowledge,” which the love of Christ “passes,” is mere “human knowledge”—head-knowledge, and the like. Of such opposition there is no trace (contrast 1 Corinthians 2:6-16). In the... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Ephesians 3:1-21

Christianity a Revelation Ephesians 3:4-5 I. First of all, let us notice what is implied in this, when we say that Christianity is a revelation. For one thing, there is implied a contrast. When we say that Christianity is a revelation, we mean that it is not an induction or an invention. Every religion purports to be a revelation. Ay and more, every religion in so far as it is true and there is an element of truth in every religion is what it purports to be, a revelation. We need not be... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-18

Chapter 14PRAYER AND PRAISE. THE COMPREHENSION OF CHRISTEphesians 3:14-18IN Ephesians 3:14 the prayer is resumed which the apostle was about to offer at the beginning of the chapter, when the current of his thoughts carried him away. The supplication is offered "for this cause" (Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14)-it arises out of the teachings of the preceding pages. Thinking of all that God has wrought in the Christ, and has accomplished by means of His gospel in multitudes of Gentiles as well as... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:17-19

Chapter 15KNOWING THE UNKNOWABLEEphesians 3:17-19WE were compelled to pause before reaching the end of the apostle’s comprehensive prayer. But we must not let slip the thread of its connection. Ephesians 3:19 is the necessary sequel and counterpart of Ephesians 3:18. The catholic love which embraces "all the saints" and "comprehends" in its wide dimensions the extent of the Redeemer’s kingdom, admits us to a deeper knowledge of Christ’s own love. The breadth and length, the height and depth of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Ephesians 3:1-21

3. The Mystery Made Known CHAPTERS 2:11-3:21 1. The condition of the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-12 ) 2. But now in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:13-19 ) 3. The new and great relationship (Ephesians 2:19-22 ) 4. The Mystery made known and Paul’s ministry (Ephesians 3:1-13 ) 5. The prayer (Ephesians 3:14-19 ) 6. The doxology (Ephesians 3:20-21 ) With the eleventh verse of the second chapter we reach a new division in this Epistle. The great mystery of the masterwork of God, the Church, is next... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ephesians 3:16

3:16 That he would grant you, according to the {f} riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the {g} inner man;(f) According to the greatness of his mercy.(g) See Romans 7:22 . read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ephesians 3:17

3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in {h} love,(h) With which God loves us, which is the root of our election. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Ephesians 3:18

3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints {i} what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;(i) How perfect that work of Christ is in every part. read more

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