EPHESIANS 1:18-22 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
Starting in Verse 18.
The Eyes of Your Understanding - The "understanding" in this text refers to things that a spiritual. To describe this Paul uses words that picture the heart looking out with eyes that have been brightened with divine illumination. An illustration would be looking through a window clearly versus trying to see through a stained glass window. (Acts 26:18) to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
The Hope of His Calling - The Hope here is distinctly our Lord Jesus Christ. ( Colossians 1:5) because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, (Ephesians 2:12) that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Hope in the Greek is ἐλπίς elpis from a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:--faith, hope.
(Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Moving to Verse 19
Greatness Of His Power - This is the same power that created the universe. It has a sense of strength or might. By way of comparison when we hear things like "this man", "these men", "this organization", or "this movement has power", it is not something that would even be as small as one of the isotopes of carbon when held up to the creator of the universe and His power.
Us Who Believe - Has the idea of all those who believe in Christ.
According to the Works Of His Mighty Power -(Colossians 2:12) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
It is this mighty power that raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, that raises us up from being spiritually dead. What power can be greater than our eternal God's? God's power is the power in which all other powers are built and destroyed. Every power is subject to God's almighty power.
In Verse 20.
Worked in Christ - The resurrection of Christ from the dead was the expression of God's power. The resurrection also stands as irrefutable proof of what God can do in and for us. In the Greek "worked" is ἐνεργέω energeo I work, accomplish, am operative I work, am operative, am at work, am made to work, accomplish; mid: I work, display activity. This is the past tense and has a sense of completion. Some translations use the word "wrought", which is the same word in Greek but in this instance has more the idea of to be active, efficient:--do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in). When we start getting into the translations either word will work without changing the central concept.
From the Dead - This is the most common use in the Word Of God, it means bodily death. The Greek word is νεκρός nekros (a corpse); dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun):--dead.
(Acts 2:24) whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
At the Right Hand - (Acts 2:33) Therefore being exalted [a]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
Right hand here is metaphorical, it has the idea of power or authority. This verse also has prophetic significance.
(Psalms 110:1) The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Heavenly Places - The place where Christ sits at the right hand of God. In a position of divine authority. The word for heaven used here is ἐπουράνιος epouranios above the sky:--celestial, (in) heaven(-ly), high.
Moving to Verse 21
Far Above All Principality - This can also be rendered "above all rule or rulers". There is more on this under the heading "All Things In Christ".
Dominion - Denotes Lordship, power, dominion whether angelic or human. The Greek word is κυριότης kuriotes
(Philippians 2:9,10) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
Every Name That is Named - Represents the high title and dignity of our Lord. The Greek word for "name" used here is ὄνομα onomaa "name" (literally or figuratively) (authority, character):--called, (+ sur-)name(-d).
In This Age - In that which is to come; NSB. The Jews of Christ's time understood the end times to be divided into two time periods, the age in which they were living and the coming age. The Messiah "the coming one" would have rule in the age "which is to come".
Moving to Verse 22
Under His Feet - (Matthew 28:18,19) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Other verses to check out - (Daniel. 7:13,14) “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.
(Psalms 8:6) You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,
Head Over All Things - (head) Vines def. b - metaphorically, of the authority or direction of God in relation to Christ. In this sense, it's Christ in relation to the Church.
The Church - Not in the local sense but instead refers to all those who believe. Christ is our supreme authority with NO EXCEPTIONS.
His Body - (Romans 12:5) so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
The church is a unified body under the headship of Christ, but the members have different functions. If you find yourself divided against the word of God, or trying to change what it means you are also divided against those in Christ (the Church) who take God's Word for what it is. "Divinely Inspired" or "God Breathed". Now is a great time to straighten out and get back in the Word.
The Fullness Of Him - (Colossians 2:9) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
The Greek word πλήρωμα pleroma has the idea of fullness of the church as the complement of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 12:6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
God and His work are unified.
Takeaways -
1. Only God can give us true understanding. We don't get it from the back of a bag of flour or a fortune cookie.
2. God's power is the only true power. Do NOT let yourself be intimidated by the pumping fists and threats of the world around you. They are deadset on changing the meaning of the Word Of God or throwing it out to normalize the wickedness of man.
3. God has dominion. You may struggle with what He is doing and allowing to happen, but every power that is is subject to Him and will face His vengeance or blessing where it is due.
4. Church denominations battle one another, this is common, as it was from the start of the church, but know that God is the head of the church. You want to be in a body of believers that is seeking after His wisdom and not relying on themselves or being swayed by the winds of deception.
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