EPHESIANS 3:17-21 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Dwell; NSB* Suggests residing in a home. Christ lives in or resides in believer's hearts.
Hearts; The heart has the idea of "lying deep within". Contains the "real man". If Christ lives in our hearts, our heart condition as well as our actions, confidence, emotions, etc., ought to begin to reflect Him on a consistent basis. The Greek word is καρδία kardia Stong's G2588. Direct meaning - the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
Derivation: prolonged from a primary κάρ (Latin cor, "heart").
Rooted and Grounded; "to cause to take root," is used metaphorically in the Passive Voice, ie. "rooted". The Greek word for root is ῥιζόω rhizoo.Stong's G4492. Vine's (def. B-1).
The Greek word for grounded signifies "to lay the foundation of, to found" (akin to themelios, "a foundation;" from tithemi, "to put"), and is rendered "grounded". θεμελιόω themelioo Stong's G2311. Vine's (def. B-2) verb.
Cross References: Colossians 1:23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Moving to verse 18.
Rooted and Grounded; "to cause to take root," is used metaphorically in the Passive Voice, ie. "rooted". The Greek word for root is ῥιζόω rhizoo.Stong's G4492. Vine's (def. B-1).
The Greek word for grounded signifies "to lay the foundation of, to found" (akin to themelios, "a foundation;" from tithemi, "to put"), and is rendered "grounded". θεμελιόω themelioo Stong's G2311. Vine's (def. B-2) verb.
Moving to verse 18.
Romans 8:39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Able To Comprehend; Has the idea of being able to lay hold of, as to possess as one's own, of mental perception. God is saying through Paul that
The Width, Depth, Length, and Height; Has the idea of dimensions of the sphere of the activities of God's counsels, and the love of Christ which occupies that sphere.
Able To Comprehend; Has the idea of being able to lay hold of, as to possess as one's own, of mental perception. God is saying through Paul that
- Christ must dwell in our hearts through faith Verse 17.
- That by doing this we can be rooted and grounded in love. Verse 17
- With the first two points happening we can also comprehend. Verse 18.
The Width, Depth, Length, and Height; Has the idea of dimensions of the sphere of the activities of God's counsels, and the love of Christ which occupies that sphere.
Verse 19.
Know; This has the idea of knowing absolutely. The Greek word used here is γνῶσις gnosis Vine's (def. C-1a noun) Strong's G1108
Which Passes Knowledge; passes can also be translated as "exceed", to throw over or beyond" (huper, "over," ballo, "to throw"), is translated "exceeding". The Greek word is ὑπερβάλλω huperballo. Stong's G5235, Vine's (def. A-1) verb.
Passes what? The knowledge above (know), which is to say that Christ's love is something we will never fully comprehend on the land (i.e., it can't physically be comprehended). NSB* The love of Christ is so great that it is beyond our understanding. The fullness of God is the abundance of gives that flows from God.
To clarify - we can "know fully" beyond the shadow of a doubt that God's love is beyond our understanding.
Verse 20
Know; This has the idea of knowing absolutely. The Greek word used here is γνῶσις gnosis Vine's (def. C-1a noun) Strong's G1108
Which Passes Knowledge; passes can also be translated as "exceed", to throw over or beyond" (huper, "over," ballo, "to throw"), is translated "exceeding". The Greek word is ὑπερβάλλω huperballo. Stong's G5235, Vine's (def. A-1) verb.
Passes what? The knowledge above (know), which is to say that Christ's love is something we will never fully comprehend on the land (i.e., it can't physically be comprehended). NSB* The love of Christ is so great that it is beyond our understanding. The fullness of God is the abundance of gives that flows from God.
To clarify - we can "know fully" beyond the shadow of a doubt that God's love is beyond our understanding.
Verse 20
To Him; Paul offers a short praise to God in this part of the letter.
Power The Works In Us; Vine's notes - Committed to those who, on becoming believers were empowered by the Spirit Of God, are indwelled by Him, and will exercise it thereafter for God's glory.
Generations; Has the idea of "for ages to come".
NSB - 3:20 and 21 form a doxology or praise to God, in which Paul points out that God can do exceedingly abundantly above anything we may ask. Neither God's love nor his power is limited by human imagination.
Cross References: Romans 16:25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Takeaways - See the points under Able To Comprehend.
Power The Works In Us; Vine's notes - Committed to those who, on becoming believers were empowered by the Spirit Of God, are indwelled by Him, and will exercise it thereafter for God's glory.
Generations; Has the idea of "for ages to come".
NSB - 3:20 and 21 form a doxology or praise to God, in which Paul points out that God can do exceedingly abundantly above anything we may ask. Neither God's love nor his power is limited by human imagination.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Takeaways - See the points under Able To Comprehend.
1. Being filled with the fullness of God (an abundance of gifts that flow from God) is also to understand or "know" that God's love is beyond comprehension. I think most Christians are guilty of underestimating God's love and just how powerful it is.
2. Most of scripture isn't about understanding ourselves. It's about getting to know God and His purpose for us. How He operates etc. Then we either embrace God or we don't. The hope is that we would set ourselves aside, or die to self in order to pursue God and get to know Him better so that we are prepared to meet Him one day. Contrary to secular teaching, we are not the main thing. God is.
2. Most of scripture isn't about understanding ourselves. It's about getting to know God and His purpose for us. How He operates etc. Then we either embrace God or we don't. The hope is that we would set ourselves aside, or die to self in order to pursue God and get to know Him better so that we are prepared to meet Him one day. Contrary to secular teaching, we are not the main thing. God is.
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