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And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly ° above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

3:16 he. The prayer offered by Paul in Ephesians 3:16-19 is addressed to the Father (Ephesians 3:14) and concerns the indwelling of Christ by faith (Ephesians 3:17) and inner strengthening by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16). Thus all three Persons of the Godhead dwell in the heart of the believer (see also John 14:16-17,23), so that we can “be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).


3:16 strengthened. “Strengthened” in this verse is the same as “able” (or, better, “fully able”) in Ephesians 3:18.


3:18 breadth. The love of Christ is thus four-dimensional, with “depth” and height” considered as separate dimensions. Since the height of the universe is infinite (Isaiah 55:9), this suggests the time dimension too. “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love,” God says, “therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).


3:20 able. This is one of several great ascriptions in the New Testament extolling the supreme ability of God on behalf of His people. He also “is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him” (Hebrews 7:25) and “able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24). Note also Romans 16:25; Philippians 3:21.


3:20 power. The “power” in us is not that of our own strength, of course, but the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8, II Timothy 1:7).


3:21 in the church. The “church” consisting of all born-again believers in Christ will be an eternal entity, even though also composed of many unique individuals. See, e.g., Hebrews 12:23, where it is called “the general assembly and church of the firstborn;” it is also called “the glorious church,” which is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:9).


3:21 throughout all ages. There is evidently more than one age to come, but the succession of ages, however they may eventually be defined and revealed, will all be characterized by the “exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).


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