Prayer for Wisdom and Christ's Exaltation
Ephesians 1:15-23
Eph.1.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- καγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- ακουσας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καθ᾽υμας: PREP+PRON,acc,pl,2
- πιστιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- κυριω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- παντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αγιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:4 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: Paul (or Pauline circle) uses the same formula — hearing of the community’s faith in Christ Jesus and of their love for all the saints.
- Philemon 1:5 (verbal): Similar wording linking report/hearing with the addressee’s faith and love toward fellow believers; echoes the same brief commendation.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (thematic): Early Pauline thanksgiving that pairs ‘work of faith’ and ‘labor of love’ (and hope), reflecting the common triad and the practice of commending communities for faith and love.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (thematic): Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonians’ growing faith and mutual love, again linking faith and love as marks of the community worthy of thanksgiving and prayer.
- Galatians 5:6 (thematic): Summarizes the Christian ethic as ‘faith working through love,’ conceptually connecting faith and love as inseparable Christian virtues—background to Paul's commendation in Eph 1:15.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this reason, since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
- For this reason, since I heard of the faith you have in the Lord Jesus and the love you show toward all the saints,
Eph.1.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- παυομαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,sg
- ευχαριστων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- υπερ: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- μνειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ποιουμενος: VERB,pres,mid,part,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- προσευχων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Philippians 1:3-4 (verbal): Paul’s wording closely parallels Ephesians 1:16: he gives thanks for the recipients and continually mentions them in his prayers.
- Colossians 1:3 (verbal): Similar formula of thanksgiving to God paired with constant prayer for the congregation (’we give thanks... praying always for you’).
- Romans 1:8-9 (verbal): Paul expresses thanksgiving for the believers and insists he ‘without ceasing’ makes mention of them in his prayers—very close in thought and phrasing.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:2 (verbal): ’We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers’ mirrors the exact thanksgiving‑and‑prayer motif of Ephesians 1:16.
Alternative generated candidates
- I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
- I have not ceased giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
Eph.1.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- δωη: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- σοφιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- αποκαλυψεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- επιγνωσει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:9 (verbal): Paul's prayer that believers be filled with 'knowledge' and 'spiritual wisdom' closely echoes Ephesians 1:17's request for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God.
- Philippians 1:9-10 (verbal): Paul prays for abounding 'in knowledge and depth of insight' so believers may discern—language and purpose parallel Ephes.1:17's petition for wisdom and revelation in knowing God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (thematic): Speaks of the Spirit revealing the deep things of God and enabling believers to know what God has freely given—aligns with Ephesians' theme that the Spirit grants wisdom and revelation to know God.
- James 1:5 (thematic): States that God gives wisdom to those who ask; complements Ephesians 1:17's appeal to the Father to grant the Spirit of wisdom, emphasizing God as the source of wisdom.
- John 14:26 (thematic): Jesus promises the Spirit will teach and remind the disciples; relates to Ephesians' emphasis on the Spirit's role in bringing wisdom, revelation, and knowledge of Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,
- that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,
Eph.1.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πεφωτισμενους: VERB,perf,pass,part,acc,pl,m
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- οφθαλμους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- καρδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- ειδεναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ελπις: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- κλησεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πλουτος: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- κληρονομιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αγιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- 2 Corinthians 4:6 (verbal): Speaks of God 'shining in our hearts' to give knowledge of God's glory — parallels Ephesians' 'eyes of your heart enlightened' and the goal of knowing divine glory.
- Colossians 1:27 (verbal): Declares Christ in you as 'the hope of glory,' echoing Ephesians' language about 'the hope of his calling' and the link between Christ, hope, and glory.
- Romans 8:17-18 (thematic): Speaks of believers as heirs with Christ and future glory; parallels Ephesians' emphasis on the believers' status as God's inheritance and the prospect of shared glory.
- Ephesians 2:7 (thematic): Refers to God showing 'the immeasurable riches of his grace' toward us in coming ages — closely related to Ephesians 1:18's 'riches of the glory of his inheritance.'
- 1 Peter 1:3-4 (thematic): Speaks of a 'living hope' and an imperishable inheritance kept in heaven for believers, paralleling the themes of hope and divine inheritance in Ephesians 1:18.
Alternative generated candidates
- having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
- and may enlighten the eyes of your heart so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance are among the saints,
Eph.1.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- υπερβαλλον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- μεγεθος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δυναμεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- πιστευοντας: VERB,pres,act,ptc,acc,pl,m
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ενεργειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κρατους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ισχυος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:11 (verbal): Uses closely similar language—'strengthened with all power' / 'according to his glorious might' parallels Eph.1:19's 'exceeding greatness of his power...according to the working of his mighty power.'
- Colossians 2:12 (verbal): Speaks of being raised 'through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead,' echoing Eph.1:19–20's emphasis on God's mighty power manifested in raising Christ.
- Philippians 3:10 (thematic): Paul's desire to 'know the power of his resurrection' resonates with Eph.1:19's focus on the surpassing greatness of God's power demonstrated in the resurrection and believer's experience.
- Ephesians 3:16 (verbal): Prays that believers 'may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner being,' reflecting the same theme and similar phrasing about divine power toward believers found in Eph.1:19.
Alternative generated candidates
- and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty strength
- and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe—according to the working of the might of his strength—
Eph.1.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ενηργηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εγειρας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,m,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- καθισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- εν: PREP
- δεξια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- επουρανιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Acts 2:32-33 (allusion): Peter announces that God raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him to his right hand, closely paralleling the act of resurrection and enthronement described in Ephesians.
- Philippians 2:9-11 (thematic): Paul says God highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on him the name above every name—a thematic parallel of divine exaltation after the resurrection.
- Romans 8:34 (verbal): Speaks of Christ at the right hand of God interceding for us, echoing Ephesians’ language of Christ seated at God’s right hand.
- Hebrews 1:3 (structural): After describing Christ’s redemptive work, the author declares that he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high—structurally parallel in linking work, vindication, and enthronement.
- Colossians 3:1 (verbal): Calls believers to seek things above where Christ is seated at God’s right hand, connecting the believer’s new life to Christ’s resurrection and heavenly seating.
Alternative generated candidates
- which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph.1.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- υπερανω: PREP
- πασης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- αρχης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εξουσιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- δυναμεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- κυριοτητος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- παντος: ADJ,gen,sg,masc
- ονοματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ονομαζομενου: PART,pres,pass,gen,sg,n
- ου: PART,neg
- μονον: ADV
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αιωνι: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- αλλα: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- μελλοντι·: PART,pres,act,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Philippians 2:9-11 (verbal): Speaks of God exalting Jesus and giving him 'a name above every name,' culminating in universal submission—direct verbal and thematic parallel to Christ's supremacy over every name and authority.
- Colossians 1:16-17 (verbal): Affirms Christ's sovereignty over 'thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities' and his preeminence in all things—language and concept closely parallel to Ephesians' catalogue of powers.
- Colossians 2:10 (verbal): Declares believers are complete in Christ, 'who is the head over every principality and power,' echoing Ephesians' claim that Christ is above all rule and authority.
- 1 Peter 3:22 (verbal): Describes Christ at God's right hand, 'with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him,' a direct statement of subjection of cosmic powers comparable to Ephesians 1:21.
- Romans 8:38-39 (thematic): Lists forces (including 'angels' and 'rulers') that cannot separate believers from Christ's love; thematically related by addressing the impotence or subordination of cosmic powers relative to God's purpose.
Alternative generated candidates
- far above every rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.
- far above every rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
Eph.1.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- υπεταξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- υπο: PREP
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- ποδας: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- κεφαλην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- υπερ: PREP
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εκκλησια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Psalm 8:6 (LXX Psalm 8:7) (quotation): The Old Testament source: LXX reads 'You have put all things under his feet,' language that Ephesians 1:22 echoes in attributing universal subjection to the Davidic/son figure.
- 1 Corinthians 15:27 (quotation): Paul explicitly cites Psalm 8 about putting all things under Christ's feet to argue for Christ's final victory and subjection of all creation.
- Hebrews 2:8 (quotation): The author quotes Psalm 8's words about all things being placed under the Son's feet, then comments on the present incompleteness of that subjection—closely related theological use of the same citation.
- Ephesians 5:23 (verbal): Uses the same Johannine/Pauline designation of Christ as 'head' of the church (τῆς ἐκκλησίας), echoing Ephesians 1:22's assertion of Christ's headship over the church.
- Colossians 1:18 (verbal): Affirms Christ as 'the head of the body, the church,' paralleling Ephesians' emphasis on Christ's supremacy and headship over the church and all creation.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he subjected all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
- And he subjected all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
Eph.1.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ητις: PRON,rel,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- σωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πληρωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- πληρουμενου: VERB,pres,mid/pass,part,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Eph.1.22 (structural): Immediate context: God put all things under Christ and gave him as head over all to the church—connects Christ’s headship with the church as his body.
- Col.1.19 (verbal): Uses the phrase ‘all the fullness’ dwelling in Christ, echoing Ephesians’ language of ‘the fullness’ in relation to Christ and the church.
- Col.2.9-10 (verbal): Declares that in Christ dwells all the fulness of deity and that believers are made complete in him—parallels the idea of fullness and Christ filling all in all.
- Eph.4.15-16 (thematic): Develops the body metaphor: Christ the head, the whole body joined and held together grows and is built up—expands on how the body (church) is nourished and filled by Christ.
- 1 Cor.12.12-13 (thematic): Employs the one-body metaphor for believers in Christ, emphasizing unity and interdependence—complements Ephesians’ identification of the church as Christ’s body.
Alternative generated candidates
- which is his body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.
- which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
For this reason I also, having heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him,
having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance among the saints,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of the strength of his might,
which he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
far above every rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come,
and he subjected all things under his feet and appointed him head over all things for the church,
which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.