Prayer for Strength and Knowledge of Christ's Love
Ephesians 3:14-21
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Eph.3.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τουτου: DEM,gen,sg,n
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- καμπτω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- γονατα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πατερα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 20:36 (verbal): Paul himself 'knelt down and prayed'—same kneeling posture in prayer as Eph 3:14.
- Acts 21:5 (verbal): Paul and companions 'knelt down on the shore and prayed'—communal example of kneeling in prayer linked to Pauline practice.
- Luke 22:41 (verbal): Jesus 'knelt down and prayed' in Gethsemane—parallel posture of submission/prayer toward the Father.
- Philippians 2:10 (thematic): Image of knees/bowing used for worship and submission ('every knee should bow')—thematic resonance with bowing knees to the Father.
- Isaiah 45:23 (allusion): OT background for bowing/kneeling language ('to me every knee shall bow') provides theological backdrop for NT kneeling imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
- For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph.3.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εξ: PREP
- ου: PART,neg
- πασα: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- πατρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ονομαζεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Ephesians 4:6 (verbal): Explicitly names God as 'one Father of all' and emphasizes God's relation to all (over all, through all, in all), echoing 3:15's claim that every family in heaven and on earth is from/named of the Father.
- Colossians 1:16 (thematic): Speaks of the cosmic scope of creation 'in heaven and on earth' and the ordering of all things in Christ, paralleling Ephesians' universal language about families in heaven and on earth being traced to God.
- Matthew 23:9 (thematic): Jesus' injunction 'call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven' resonates with Ephesians' emphasis on God's unique role as the origin/father of all families.
- Romans 11:36 (verbal): Uses language of origin—'For from him and through him and to him are all things'—which parallels Ephesians 3:15's attribution of the source/origin of every family to God.
Alternative generated candidates
- from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
- from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Eph.3.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- δω: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- κατα: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πλουτος: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- δοξης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- δυναμει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κραταιωθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- εσω: ADV
- ανθρωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:11 (verbal): Uses similar language of being 'strengthened with all power' and links that strengthening to 'his glorious might,' paralleling 'strengthened... through his Spirit' and 'according to the riches of his glory.'
- Ephesians 3:20 (structural): Close contextual parallel in the same prayer: both verses attribute mighty, abundant divine action to God's power at work within believers ('according to the power at work in us' / 'according to the riches of his glory... through his Spirit').
- Ephesians 1:19-20 (thematic): Speaks of 'the greatness of his power toward us who believe' and God's mighty working—a theme of divine power demonstrated and applied to believers that echoes Eph 3:16's petition for strengthening by God's Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 (verbal): Contrasts the perishing outer self with the 'inner man' being renewed—provides the same vocabulary and concern for inner spiritual strengthening found in Eph 3:16's 'inner man.'
- Romans 8:11 (thematic): Attributes life and empowerment to the Spirit dwelling in believers ('he will give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit'), paralleling Eph 3:16's emphasis on the Spirit's inner strengthening and life-giving power.
Alternative generated candidates
- that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
- that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Eph.3.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- κατοικησαι: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Χριστον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- πιστεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- καρδιαις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- αγαπη·ερριζωμενοι: NOUN,dat,sg,f+PART,perf,pass,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τεθεμελιωμενοι: PART,perf,pass,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Colossians 2:7 (verbal): Uses the imagery of being 'rooted' and 'built up' (ἐῤῥιζωμένοι/ἐρριζωμένοι), closely paralleling Eph 3:17's language of being rooted/established in faith and love.
- Colossians 1:27 (thematic): Speaks of 'Christ in you, the hope of glory,' echoing Eph 3:17's central idea of Christ dwelling in believers.
- Romans 8:10-11 (verbal): Affirms that Christ/the Spirit is 'in you' and gives life, paralleling Eph 3:17's claim that Christ dwells in believers through faith.
- John 14:23 (allusion): Jesus promises that he and the Father will 'make their home' with the one who loves him—parallel dwelling imagery to Christ 'dwelling' in hearts in Eph 3:17.
- Galatians 2:20 (thematic): Paul's language of living 'by faith in the Son of God' and the believer's union with Christ resonates with Eph 3:17's emphasis on Christ living in hearts 'through faith.'
Alternative generated candidates
- so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
- so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph.3.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- εξισχυσητε: VERB,pres,act,subj,2,pl
- καταλαβεσθαι: VERB,aor,mid/pass,inf
- συν: PREP
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αγιοις: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πλατος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- μηκος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- υψος: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- βαθος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- Ephesians 3:16-19 (structural): Immediate context of the same prayer: explains the aim (Christ dwelling in hearts) and repeats the fourfold imagery (breadth, length, height, depth) culminating in knowing Christ’s love.
- Ephesians 3:19 (thematic): Follows 3:18 as the goal of comprehension—'to know the love of Christ'—explicitly linking the fourfold dimensions to the surpassing love that believers are to grasp.
- Romans 11:33-36 (verbal): Uses similar language about the 'depths' and the riches/wisdom/knowledge of God, celebrating God’s unfathomable dimensions—parallel vocabulary and theme of divine magnitude.
- 1 Corinthians 2:10 (verbal): Speaks of the Spirit searching 'the depths of God,' echoing the motif of 'depth' as something to be probed and understood by revelation, paralleling the idea of comprehending divine dimensions.
- Colossians 2:2-3 (thematic): Prays for believers' hearts to be encouraged and united in love so they may 'know the mystery of God' in whom are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge—parallel concern for grasping the riches of Christ and the role of love and insight.
Alternative generated candidates
- may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp the breadth and length and height and depth,
- may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
Eph.3.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- γνωναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τε: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- υπερβαλλουσαν: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γνωσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- πληρωθητε: VERB,aor,pass,subj,2,pl
- εις: PREP
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πληρωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Colossians 1:19 (verbal): Uses language of the 'fullness of God' dwelling in Christ, paralleling Ephesians' goal of being filled with the fullness of God through knowledge of Christ's love.
- Colossians 2:9 (verbal): Affirms that 'in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,' a close verbal and theological parallel to 'the fullness of God' in Eph 3:19.
- Ephesians 4:13 (structural): Within the same letter, describes the goal of believers' growth as attaining 'the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,' echoing the motif of being filled with divine fullness.
- Philippians 3:10 (thematic): Paul's desire 'to know Christ' echoes Eph 3:19's imperative 'to know the love of Christ,' linking knowledge of Christ to spiritual transformation.
- Romans 8:38–39 (thematic): Affirms the overwhelming, unbreakable nature of God's/Christ's love for believers, resonating with Eph 3:19's claim that Christ's love 'surpasses knowledge.'
Alternative generated candidates
- and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God.
Eph.3.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- δυναμενω: PTCP,pres,mid,dat,sg,m
- υπερ: PREP
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- ποιησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- υπερεκπερισσου: ADV
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- αιτουμεθα: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,pl
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- νοουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δυναμιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ενεργουμενην: PTCP,pres,pas,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
Parallels
- Ephesians 1:19-20 (verbal): Uses closely related language about the surpassing greatness of God’s power and explicitly links that power to the mighty working by which God raised Christ—paralleling 'able to do far more... according to the power that works in us.'
- Colossians 1:11 (verbal): Speaks of being 'strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might,' echoing the idea of divine power actively at work in believers (parallels 'the power that is working in us').
- Philippians 4:13 (thematic): 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me' parallels the theme of believers’ ability and activity being sustained by Christ’s empowering presence within them.
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 (thematic): Affirms that God 'is able to make all grace abound to you,' resonating with the claim that God can do far more than we ask or imagine—emphasizing God’s abundant, enabling provision.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 (thematic): 'My power is made perfect in weakness' connects to the nature of God’s power working in believers: God's empowering presence operates within human weakness, enabling more than human requests or ideas anticipate.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us,
- Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
Eph.3.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- δοξα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- εκκλησια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- Χριστω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- πασας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- γενεας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιωνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αιωνων·αμην: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Rom.11.36 (verbal): Shares the same doxological formula—'to him be glory forever. Amen'—linking God’s glory as the final clause of the argument.
- Rom.16.27 (verbal): Another Pauline closing doxology: 'to the only wise God be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen,' echoing Eph 3:21’s glory-through-Christ language and eternal ascription.
- 1 Tim.1.17 (verbal): A pastoral doxology—'Now to the King eternal... be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen'—parallels Eph 3:21’s attribution of eternal glory to God.
- Jude 1.25 (verbal): A compact doxology attributing glory, majesty and dominion to God 'before all time, now and forever,' closely mirroring Eph 3:21’s focus on eternal glory through Christ.
- Eph.1.20-23 (structural): Within Ephesians the exaltation of Christ and the church as his body provides the theological context for 3:21’s formula 'glory in the church and in Christ Jesus,' linking Christ’s supremacy and the church’s role in manifesting divine glory.
Alternative generated candidates
- to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
- to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.
I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being;
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that, being rooted and grounded in love,
you may be able to comprehend together with all the saints the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.