Tonight we will be discussing Ephesians 3:14-21. These verses are Paul’s concluding prayer and doxology to the first half of his letter.
Love and Knowledge: (vv.17-19)
Paul begins the conclusion to his prayer by writing that we in the church have been (perfect tense) rooted (Gk: rhizoo) and made a foundation (Gk: themelioo) in love. v.17b. Although we are saved by grace through faith (2:8), it is love that gives us the ability to perceive, understand, and experience the fullness of the Ultimate Divine Reality. Love is the key. Without love, as Paul previously wrote, we are nothing. 1 Cor. 13:1-3.
It is through this love that we may comprehend the Divine who fills and exceeds all dimensions (v.18) and so that we may fully know the unknowable and understand the ineffable (v.19). It is God in whom we live, and move, and have our being and who occupies all breadth, length, height, and depth of our reality. Acts 17:28, v.18. It is God’s love in Christ that surpasses all knowledge. Col. 2:3, v.19
The result of this love and the result of this knowledge is the fulfillment of Paul’s prayer that we in the Church, in Christian community with one another, may be filled with all the fullness of God. v.19. This concluding statement to Paul’s prayer is our concluding teleological, eschatological end when God will be all in all. Eph. 1:23, 1 Cor. 15:28.
The Doxology: (vv.20-21)
Paul’s prayer ends with a doxology – a short hymn of praise. vv.20-21. The Jewish practice and tradition was to end any formal prayer with a doxology. See, 1 Chron. 29:11-12. Paul’s general doxological formula is a prayer (i) directed to God, (ii) a praise formula with the word “glory” (Gk: doxa), (iii) a time or eternity statement, and (iv) ending with the “Amen.” (Gk: “so be it”). Of all of Paul’s doxologies, this is the only one that mentions the role of the church. The glory (doxa) of God is found not only in Christ Jesus but also found in the Church. v.21. In the same way that the glory of God is disclosed and found within Christ Jesus, so too is the glory of God disclosed and found within the gathered Christian community.
This doxology concludes the first half of Paul’s letter where Paul extols the glory of God and the riches of Christ within the Church. The remainder of Paul’s letter concerns the ethical implications of the glory and the riches.
SCHEDULE: The funeral of our sister Chey Radeka will be held on Friday at 11 am at Messiah. Jim Craig is officiating. Requiescat in pace.
Dinner is at 6. The menu is chicken cordon bleu. Discussion about 6:45. Compline at 8. Hope to see you here.
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith — to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen. Romans 16:25-27