Ephesians 3:14-17 ESV

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:14

Verse 14 14.For this cause. His prayers for them are mentioned, not only to testify his regard for them, but likewise to excite them to pray in the same manner; for the seed of the word is scattered in vain, unless the Lord render it fruitful by his blessing. Let pastors learn from Paul’s example, not only to admonish and exhort their people, but to entreat the Lord to bless their labors, that they may not be unfruitful. Nothing will be gained by their industry and toil, — all their study and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:15

Verse 15 15.Of whom the whole family. (135) The relative , ἐξ οὗ, of whom, may apply equally to the Father and to the Son. Erasmus restricts it entirely to the Father. I do not approve of this; for readers ought to have been allowed a liberty of choice; nay, the other interpretation appears to be far more probable. The apostle alludes to that relationship which the Jews had with each other, through their father Abraham, to whom they trace their lineage. He proposes, on the contrary, to remove... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:16

Verse 16 16.That he would give to you. Paul wishes that the Ephesians should be strengthened; and yet he had already bestowed on their piety no mean commendation. But believers have never advanced so far as not to need farther growth. The highest perfection of the godly in this life is an earnest desire to make progress. This strengthening, he tells us, is the work of the Spirit; so that it does not proceed from man’s own ability. The increase, as well as the commencement, of everything good in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:17

Verse 17 17.That Christ may dwell. He explains what is meant by “the strength of the inner man.” As “it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell,” (Colossians 1:19,) so he who has Christ dwelling in him can want nothing. It is a mistake to imagine that the Spirit can be obtained without obtaining Christ; and it is equally foolish and absurd to dream that we can receive Christ without the Spirit. Both doctrines must be believed. We are partakers of the Holy Spirit, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14

For this cause. The digression being ended, the apostle takes up the thread broken at ver. 1. We must seek the "cause" in Ephesians 2. Seeing that the Gentiles have now equal privileges with the Jews; seeing that by faith in Christ Gentile Christians have been brought as near to God, and have as good a right to the good things of the covenant;—I take the steps now to be specified for enabling them actually to possess these good things. On the one hand, the apostle saw the believing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14

The universal fatherhood of God. I. THE NATURE OF THE FATHERHOOD OF GOD . 1. God is the Source of our being . He has not only created us as he has created the rocks. We are not manufactured, but begotten by God. He has breathed his life into us. 2. God has formed us in his own image . There is a similarity of nature in child and parent. All spirits belong to the same family and have a common likeness to God. 3. God is closely related to us . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-19

A prayer on behalf of the Ephesian Christians. I. THE SUPPLIANT . "For this cause I bow my knees." He has explained who he, Paul, was, in the remarkable parenthesis which concludes with the thirteenth verse. In resuming his sentence, so long interrupted, he naturally falls back on the first words, "For this cause." Thus taken up, it has only the meaning which it had before, the thought in the parenthesis being carried forward into the word, "I." He describes himself as a suppliant... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-19

Intercessory prayer. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-19

The great mystery of the love of Christ. The special object of St. Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is that their knowledge may be enlarged, and the one direction in which he desires for them the increase of knowledge is in regard to the love of Christ. That is the most wonderful and the most vital theme of Christian meditation; it can only be rightly contemplated under spiritual aid; but the true understanding of it will be fruitful in rich blessings. I. THE GREAT MYSTERY OF ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-21

PRAYER FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT . read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-21

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