That’s Some Prayer – Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)

That’s Some Prayer – Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)

I think verses 2-13 were an aside and now Paul is returning to what he started in verse 1: "For this reason…" And that "for this reason" was based on 2:22 "And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

Now in chapter 3…

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

This prayer reminds me of the prayer in chapter 1 of how Paul prayers we may know God more. Know Him better. Before that he says "from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Wait. What?

I don’t get that. I read up on it and bit and I don’t think there’s a clear consensus on what this means. I’m going to go with a simple, non-controversial explanation of this for two reasons: 1. I don’t think it changes the meaning of the core of the text which is Paul’s prayer so I don’t want to dive too deep. 2. There’s not a generally agreed on meaning to this and I doubt I’ll add anything on top of the thoughts out there. 👍

So basically I’ll just say that it could mean something along the lines of… names, for people, tend to identify who they are. We see things like Jacob meaning "trickster" and he sure was! Later he was renamed Israel meaning "one who wrestles with God" which he sure did! And all people, whoever they are (named) are who they are and are created by God. I’ll just leave that there.

So what does Paul pray for the reader?

That they be strengthened with power through His Spirit.
That Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith.
Be rooted and established in love
– Have power together with all the Lord’s holy people
– to grasp how wide, long, high and deep is the love of Christ
– Be filled to the measure of all fullness in God.

This last line could be a little vague but I think in context being filled, as much as we can, with the Spirit based on love from Christ through faith and the understanding, as much as we can, of God’s immeasurable love!