Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:18

Verse 18 18.May be able to comprehend. The second fruit is, that the Ephesians should perceive the greatness of Christ’s love to men. Such an apprehension or knowledge springs from faith. By desiring that they should comprehend it with all saints, he shows that it is the most excellent blessing which they can obtain in the present life; that it is the highest wisdom, to which all the children of God aspire. What follows is sufficiently clear in itself, but has hitherto been darkened by a... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 3:19

Verse 19 19.And to know the love of Christ. By those dimensions Paul means nothing else than the love of Christ, of which he speaks afterwards. The meaning is, that he who knows it fully and perfectly is in every respect a wise man. As if he had said, “In whatever direction men may look, they will find nothing in the doctrine of salvation that does not bear some relation to this subject.” The love of Christ contains within itself the whole of wisdom, so that the words may run thus: that ye may... 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 spiritual enrichment . qualities already noted as belonging to Paul's prayer. This prayer remarkable for Three parts in this prayer— I. INTRODUCTION . 1. The attitude: "I bow my knees;" humility, earnestness. 2. The designation of God: "the Father;" the character in which Christ taught us to approach God in prayer, and which gives us most encouragement. 3. The name of the family is derived from God, constituting an additional plea. That which bears God's Name... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:14-21

The Christian brotherhood—Paul's second prayer. From the noble idea of the elevation of the heathen to equal privileges with the Jews, the apostle proceeds to a second prayer for the Ephesian converts, in which he rises to still greater elevation of thought. Prostrating himself before the Father of all, he contemplates a family unity embracing both heaven and earth, and he prays that his friends at Ephesus may experience such inward illumination and strength as to be fitting members of the... read more

Group of Brands