Ephesians 3:21 ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:20-21

Exultant praise. "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." The passage leads us to consider the subject of exultant praise . Worship is praise ; it is a higher service than prayer. It is in truth the highest end and. the completest answer to prayer. In the preceding verses Paul prays ; here he ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:21

Unto him be glory - see the notes, Romans 16:27.In the church - Or, by the church; Ephesians 3:10. The church was to be the instrument by which the glory of God would be shown; and it was by the church that his praise would be celebrated.Throughout all ages, world without end - There is a richness and amplification of language here which shows that his heart was full of the subject, and that it was difficult to find words to express his conceptions. It means, in the strongest sense, forever. It... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:20-21. Now unto him, &c. This doxology is admirably adapted to strengthen our faith, that we may not stagger at the great things the apostle has been praying for, as if they were too much for God to give, or for us to expect to receive from him. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, &c. Here is a most beautiful gradation. When God has given us abundant, yea, exceeding abundant blessings, still we may ask for more, and he is able to give, or do for us,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:1-21

God’s wisdom and love displayed (3:1-21)It was because Paul had taken the gospel to the Gentiles that he was imprisoned in the first place (Acts 21:27-36). Yet he feels humbled to think that God should graciously choose him for such a noble work (3:1-2). As a Jew he was once proud of his belief that only Jews were God’s people. Even if some of the ‘far off’ Gentiles believed in God, they were still not God’s covenant people in the sense that Jews were. Now God’s special revelation shows Paul... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 3:21

Unto = To. glory = the glory. See p. 1511. by . Greek. en. throughout . . . end App-151 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Ephesians 3:21

Ephesians 3:21. Throughout all ages, &c.— The original contains one of St. Paul's self-invented, and most expressive phrases, which we may defy any version fully to express;—through all the successions of an endless eternity, may come something near it; but even this, emphatical as it may seem, falls very short of the sublimity and spirit of the original. Inferences.—St. Paul's understanding in the mystery of Christ, is just matter of perpetual joy to the whole Christian world, who have... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 3:21

21. Translate, "Unto Him be the glory (that is, the whole glory of the gracious dispensation of salvation just spoken of) in the Church (as the theater for the manifestation of the glory, :-) in Christ Jesus (as in Him all the glory centers, :-) to all the generations of eternal ages," literally, "of the age of the ages." Eternity is conceived as consisting of "ages" (these again consisting of "generations") endlessly succeeding one another. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 3:3-21

II. THE CHRISTIAN’S CALLING 1:3-3:21". . . the first three chapters are one long prayer, culminating in the great doxology at the end of chapter 3. There is in fact nothing like this in all Paul’s letters. This is the language of lyrical prayer, not the language of argument, and controversy, and rebuke." [Note: William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, p. 76.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 3:20-21

C. Doxology 3:20-21"The doxology is plainly the climax of the first half of Ephesians; it may be regarded as the climax of the whole letter, which rises to a spiritual peak at this point and then concentrates on practical outworkings." [Note: Wood, pp. 52-53.] ". . . doctrine leads to doxology as well as to duty." [Note: Stott, p. 45.] The basis for Paul’s confidence that God is able to do far beyond what he had prayed for or could even imagine was God’s bringing Jews and Gentiles together in... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Ephesians 3:21

3:21 Amen). (a-19) Ch. 3, except ver. 1, is a parenthesis. read more