Ephesians 1:20-23 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

We have come to the last part of this chapter, which consists of Paul's earnest prayer to God in behalf of these Ephesians. We should pray for the persons for whom we give thanks. Our apostle blesses God for what he had done for them, and then he prays that he would do more for them. He gives thanks for spiritual blessings, and prays for further supplies of them; for God will for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them. He has laid up these spiritual blessings for us in... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 1:15-23

1:15-23 It is because I have heard of your faith in Jesus Christ, and your love to all God's consecrated people, that I never cease to give thanks for you, as I remember you in my prayers. It is the aim of my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit which brings you new revelation, as you come to know him more and more fully. It is the aim of my prayers that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 1:15-23

In this passage we see what Paul asks for a Church which he loves and which is doing well. (i) He prays for the Spirit of Wisdom. The word he uses for wisdom is sophia ( Greek #4678 ), and we have already seen that sophia ( Greek #4678 ) is the wisdom of the deep things of God. He prays that the Church may be led deeper and deeper into the knowledge of the eternal truths. If ever that is to happen, certain things are necessary. (a) It is necessary that we should have a thinking... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 1:15-23

We come to the last two verses of this chapter, and in them Paul has one of the most adventurous and most uplifting thoughts that any man has ever had. He calls the Church by its greatest title--the body of Christ. In order to understand what Paul means, let us go back to the basic thought of his letter. As it stands, this world is a complete disunity. There is disunity between Jew and Gentile, between Greek and barbarian; there is disunity between different men within the same nation; there... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:20

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead ,.... There are many articles of faith contained in this passage; as that Christ died, that he is raised from the dead, that he was raised from the dead by God the Father, and that his resurrection was by the power of God: the resurrection of any person is an instance of great power, but Christ's resurrection from the dead was an instance of peculiar and special power; for he was raised from the dead as a public person,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:21

Far above all principality and power ,.... Good angels and bad angels, and civil magistrates, who also may be intended by the following words: and might and dominion ; good angels may be so called, because of their employment under God in the affairs of Providence, and the government of this world; and Christ is not only above them, as he is God, being their Creator, who has made them, and on whom they depend, and is the Lord whom they serve, and is the object of their worship and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:22

And hath put all things under his feet ,.... These words are taken out of Psalm 8:6 . See Gill on 1 Corinthians 15:27 . And gave him to be the head over all things to the church ; the Vulgate Latin version reads, "and gave him to be the head over every church", or "all the church"; the Ethiopic version, "the whole church"; which intends not barely professors of religion, or a family of faithful persons, or a particular congregation, in which sense the word is sometimes used; but the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:23

Which is his body ,.... That is, which church is the body of Christ; as an human body is but one, consisting of various members, united to each other, and set in an exact proportion and symmetry, and in a proper subservience to one another, and which must be neither more nor fewer than they are; so the church of Christ is but one general assembly, which consists of many persons, of different gifts and usefulness, and are all united together under one head, Christ, whose name they bear, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:20

Set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places - Gave him, as mediator between God and man, the highest honors and dignities, Philemon 2:9 ; in which state of exaltation he transacts all the affairs of his Church, and rules the universe. The right hand is the place of friendship, honor, confidence, and authority. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:21

Far above all principality - The difficulty in this verse does not arise from the words themselves, the meaning of each being easily understood, but from the sense in which the apostle uses them. Some think he has reference here to the different orders among good and evil angels; he is superior to all the former, and rules all the latter. Others think he refers to earthly governments; and as αρχη , principality, the first word, signifies the most sovereign and extensive kind of dominion;... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 1:15-23

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 1:15-23

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 1:15-23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 1:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:21

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