Ephesians 1:21 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 1:21

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

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:21

Verse 21 21.Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion. All these names, there can be no doubt, are applied to angels, who are so denominated, because, by means of them, God exercises his power, and might, and dominion. He permits them to share, as far as is competent to creatures, what belongs to himself, and even gives to them his own name; for we find that they are called אלהים, (elohim,) gods. From the diversity of names we conclude that there are various orders of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

PRAYER FOR THEIR SPIRITUAL GROWTH . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

Prayer for spiritual growth. General characteristics of Paul's prayers (see Exposition, Ephesians 1:16 ). The prayer is I. RETROSPECTIVE . Consists of thanksgiving ( Ephesians 1:16 ). Happy key-note for prayer. II. PROSPECTIVE . Of supplication. Here we may note: 1. The name by which God is invoked ( Ephesians 1:17 ; see Exposition). 2. The blessing sought, viz. further illumination in the knowledge of God's will. 3. The points needing to be more fully... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

Paul's first prayer for the Ephesians. Having spoken of the inspiration of the adopted children, the apostle proceeds next to his first prayer on their behalf. He has a still more remarkable prayer in Ephesians 3:1-21 ., but the present one is most instructive too. It begins, as usual, with thanksgiving for the faith towards the Lord Jesus, and love to all the saints which the Ephesians cherish. This need not detain us, but we may at once proceed to the substance of his petition for... 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 1:21

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 1:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 1:15-23

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