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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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Reversing the usual order, the prayer begins ( Ephesians 3:16 ) by asking the blessing of the Third Person of the Godhead; now we have a cluster of petitions connected with the Second Person. The first of these is for the indwelling of Christ in their hearts, as opposed to mere occasional visits or influences from Christ; the instrument by which this blessing is attained being their faith. Christ exercising a constant power within them, both... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:17

The indwelling of Christ in believers. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Whether we regard this clause of the prayer as representing the result, or the purpose, or the source of the spiritual strength spoken of in the previous clause, it is in very close relationship with it. Its own meaning is perfectly clear. I. THE INDWELLER — CHRIST . There is a threefold idea suggested by the term. 1. The believer is regarded as a temple or house to be divinely inhabited ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 3:17

The real presence. No great delusion could attain wide influence unless it were the counterfeit or perversion of a valuable truth, and unless it promised to satisfy some deep, natural desire. The doctrine of the real presence is a pathetic witness to the yearning of the soul for personal fellowship with Christ, and to the truth that he does come into the lives of his pestle. I. CHRIST 'S PRESENCE IS REAL . It is not enough that he should be with us only as "the choir invisible"... read more

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