Ephesians 1:15-23

Ephesians 1:15-16

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,

Paul mentions two things he has heard about the Ephesians. Their faith in Jesus and love for the saints stand out to him. The word for love here is the famous Greek word agapē which is the same word used for God’s love for humanity.  

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 

Paul has never ceased being thankful (eucharisteō) for them and making mention (mneia) of them and remembering them in his prayers. Because of all the things Paul mentioned above about them being chosen and being a part of Christ and their faith and love for God and those who follow them, he is immensely grateful for them. Within the next few verses, Paul is going to describe exactly what he prays for, when he prays for them. 

Ephesians 1:17

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

This is the first part of what Paul prays for. Paul prays they may receive something from God. This would be the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. The word for wisdom here is sophia, the same word used for the gift of wisdom given by the Spirit such as in spiritual gifts. The word for revelation here is apokalypsis which means a revealing of something of a disclosure. Paul prays for wisdom and the revealing of such wisdom in knowledge of Him. In other words, the wisdom and revealing of such wisdom given by the Spirit will help them know God better and understand him better as the NIV and other translations render. 

Ephesians 1:18-19a

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

Paul continues his prayer with another aspect of their faith. He asks that the eyes of their heart may be enlightened. Let’s start with the phrase “eyes of your heart”. 

Eyes of your heart- eyes- eye or see. Heart- physical organ or character or understanding. 

From these meanings it is a metaphor for their understanding and soul to be enlightened. 

Enlightened- phōtizō- to give light, illuminate, instruct  

This may be connected to Jesus’ teachings on the eyes being the lamp of the body. Paul later in chapter 3 will use this word to describe God making known Jesus to the world. Paul prays that their heart, mind, and soul be illuminated by God’s light. Paul prays for this because he wants them to know two things: 

1. The hope of their calling
2. Riches of inheritance in the saints
3. Power that raised Christ 

The word for calling here is klēsis, which is different from the words of being chosen mentioned earlier. This gives the sense of an invitation of God’s calling to them. When they are open to God’s instruction and light of His Savior, they will further know the hope that their calling ends with which is the riches of inheritance, or eternal life, heaven. All saints who are called will see the glory of this inheritance promised to them. By wisdom, revelation, and openness of heart to God’s light, this hope will be made known in eternal life. 

19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

Part of being enlightened is that they will know the “surpassing greatness of his power” towards themselves. This power is described in the next verses. 

Ephesians 1:19b-21

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead

• Paul describes the power that raised Christ from the dead as the power that we can know from being enlightened and coming into contact with Jesus spiritually. The might of God is Jesus rising from the dead and we can know that same power. As Paul describes elsewhere that same power lives in us through the Holy Spirit. 

and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

This densely packed passage describes the current reign of Christ. After Jesus’ resurrection, he ascended and sat at God’s right hand. His rule is over all powers now and to come. Let’s first discuss the phrase “authority, power and dominion”.

Rule- beginning or origin of a thing

Authority- power to do or influence

Power-  physical strength

Dominion- those who have rule

This is a way to say any person, group, or nation that rises with any power any time. 

not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

Some have wondered what Paul meant by the “age to come”. It could be a couple of things. He could be referring to human powers that would come to rule long after he was gone as in today’s world and those to come long after us. He could also have in mind the spiritual powers that are fighting even now between the Satan and his followers and God’s army. I think Paul has in mind any power, signifying Christ’s rule and reign over any power at any time, all came under his feet at his exaltation.   

Ephesians 1:22-23

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Jesus is considered to be above all power and rule in this world as is proclaimed through the “under his feet” phrase. The Greek rendering of this verse is one that inclines that Jesus was “given” to the church as its leader. The body of Christ, all those considered to be in Christ, has Jesus as the head, being under his authority. The body, the church, is considered the fullness of Jesus. The church makes Jesus complete in his authoritative rule as the body that possesses his name on earth as a witness to all people.