 |  |
and so it is that this consistent and conscientious minister could write to the churches:--
"Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks" (I Thess. 5: 17, 18).
Most of us find the stress of things at times is apt to crowd out prayer and
thanksgiving for other saints, yet this apostle, upon whom came the burden of all the
churches, could "pray without ceasing". We who envy him his gifts might be better
occupied in practicing his graces.
With these two verses the prayer itself is introduced. Like the parallel prayer in
chapter 3: it is addressed to the Father. In 1: 17 it is to "the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory", in 3: 14 it is to "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ".
It may be wise, before going into the prayer itself, to notice, by way of comparison,
the special burden of its petition:--
Eph. 1: 15-23.
and
Eph. 3: 14-21.
THE
PRAYERS
ARE
ADDRESSED
TO
The God of our Lord Jesus Christ.
| The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
THAT
HE
MAY
GIVE
A spirit of wisdom and revelation.
| Strength by His Spirit in the inner man.
THAT
YE
MAY
KNOW
What Christ has been made to you.
| What Christ may be in you.
BOTH SPEAK OF SOMETHING "EXCEEDING" (HYPERBALLON).
"Exceeding" power wrought in Christ.
| "Exceeding" love of Christ.
THE
MEANS
MAY
BE
SUMMARIZED
AS
We in Christ.
| Christ in us.
THE
POWER
IS
The energy (energeia) of Christ.
| The energy (energeġ) in us.
THE
MIGHT
(ischus)
IS
The might exhibited in the resurrection.
| The might necessary to understand.
THE
GOAL
IS
IN EACH
CASE
The fulness.
| The fulness.
THE
HEAVENLY
POWERS
ARE
MENTIONED.
Every name that is named.
| Every family in heaven and earth is named.