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It is difficult to decide whether the words "with joyfulness" belong to the prayer, or
whether they belong to the giving of thanks that follows. Perhaps they stand midway as a
concerning link, much as the words "in love" do in Eph. 1: 4, 5. It is certainly true that
patience and longsuffering to be well-pleasing must be with joyfulness, just as love that
suffers long is also kind. There is no room for that "patience on a monument" that is ever
impressing others with its virtue or its grief. Here in the brief compass of this prayer we
have had all wisdom, all pleasing, all good works, all power, and all patience, a five-fold
fullness that is alone possible in the risen Christ.
Not only is there a close connection between the three occurrences of "worthy" in
Eph. 4:, Phil. 1: and Col. 1:, but we find that the great prayers of the three epistles are
intimately associated. This relationship we will set out before the reader before closing
this article:--
The four prayers.
A | Eph. 1:
Faith and love heard of.
Power and might, spirit of wisdom, hope.
Inheritance in the saints.
Principality and power far above all.
Christ the Head and the Fullness.
B | Eph. 3: Love of Christ exceeding knowledge.
Comprehend what is the breadth, etc.
Filled with all the fullness of God.
Unto the generation of the ages of the ages.
B | Phil. 1: Love of saints abounding in knowledge.
Prove the things that differ.
Filled with the fruits of righteousness.
Unto the day of Christ.
A | Col. 1: Faith and love heard of.
Power and might, all wisdom, hope.
Inheritance of the saints.
Authority of darkness, translated.
Christ the Head and the Fullness.