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SOMETHING "EXCEEDING" (hyperballo).
Exceeding power.
Knowledge-exceeding love.
THE MEANS
We in Christ.
Christ in us--"The inner man".
THE POWER IS
The power wrought in (energeo) The power that worketh in (energeo)
Christ.
us..
THE MIGHT (ischus) IS
The might exhibited at the The might necessary to comprehend
resurrection.
with all saints.
THE GOAL IN EACH CASE
The fullness of Him that filleth all in That ye might be filled up to all the
all.
fullness of God.
HEAVENLY POWERS MENTIONED
Every family in heaven and earth is
Every name that is named.
named.
There is also an evident correspondence between the opening and closing prayer. In
chapter one Paul prays for the believer, in chapter six, he asks the believer to pray for
him. In the opening prayer the burden is "that ye may know", in the closing prayer "that
I may make known". The prayers of Ephesians, therefore, stand related thus:
A | 1: 15-19. Prayer for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT - - - EYES.
"That ye may know"
B | 3: 14-21. Prayer for COMPREHENSION - - -
HEART.
A | 6: 19, 20. Prayer for UTTERANCE - - -
MOUTH.
The student with time to spare for the delightful and fruitful task, can, with the start
given by these few comparisons continue the process and will find many treasures of
truth awaiting his prayerful investigation. It is evident from the fact that the Apostle
ceases to teach new doctrine, and turns to prayer, that there is a warning and a lesson
here. At the first, we are absolutely dependent upon the initial revelation that God makes,
whether it be the gospel of our salvation, or the revelation of the Mystery, but there
comes a moment when such teaching must be received, appropriated and acted upon. If
this be not done, to continue teaching would treat us as though we were automatons into
whom at stated intervals so much truth should be poured. But even a motor car does not
receive continual fillings of petrol unless the petrol already received is used, how much
more the mind of the believer endowed with faculties of reason, and under the
monitorship of an enlightened conscience and the leading of the Spirit. It is on this basis
that the prayer proceeds.
"Wherefore" dia touto "because of this" or "on this account". Without mechanically
repeating the clauses of the teaching already given, we can see upon examination that the
prayer of the Apostle has that teaching in mind.