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(1)
The WILL of the Father (1: 3-6).
(2)
The WORK of the Son (1: 7-12).
(3)
The WITNESS of the Spirit (1: 13, 14).
The Apostle follows by a threefold prayer, which embraces:
(1)
The Hope of His calling (1: 18).
(2)
The Riches of His inheritance (1: 18).
(3)
The exceeding greatness of His power (1: 19).
It is the last member that brings to bear the resurrection of Christ upon the believer:
"That ye may know . . . . . what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward
who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ,
when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand, . . . . . far above
all . . . . ." (Eph. 1: 18-21).
The word translated "exceeding" is the Greek word hyperballo which gives its name
to a figure of speech hyperbole, meaning an exaggeration. Here, there is no exaggeration
intended but something surpassing the common experience of man. Hyperballo is used
three times in Ephesians, as follows:
(1)
Exceeding power (1: 19).
(2)
Exceeding riches (2: 7).
(3)
Exceeding knowledge (3: 19).
No attempt is made by the Apostle to `explain' the greatness of the miracles that
resurrection involves. He applies it to the believer, saying "to usward who believe", and
commencing with resurrection, he goes on to the Ascension, the Headship and the
Fullness, for which, "exceeding greatness of power" was a necessity. We must not miss
however the object of another power which had worked in the believer in his
unregenerate days, "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the
children of disobedience" (Eph. 2: 1-3). Here the word "power" is exousia "authority",
which is translated "power" in Eph. 1: 21. The Ascension which necessitates the
resurrection, figures prominently in Eph. 4: 8-12, where it is associated with gifts of
ministry, and the concept of resurrection meets us once more in the exhortation:
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ
shall give thee light" (Eph. 5: 14).
In Colossians, where this same word "authority" is used:
"Who hath delivered us from the authority of darkness",
we find that the believer is said to have been "translated" (Col. 1: 13). Here, in the sequel
of Eph. 2: 6, we find the believer is:
"raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2: 6).