Ephesians 1:19

And what is the exceeding greatness, &c. The Gr. word rendered "exceeding" is, with its cognates, found, in the N. T., in St Paul's writings only; a characteristic of the ardour of his style. The passages are Romans 7:13; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 2Co 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2Co 4:17; 2 Corinthians 9:14; 2 Corinthians 11:23; 2 Corinthians 12:7; Galatians 1:13; Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:19, and here.

his power exercised in the whole work of grace and glory, from regeneration onward to resurrection. Cp. for various aspects of its exercise, Romans 1:16; 1Co 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 2Co 12:9; 2 Corinthians 13:4; Ephesians 3:16; Eph 3:20; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2Ti 1:8; 1 Peter 1:5. We take its mainreference here to be to the coming resurrection, believing the whole context to refer mainly to the future, and finding a special and suggestive mention of the Lord's Resurrection just below. But the deep and strong continuity of process in the Divine work makes it impossible to restrictthe reference so. The same "power that worketh in us" (Ephesians 3:20, see note) is that whereby we shall be glorified. See the significant words of Romans 8:11.

to us-ward who believe whose "faith stands in the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:5), which gave it; and who, as believers, are now in a state of receptivitytowards that power (Mark 9:23); and who, by faith, touch the "things hoped for" (Hebrews 11:1) of the blessed prospect.

according to the working of his mighty power Lit., according to the working of the strength of His might; a magnificent accumulation. Here is the scaleby which to measure the possibilities of the Divine power; it is the surpassing victory of its exercise in the Lord's Resurrection. See next note; and see further, on Ephesians 6:10.