Ephesians 3:12

in whom we have Here (see last note) isthe realization. It was "purposed in Him" that we His saints should be unspeakably near to the Father; and so we now are, and angels see it.

boldness Lit., the (or our) freedom of speech, the boldness of intimate intercourse. Here and there (perhaps Colossians 2:15, where A. V. "openly"; Hebrews 10:35; 1 John 2:28; where A. V. "confidence") the original word seems to lose its special reference to speech; but certainly not here. The saint (Hebrews 4:16) "comes with free utteranceto the throne of grace"; to speaka child's every thought, desire, and fear. On the definite article here (" theboldness") Monod remarks that it indicates "une hardiesse bien connue", a familiar characteristic of experience.

access Better, introduction; see on Ephesians 2:18.

with confidence Lit., and better, in. This holy confidence with God is illustrated often in the Acts, and in the Epistles. Meyer refers to Romans 8:38 &c. Still more in point is the passage just following this, and St Paul's other prayers for his converts.

by the faith of him So lit, but the better English equivalent for the Greek is (R. V.) through our faith in Him. The same construction with the same meaning occurs Mark 11:22 ("have faith ofGod"); Romans 3:22; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:9. See too Colossians 2:12 ("faith ofthe operation of God").

Observe the persistent recurrence of the idea of faith. The entrance into one-ness with Christ is, on our side, by faith (Ephesians 2:8), and (here) the life lived in that sacred one-ness is realized in the exercise of faith.