Ephesians 3:16,17

Paul's Request

The outward man is the body everyone can see which gradually grows old. The inward man is the soul that will live eternally (2 Corinthians 4:16). All of us are made new through the washing of the new birth, or baptism, which the Holy Spirit caused to be written about in the Bible (Titus 3:5). The Spirit can further strengthen us as we feed on the milk and meat of the word (1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14). Paul prayed they would be granted the latter strength (3:16).

Hendren says the "verb 'dwelling' is intensive, meaning 'settle down.' Christ needs to settle down and take up permanent residence in our hearts." If we grow in strength because of feeding on the word, as the previous verse suggested, Christ will reside in our hearts because of the faith that comes by hearing the word of God.

Paul's prayer was also that they would become wellrooted and stabilized. Hendren suggests these participles are written so as to suggest a rooting and grounding had already taken place and needed to continue taking place. The love here must be that of God and Christ which opened the way of salvation (3:17).