Ephesians 3:14

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, FOR THIS CAUSE - resuming Ephesians 3:1, "For this cause." Because ye are so loved and favoured by God. BOW MY KNEES - the proper attitude in prayer. Posture affects the mind, and is therefore not unimportant. See Paul's practice, Acts 20:36; and that of the Lord Himself, Luke 22:41. UNTO THE FATHER. Delta G f g, Vulgate, support, but 'Aleph (') A B C, Origen, omit, "of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 3:15, 'From whom,' in either case, refers to "the Father" ...

14._For this cause. _His prayers for them are mentioned, not only to testify his regard for them, but likewise to excite them to pray in the same manner; for the seed of the word is scattered in vain, unless the Lord render it fruitful by his blessing. Let pastors learn from Paul’s example, not only to admonish and exhort their people, but to entreat the Lord to bless their labors, that they may not be unfruitful. Nothing will be gained by their industry and toil, — all their study and application will be to no purpose, except so far as the Lord bestows his blessing. This ought not to be regarded by them as an encouragement to sloth. It is their duty, on the contrary, to labor earnestly in sowing and watering, provided they, at the same time, ask and expect the increase from the Lord. We are thus enabled to refute the slanders of the Pelagians and Papists, who argue, that, if the grace o...

13-19 The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strength in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty. If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth, its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery;...

Verse 14. _FOR THIS CAUSE I BOW MY KNEES_] That you may not faint, but persevere, I frequently pray to God, who is our God and the Father of our Lord Jesus. Some very ancient and excellent MSS. and _versions_ omit the words του Κυριου ἡμων Ιησου Χριστου, _of_ _our Lord Jesus Christ_. And in them the passage reads: _I bow my_ _knees unto the Father_. The apostle prays to God the Father, that they may not _faint_; and he bows his knees in this praying. What can any man think of himself, who, in his addresses to God, can either _sit_ on his seat or _stand_ in the presence of the _Maker_ and _Judge_ of all men? Would they _sit_ while addressing any person of ordinary respectability? If they did so they would be reckoned very _rude_ indeed. Would they _sit_ in the presence of the _king_ of their own land? They would not be permitted so to do. Is God then to be treated with less respect than...

FOR THIS CAUSE - Some suppose that this is a resumption of what he had commenced saying in Ephesians 3:1, but which had been interrupted by a long parenthesis. So Bloomfield explains it. But it seems to me more probable that he refers to what immediately precedes. “Wherefore, that the great work may be carried on, and that the purposes of these my sufferings may be answered in your benefit and glory, I bow my knees to God, and pray to him.” I BOW MY KNEES - I pray. The usual, and the proper posture of prayer is to kneel; Compare 2 Chronicles 6:13; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22

EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 3:1 DIGRESSION ON THE ADMISSION OF THE GENTILES TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. EPHESIANS 3:1 FOR THIS CAUSE. The reference is not merely to the last statement or illustration, but to the whole view of the purpose of God toward the Gentiles unfolded in Ephesians it. The apodosis does not come in till verse 14, at the beginning of which this conjunctive clause is repeated. I PAUL, THE PRISONER OF CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU GENTILES. He introduces himself in order to make known the feelings which w

FOR THIS CAUSE I BOW MY KNEES UNTO THE FATHER,.... That is, pray unto him for the perseverance of the saints; for nothing is more desirable to the ministers of Christ than that; which is the pure gift of God, and is what he has promised, and therefore should be prayed to for it; for what God has designed and promised to his people, he will be sought to; and the apostle's view might be also to stir up these saints to pray for themselves: the gesture he used in prayer was bowing the knees; a man is not tied to any particular gesture or posture in prayer, the main thing is the heart; mere postures and gestures are insignificant things with God; though where the mind is affected, the body will be moved; and this gesture may be expressive of reverence, humility, and submission in prayer: the object he prayed unto is the Father; that is, as follows, OF OUR LORD JESUS; though these words are w...

EPHESIANS 3:14 pate,ra {B} After pate,ra, read by î46 a* A B C P 33 81 1739 syrpal copsa, bo eth _al,_ a variety of Western and Byzantine witnesses add the words tou/ kuri,ou h`mw/n VIhsou/ Cristou/ (ac D G K Y 88 614 _Byz Lect_ itd, g, ar vg syrp, h goth arm _al_). The gloss, suggested by Ephesians 1:3 and similar passages, became part of the Textus Receptus....

3. THE MYSTERY MADE KNOWN Chapter S 2:11-3:21 _ 1. The condition of the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11)_ 2. But now in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:13) 3. The new and great relationship (Ephesians 2:19) 4. The Mystery made known and Paul's ministry (Ephesians 3:1) 5. The prayer (Ephesians 3:14) 6. The doxology (Ephesians 3:20) With the eleventh verse of the second chapter we reach a new divisio

THE WRITER'S PRAYER FOR HIS READERS. Kneeling, in a very ecstasy of prayer, before the Father who is the source and prototype of all fatherly relationship whether on earth or in heaven, the writer prays that, in a degree commensurate with the wealth of the Divine glory, his readers may be granted power and strength through the Spirit unto inner spiritual growth; that the indwelling of Christ in their hearts may through faith be realised; that Christian love may come to be the very root and foundation of their being; and that so they may be given strength to share with all God's holy people the comprehension of the length and breadth and height and depth (of God's glorious purpose) and the knowledge of that love of Christ which is beyond all knowledge, and be made spiritually full unto the measure of the fulness of God Himself (Ephesians 3:14). God can do that and more: His power the po