Ephesians 3:14–21

Bible Studies for Life
Associate Professor of Religion, Samford University

Strengthened by God’s Power

Ephesians 3:14–21

Ephesians is one of the prison letters (3:1; 4:1; 6:20). Verses 14 through 19 comprise a single sentence in Greek, broken up in English translations for easier reading. Your translation might begin verses 16 and 18 with “I pray that,” but in both places Paul actually says, “so that.” Paul says he is praying in verses 13 and 14.

Because every “you” in the passage is plural we will read Paul’s words as community instruction rather than as teachings for individuals.

The triune God empowers all believers. (14–17)

“For this reason” refers to Paul’s wish that his readers “not lose heart over my sufferings for you” (v. 13). A Greek wordplay is lost in English: “Father” in verse 14 and “fatherhood,” or literally “family,” in verse 15. 

Rather than despairing about his imprisonment Paul prays the Ephesians “are strengthened,” not in their bodies but in their “inner beings.” This is literally translated as “inner man.” 

I propose that we read this collectively: the inner being of the congregation itself is strengthened. This reading anticipates the call “to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” in Ephesians 4:3.

Whence comes that strength? From God, who gives power through His Spirit. What’s the source of power? “The riches of God’s glory” (v. 16). All of this suggests that God has an unlimited supply of fortitude to give.

Again, Paul prays that Christ may dwell in the hearts of the congregation, not in individuals’ hearts. His prayer can be compared with Ephesians 2:21–22. Our hearts, however, must first be prepared for this indwelling by “being rooted and grounded in love.” The phrase suggests that this love is both Christ’s love for the Church and our mutual love for one another. 

God empowers us to know and walk in His love. (18–19) 

That idea is strengthened in verses 18 and 19. Christ’s love is too vast to comprehend yet God gives the power to understand it, not for the sake of understanding alone but so we “may be filled with the fullness of God.” 

For Paul, understanding always leads to spiritual change and thence to a change in how we live.

God’s power in our lives goes beyond what we can imagine. (20–21)

Paul continues the theme here with a “doxology.” Paul says God has the power to give what we cannot imagine because we typically ask God for the wrong things. 

God has a solution for that as well: out of abundant grace God gives what we do not ask for. We do not ask because we don’t know we should. God gives it anyway.

Paul has been released from prison eternally so we do not suffer as the Ephesians did. Nevertheless, God’s people find abundant opportunities to despair. 

Two thousand years ago, Paul instructed believers not to give in and then told us that we aren’t on our own as, together as God’s family, we seek God’s fortitude, God’s indwelling Spirit, God’s understanding and the love of Christ. Even as we seek it, God gives more than we ask.

Thanks be to God.