FULLNESS OF GOD (cont.)
Ephesians 3:14-19
ESV 2 Chronicles 7:1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
ESV Ephesians 3:19...and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
What is "This reason" (v14) that caused Paul to bow and pray this prayer to the Father? It is the same reason referred into in verse 1 of the same passage. Paul does not get to what he was going to do "for this reason" in verses 2-13. Instead, he discusses his ministry to the Gentiles. In verse 14 he gets back to what he was about to say. I believe the reason that he prays this prayer is given in the last few verses of Ephesians chapter 2.
ESV Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The temple imagery in this passage is obvious. So I think an appropriate reading of the text would be "Because you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God [holy temple], I bow my knees to the Father...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Other phrases in 3:14-19 also invoke temple imagery--"according to the riches of His glory" and "the breadth and length and height and depth"(i.e. dimensions of the Temple and furnishings).
Paul's prayer reminds me of Solomon's prayer that is recorded in 2 Chronicles 6. But instead of fire and smoke being the manifestation of the glory of God, in the case of God's new temple, it is the "love of Christ that surpasses knowledge".
Ephesians 3:14-19
ESV 2 Chronicles 7:1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
ESV Ephesians 3:19...and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
What is "This reason" (v14) that caused Paul to bow and pray this prayer to the Father? It is the same reason referred into in verse 1 of the same passage. Paul does not get to what he was going to do "for this reason" in verses 2-13. Instead, he discusses his ministry to the Gentiles. In verse 14 he gets back to what he was about to say. I believe the reason that he prays this prayer is given in the last few verses of Ephesians chapter 2.
ESV Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The temple imagery in this passage is obvious. So I think an appropriate reading of the text would be "Because you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God [holy temple], I bow my knees to the Father...that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Other phrases in 3:14-19 also invoke temple imagery--"according to the riches of His glory" and "the breadth and length and height and depth"(i.e. dimensions of the Temple and furnishings).
Paul's prayer reminds me of Solomon's prayer that is recorded in 2 Chronicles 6. But instead of fire and smoke being the manifestation of the glory of God, in the case of God's new temple, it is the "love of Christ that surpasses knowledge".
posted by grateful talmid | 6:57 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home