11. Eternal purpose (mpddeow tov aidvwv). Lit., the pur- pose of the ages.
He wrought (é7rodncev). Carried into effect. See on ful- Jjulling, ch. ii. 3.
12. Faith of Him (ris wictews adrod). As often, for faith
13. Faint (éy«axety). Lit., dose heart. Kaxés in classical
Greek, but not in the New Testament, sometimes means cow- ardly.
14. For this cause. Resuming the interrupted clause in ver. 1, and having still in mind the closing thought of ch. ii. Seeing ye are so built together in Christ, for this cause, ete.
Father. Omit of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15. Of whom (é ov). After whom.
Ou. III] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 383
The whole family (aca vatpia). Rev:, more correctly, every family. Tlatpia is, more properly, a group of families— all who claim a common tratyp father. Family, according to our usage of the term, would be ofxos house. The Israelites were divided into ¢ribes (fudal), and then into mwatpsat, each deriving its descent from one of Jacob’s grandsons; and these again into otxos houses. So Joseph was both of the house (otxov and family (watpias) of David. We find the phrase of«os mar- prov houses of the families, Exod. xii. 3; Num.i. 2. The word occurs only three times in the New Testament: here, Luke ii. 4; Acts iii. 25. In the last-named passage it is used in a wide, general sense, of nations. amily is perhaps the best transla- tion, if taken in its wider meaning of a body belonging to a common stock—aclan. Fatherhood (Rev., in margin), following the Vulgate paternitas, means rather the fact and quality of paternity. Observe the play of the words, which can scarcely be reproduced in English, pater, patria.
In heaven and earth. ‘To the angelic hosts and the tribes of men alike, God is Father. There may be a suggestion of the different ranks or grades of angels, as principalities, thrones, powers, etc. See ver. 10. ‘‘ Wherever in heaven or in earth beings are grouped from their relation to a father, the name they bear in each case is derived from the Father” (Riddle).
16. Might (dvvdyer). Rev., power. Appropriate to the suc- ceeding phrase the inner man, since it signifies faculty or virtue not necessarily manifest.
In the inward man (e/s tov éow advdIpwrov). The force of the preposition is into; might entering into the inmost per- sonality. Inward man: compare outward man, 2 Cor. iv. 16. It is the rational and moral /; the essence of the man which is conscious of itself as a moral personality. In the unregen- erate it is liable to fall under the power of sin (Rom. vii. 28) ; and in the regenerate it needs constant renewing and strength- ening by the Spirit of God, as here. Compare the hidden man of the heart, 1 Pet. iii. 4.
17. May dwell (carouxjoa). Settle down and abide. Take up His permanent abode, so that ye may be a habetation (xatou-
3884 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT [Cu. III.
kntypuov) of God. See on ch. ii. 22. The connection is with the preceding clause: “to be strengthened, etc., so that Christ may dwell, the latter words having at once a climactic and an explanatory force, and adding the idea of permanency to that of strengthening.
By faith (dca tis mictews). Through your (the article) faith, as the medium of appropriating Christ. Faith opers the door and receives Him who knocks. Apoe. iii. 20.
18. Rooted and grounded (éppulwpévor xal Tedepedtwpévor). Compare Col. ii. 7, and see note. Grounded or founded, from Jewérdvov foundation. The dwelling in ver. 17 would naturally suggest the foundation. Rooting and grounding are conse- quences of the strengthening of the Spirit and of Christ’s in- dwelling.
In love. Standing first in the sentence and emphatic, as the fundamental principle of christian life and knowledge.
May be able (éfioyionte). Rev., may be strong. This eompound verb occurs only here. The preposition é& has the force of fully or eminently. “Ioxds is strength embodied ; in- hering in organized power. Hence it is an advance on duvdper might in ver. 16 (see note). Paul prays that the inward might or virtue may issue in ability to grasp. Compare Luke xiv. 30; xvi. 3; Acts xxvii. 16; Jas. v. 16, and see notes.*