Comprehend (xatadaBéotar). To English readers this conveys the meaning wnderstand. Rev., better, apprehend : grasp. See on John i. 5, and compare Philip. iii. 12, 18.
* Paul’s use in this epistle of different words for power and its working is an interesting study. He uses all the terms employed in the New Testament, except Bla violence.
Sdvomis, i. 19, 21; iii. 7, 16, 20. Svvapar, iii, 20; vi. 11, 18, 16. évepyea, i. 19 ; iii. 7; iv. 16. evepyew, i. 11, 20; ii. 2; iii, 20, éfouola, i. 21; ii. 2; iii. 10; vi. 12. isxvs, i. 19; vi. 10.
xpdros, i. 19 ; vi. 10.
Rpataw, iii. 16.
Cu. II.) THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 3885
Breadth, etc. No special interpretations are to be given to these words. The general idea of vastness is expressed in these ordinary terms for dimension. Notice that the article is attached only to the first, breadth, all the rest being included under the one article; the intention being to ex- hibit the love of Christ in its entire dimension, and not to fix the mind on its constituent parts.
19. To know (yvévaz). Practically, through experience ; while apprehend marks the knowledge as conception.
Love of Christ. Christ’s love to us. Human love to Christ could not be described in these terms.
Which passeth knowledge (rip umepBadroveay Ths yvoo- ews). Which surpasses mere knowledge without the experience of love. Note the play on the words know and knowledge.
That ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (iva TAnpodjre eis Tav TO TANpwpa Tod Seod). Note the recurrence of that ; that He would grant you; that ye may be strong; that ye may be filled. With is better rendered unto, to the measure or standard of. Fiudness of God is the fulness which God imparts through the dwelling of Christ in the heart ; Christ, in whom the Father was pleased that all the fulness should dwell (Col. i. 19), and in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead (Col. ii. 9).
20. Exceeding abundantly (isrepexmepiccot). Only here, 1 Thess. iii. 10; v.13. Superabundantly. One of the numer- ous compounds of izrép beyond, over and above, of which Paul is fond. Of twenty-eight words compounded with this preposi- tion in the New Testament, Paul alone uses twenty. For the order and construction, see next note.
Above all (imép rdvra). These words should not be con- nected with that, as A. V. and Reyv.: “above all that we ask,” etc. They form with do an independent clause. The next clause begins with exceedingly above, and is construed with dv that which we ask, etc. Read the whole, “Unto Him who is able to do beyond all, exceedingly above that which,” ete.
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386 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IV.
91. Glory. Properly, the glory, which is His due.
In the Church. Through which His many-tinted wisdom is to be displayed, and which is His fulness. The variety of the divine wisdom is again hinted at in all that we ask or think.
By Christ Jesus (év). Rev., better, om. As the Church is the outward domain in which God is to be praised, so Christ is the spiretual sphere of this praise.
Throughout all ages, world without end (eis racas TAS yeveds TOD aidvos THY aidvev). Lit., wnto all the generations of the age of the ages. Eternity is made up of ages, and ages of generations.