Catholic Commentary on Ephesians 3

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" (Ephesians 3:20-21)

The Mystery of the Gospel

Paul the prisoner reveals the mystery made known to him by revelation: the mystery of Christ, which in previous generations was not made known to people but has now been revealed, that through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. This mystery was hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that now the manifold wisdom of God should be made known through the Church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. The Church is not merely a human institution. It is the instrument through which the wisdom of God is declared to the spiritual powers of the universe. The Catechism calls this the mystery of the Church's cosmic significance: it exists not merely for the salvation of its members but as the visible sign of God's eternal purpose for all creation (CCC 772).

Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians

Paul kneels before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name, and prays that they may be strengthened with power through the Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. That they may be rooted and grounded in love and may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Then the doxology: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. The limiting factor in what God does in and through your life is not his power, which is without limit. It is the capacity of your asking and imagining, which he consistently exceeds. Pray bigger. Imagine more. And then trust that even your expanded prayer is still smaller than what he is able and willing to do.

Prayer

Lord God, strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. Root and ground us in love. Give us power to grasp the width and length and height and depth of Christ's love. To you who can do immeasurably more than we ask, be glory forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3
The Mystery of the Gospel
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...* 3:1 This train of thought is continued in verse 14.
 
2 Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
 
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power. 8 Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship † 3:9 NE and WH and to illuminate the stewardship; TR and to illuminate for everyone the fellowship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
12 In Him and through faith in Him ‡ 3:12 Or through His faithfulness we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence. 13 So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians
 
14 ... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,§ 3:14 BYZ and TR before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
 
20 Now to Him who is able to do so much more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

*3:1 3:1 This train of thought is continued in verse 14.

†3:9 3:9 NE and WH and to illuminate the stewardship; TR and to illuminate for everyone the fellowship

‡3:12 3:12 Or through His faithfulness

§3:14 3:14 BYZ and TR before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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