18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:18-21
Even though I have split it up here and in the post previous, verses 18-21 should be read as a prayer. Paul first prays for them to have insight and understanding into the hope and inheritance that they will experience. He wants their eyes of the heart he calls it to be opened so they will understand. I believe this should be a prayer for all of us before we read his word that God would give us understanding. We are not to be walking around in ignorance or in the dark about who we are in Christ.
In verses 19-21, Paul goes on to talk about God's surpassing greatness of his power. You notice he just does not say "greatness" but add the word surpassing "hyperballo" which means transcends, surpasses, excel. It isn't a greatness that is similiar to man's, but it transcends any other greatness. This should be a great hope to the believer, that no matter what power may be against us, that God's power is much greater. However great we think it is, we are not coming close to what it truly is.
Paul says in verse 20-21, this power was demonstrated when God the Father raised up Christ from the dead. Not only did he raise him up, but he seated him "kathizo" at the right hand of power. That phrase seated him means more than just gave him a seat. It means that he confers a kingdom upon him. This seat was at a place of honor and authority like no other. That he is not above, but far above all other rule, authority, powers or dominions that exist or will exist and has a greater name than any name ever. This is true not only today, but will be true for forever.
Even though I have split it up here and in the post previous, verses 18-21 should be read as a prayer. Paul first prays for them to have insight and understanding into the hope and inheritance that they will experience. He wants their eyes of the heart he calls it to be opened so they will understand. I believe this should be a prayer for all of us before we read his word that God would give us understanding. We are not to be walking around in ignorance or in the dark about who we are in Christ.
In verses 19-21, Paul goes on to talk about God's surpassing greatness of his power. You notice he just does not say "greatness" but add the word surpassing "hyperballo" which means transcends, surpasses, excel. It isn't a greatness that is similiar to man's, but it transcends any other greatness. This should be a great hope to the believer, that no matter what power may be against us, that God's power is much greater. However great we think it is, we are not coming close to what it truly is.
Paul says in verse 20-21, this power was demonstrated when God the Father raised up Christ from the dead. Not only did he raise him up, but he seated him "kathizo" at the right hand of power. That phrase seated him means more than just gave him a seat. It means that he confers a kingdom upon him. This seat was at a place of honor and authority like no other. That he is not above, but far above all other rule, authority, powers or dominions that exist or will exist and has a greater name than any name ever. This is true not only today, but will be true for forever.
