Ephesians 81-82_19 Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 1981-82 Corps Teachings. Lesson 16: Ephesians 3:14-21.
Format: AUDIO
Publication Date: 1981-82
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
EPHESIANS 3:14-21
March 10, 1982
And now I’m blessed to take you to something much more positive and much more
wonderful, Ephesians chapter 3.
And of course tonight we start with verse 14 of this chapter which will be taking us
into the second great prayer in the Book of Ephesians.
In the King James, verse 14 reads as follows:
Ephesians 3:14
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
“For this cause” is a figure of speech, Corps. Anachoresis is the Greek word. It’s
spelled a-n-a-c-h-o-r-e-s-i-s. It’s a return from a digression. That’s what the word means.
You see, chapter 3 the first three verse…words in chapter 3 are the same, for this cause.
Then we went off for a while on something else. Now we are returning from the digression
in verse 14. This tells you that the original subject begun in verse 1 is being started all over
again; it’s being resumed. You know, we are a temple, a habitation of God as believers,
fellow citizens with the saints having access to the Father because of what God has done
through Christ Jesus.
So here we begin, “for this cause I bow my knees”—It’s a figure of speech. The
bowing of the knee is a figure of speech, Corps. Euche is the word; e-u-c-h-e is the figure,
that’s how it’s spelled. It’s an expression of feeling by prayer. And this opens the prayer all
the way through verse 19. It’s not only that figure but it is also the figure known as Idiom.
The Idiom indicates it’s prayer, not posture, not position, because both standing and
kneeling in prayer and falling on your face are all used in the Bible. It’s a figure, the Idiom
is a figure derived from the Eastern custom, people, where not only in prayer but if
someone of great rank passes by, the Eastern people would fall prostrate on their face
before reaching out. They’d just fall full length on the ground. Sometimes just bend the
knee. Other times they’d touch their head all the way to the earth like this. And then they
would even kiss the feet of that man of renown, and from that comes the modern day
culture that we have in the Roman Catholic Church of kissing the ring of the Pope, the
hand of the Pope or the bishop, kissing the bishop’s ring still comes from that old Eastern
custom.
I remember in India when I spoke at the Jain convention where Ashadi-Ashri-Tolsi was
the top man. Whenever the Ashadi—and the word “ashadi” means teacher—whenever he
would descend and walk through an aisle like this, the people, of course, were all standing.
Everybody along these rows here just fall flat on their face before him. And you men here
on this aisle, like as if I walked down this aisle, you’d all fall flat down and you would
reach out just hoping and believing you could touch my feet while I walked down. That’s
what they did to the Ashadi; that’s Eastern culture. That’s involved in the figure, bow the
knee. Do you understand? That’s what it’s talking about here. And this is a lot bigger than
the Pope or the Ashadi or any other bishop or any other man.
“I bow my knees unto” whom? {The Father} Father. And the word here is Jehovah.
Back in Ephesians 1 in the first prayer in Ephesians 1:15-23, to whom was the prayer
addressed there, Corps? Come on. {God} God, Elohim. That’s right.
This prayer is not addressed to Elohim, God the Creator. This prayer here in chapter 3
is addressed to the Father. And the reason it is when you have a father you’ve got a family,
kids. A husband is not a father until he has a baby. Understand? [Taps on desk several
times.] This prayer is so wonderful because it puts the Father at the center. That means
He’s got some children, He’s got some kids, offspring. It’s addressed to Him, the Father.
The family is involved here.
The words “of our lord Jesus Christ” do not appear in numerous of the old manuscripts,
although the Aramaic shows no variation. So in my literal translation I could go either
way. I have chosen to go the following on this verse 14.
Ephesians 3:14 Literal translation according to usage
On account of this I bow my knees to the Father
I will tell you why I made that decision and did not include “of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Not only from manuscript point of view but because of context, Corps, because of context.
He’s Father and we’re coming to the family, coming to the family. And therefore, I do not
believe that our Lord Jesus Christ who was God’s only begotten son is really what
Ephesians [taps] is after [taps], although we know that you and I could not belong to God’s
family without the work of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. But context, kids. Seems to me
that the weight is simply to translate it “on account of this I bow my knees to the Father.”
The expanded translation of this verse 1 has to be understood in the light of the
expanded one I gave you of verse 1 of chapter 3. Do you have that in front of you or with
you? What I gave you, the expanded one I gave you of verse 1 of chapter 3, I’ll read it to
you, then I’ll give you the expanded of verse 14 and you will see how beautifully and
logically and spiritually this whole thing fits.
Now here’s the expanded of verse 1. Now, you just listen and watch carefully, then
we’ll go to 14.
Ephesians 3:1 Expanded translation
Because of this grace, of Christ within, the habitation of God, I, Paul, am
hand-cuffed to Jesus Christ and an ambassador to and for you Gentiles.
And, here’s 14: because of this; because of this, the whole family. “Because of this I
get down on my knees”—this is the literal expanded.
Ephesians 3:14 Expanded translation
Because of this I get down on my knees in reverence and pray to the Father.
That’s the expanded of verse 14.
Now verse 15 is a parenthesis, Corps.
Ephesians 3:15
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Cause you see, you could go directly from 14 to 16. It’s a parenthesis, an explanation
thrown in. It’s relatively short. It’s really inserted as an exclamatory remark.
And this word “family” shows the common origin, the Father. In the first prayer it’s
Elohim, God the Creator. Here in this prayer what he’s showing is the family, the Father.
This Father in a Jehovah relationship who in the previous prayer in Ephesians is the
Elohim, God the Creator. That’s why verse 15, a parenthesis, literal according to usage is
translated: Out from whom, of whom?
Ephesians 3:15 Literal translation according to usage
Out from whom [parenthesis within that] (God) the whole family in heaven
and on earth is named.
I don’t remember now for sure, but I think the word “named” is deleted in some of the
texts. I’m not sure. Do any of you have a Bullinger? What does he do with the word
“named”? John Lynn, do you have any suggestions there? I just forgot to note this. But I
see it here in my work. The word “named” I have scratched out. I don’t know why. Oh, I
see what I did with it. Each is specifically called, is what I did with it. Not scratched it out,
just put a line in it. I ought to read what I writ, huh? Sometimes that’s difficult to do. Got it
written all over the place. Each in…each is specifically called. That’s nice. I wondered
why I had scratched it out. Had to be text or I’d never do a silly thing like that. Boy, that’s
all right.
Ephesians 3:15 Literal translation according to usage
Out from whom (God) the whole family in heaven and on earth each is
specifically called.
Man, that’s sort of beautiful. Each, each one, God calls by name each one—[taps] is
sort of neat.
Well in the expanded I did it as follows:
Ephesians 3:15 Expanded translation
For from Him, the Father, all the family is specifically called each one the
angels in heaven and the born-again family on earth.
Now verse 16, King James.
Ephesians 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
“That he would grant you” is a purpose clause, the purpose for the prayer; the purpose
for the prayer: that he would grant you.
“…according to” is the standard; the standard.
Now the word “riches” is really dynamite. The word “riches” appears here in three
different figures of speech. Can you imagine that? The first is a Heterosis, h-e-t-e-r-o-s-i-s,
Heterosis, the figure, which is an exchange of inflection. The second figure is
Anthropopatheia where God is spoken of as having riches, the attributes of a man. And
thirdly, “riches of his glory” is Hypallage, where you have an interchange of nouns.
Usually the word “glory” is the controlling noun, but here it isn’t. The position of the
nouns are reversed. This places the emphasis on the “riches” so you take “riches” and raise
it to the third power…power or something mathematically, I don’t know. It’s just…you hit
it with a ton of dynamite spiritually. According to the riches, riches, RICHES! (that’s it) of
his glory.
“…to be strengthened”—And I love the Aramaic of that, to be established. To be
strengthened is one thing, but baby, when you get it established, you’ve got your feet in
concrete and it’s solid. It can’t get out. It’s established.
“…by his spirit in the inner man”—In the inner man, and that inner man, of course, is
Christ in you the hope of glory.
The literal translation of verse 16, is as follows:
Ephesians 3:16 Literal translation according to usage
That He will give you according to the riches of His glory the potential
power that will strengthen you by His spirit in your inner being.
Now this is the expanded one and I think it’s fantastic. Are you ready? Verse 16
expanded.
Ephesians 3:16 Expanded translation
In order to give you the wealth and treasure of His glorious perfection…
Isn’t that something. To give you the wealth and treasure of His (God’s) glorious
perfection.
Ephesians 3:16 Expanded translation
…which is also to be established by His spirit that is in you mightily and
powerfully permeating entirely completely complete your inner being the
inner man.
Verse 17, King James. Boy, isn’t that 16 a beauty. Man, oh man. How far the church
has lived below par. How we’ve all been talked out of what we really have in Christ Jesus.
Now 17, King James.
Ephesians 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love,
Then it goes on. But we will take it first as it is here.
“Christ may dwell in your heart” is the purpose of the strengthening by the spirit,
Corps.
This…these words, “may dwell” can be translated and should be “live in.” Live in,
may dwell, live in. And you know the heart’s the seat of your personal life.
And that word “faith” is through or by believing in this verse.
Now those words “that being rooted and grounded” I believe the Aramaic is
fantastically solid—when your root and your foundation. The verb for this compound
subject, “root and foundation” follows in Aramaic when your root and your foundation
will become solid and firm. The Greek has only two participles. I think the Aramaic is
much better. When your root and your foundation will become solid or firm.
The literal translation according to usage of that verse, I’ve translated as follows: That
you, will be able…nay it’s 17. Sorry, I was reading 18.
Ephesians 3:17 Literal translation according to usage
That Christ may dwell by believing in your heart so that you are being
rooted and being founded.
Now this is the expanded one.
Ephesians 3:17a Expanded translation
That Christ may live in everything you are and do and so by your continuous
believing…
Now get that word “continuous.” I didn’t say continually, believe once in a while; I
said believe all the time. So by your continuous believing, you understand that?
Continually means sporadic; continuous means all the time.
Ephesians 3:17b Expanded translation
… so by your continuous believing you are being solidly rooted and you are
being a firm foundation.
It is not something, Corps, that’s completely complete but by your continuous
believing you are being what? solidly rooted and by your continuous believing you are
being a firm foundation. So if you blow it, split out, you know just do it continually instead
of continuous you blow hot and cold. Sometimes you’re firm, sometimes you’re not.
Sometimes you’re solid on the Word, other times you’re not [taps three times]. That’s
quite a verse.
Now verse 18 in King James, really carries right on from verse 17.
Ephesians 3:18
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height;
To apprehend is to know in part, understand in part. To comprehend is to fully know,
to fully understand. It means to lay hold very effectively and efficaciously. It means to
really grasp it, kids, to get it in your head, your mind.
Then in King James you have: breadth, length, depth, and height. In Aramaic, and I
want you to write this down because this is the order in which the words appear in Aramaic
and I believe this is the order in which they ought to appear: the height, depth, length,
breadth. Now among all the Bible scholars there is a lot of difference of opinion as to what
these four words refer to. Robertson says they’re referred to the measure of love. Bengel
says God’s spiritual temple. Many of the writers like Chrysostom and Beza and those say
they describe the vastness of the Mystery. So, I don’t know. They’ve got a lot of different
opinions.
Welch had an interesting comment that was given to me by the Research Department
that triggered thoughts in my mind. He said that the earthly inheritance promised to
Abraham is defined by two measurements: breadth and length. The heavenly city, the new
Jerusalem, which is the heavenly side of Abraham’s inheritance, is defined by three:
breadth, length and height. And the Mystery, the inheritance of the Mystery appears to
have been in the apostle’s mind when he spoke of breadth, length, depth and height, four
dimensions.
In the Companion Bible it notes that God’s love in Christ is in breadth, boundless; in
length, endless; in depth, fathomless, exhaustless; in height, measureless.
When I go back in working this I pick it up way in verse 22 of the second chapter, the
habitation of God that I explained in such detail and greatness to the Corps. That’s why the
parenthesis that starts in chapter 3 shows to me that this prayer here in chapter 3, this
prayer in chapter 3 ties directly into the temple of the habitation of God, which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory and the body of believers.
And I believe this is further substantiated by the words “rooted and grounded” and both
of these of course are used in Greek literature of buildings.
I had an interesting note from Randy Zelov which I have saved since (January,
February, March…), April 1, 1981. I’ve saved it to whatever date it is, the 10th of March,
1982, because I knew sometime we’d get to this verse. So it’s not in too good of shape,
because I’ve had it around in my notes a lot, but Randy Zelov gave me this note a long
time ago and I saved it just for tonight, and I love it. Of course, you know Randy is the
architect who is working on the W-O-W, Word Over the World Auditorium and stuff, one
of our fine archi—By the way, Randy just became a registered architect in the state of
Ohio last week, so he’s {audience clapping} higher than two turkeys flying over a tree or
something. And he wrote this to me:
I thought it would interest you to know (and it does) the following
information. The word “depth” of Ephesians 3:18 is often used in building
and construction terminology. It is used in relationship to foundations for
buildings. I thought this was interesting from the point of view of Ephesians
2:20 being able to comprehend the entire depth of the foundation, the rock,
is fathomless because the thing is so deep.
I think that’s a very beautiful thing you gave me Randy, and if you’re listening tonight
at International thank you very much.
See, the word “depth” is…is often used in the Scriptures of the sea. It’s used in…in the
Scriptures of the depth of a man’s heart. And it’s sort of neat, Corps, that in the Gospels
the word “depth” relates to the eye, and in the Gospels the word “eye” is singular. But in
the plural “eyes of your understanding” it’s plural, which is introduced in the Church
Epistles addressed to the Body of believers. That gives you depth perception. It’s not
possible with the single eye. Depth perception of understanding is only possible with the
eyes, plural [taps three time].
That’s why I translated the literal translation of verse 18:
Ephesians 3:18 Literal translation according to usage
That you will be able to comprehend with all the saints the height and the
depth and the length and breadth.
Now the expanded one is in much more detail.
Ephesians 3:18 Expanded translation
In order that you will be fully able to really understand and manifest with
understanding with all the saints the Mystery of His temple God’s
habitation, God’s love, and the riches of God’s glory; in height, it is
measureless; in depth, it is fathomless; in length, it is endless; in breadth, it
is boundless.
Verse 19, King James.
Ephesians 3:19
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be
filled with all the fulness of God.
That already ought to send chills running up and down your spine. This is the second
purpose clause of Christ living in your heart.
“And to know” which is to know by experience. You can know by experience love, but
you can’t know by experience hope. It hasn’t come yet.
“…which passeth knowledge”—It passes knowledge. Those words are a very unique
figure of speech. The figure is spelled o-x-y-m-o-r-o-n from which we…the last part of the
word we get the word “moron” {audience chuckles}. It’s…it’s a figure that appears
screwy, foolish, but in a deep sense it’s very wise and very discriminating. It is to know, it
says to know a thing. Then it says that knowing can’t know because it passes what?
{knowledge} knowledge. And really when I worked this the reason it passes knowledge is
because you cannot know it by your senses. The love of Christ, the four dimensions, you
cannot know by the senses. But there is a way that you can know it. It passes sense
knowledge but it does not exceed knowledge of the spirit, which is the Christ in you, the
hope of glory. It can be known via the spirit.
“…might be filled”—To capacity, plum full, and this introduces the third purpose of
Christ living in your heart.
“…filled with all the fullness”—And this emphasizes the completeness of God’s
filling, God doing it. All the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwelt in Christ, Corps, and
when Christ dwells in you, in your heart, the fullness of God in Christ is dwelling in you.
Literal according to usage of 19.
Ephesians 3:19 Literal translation according to usage
And know the greatness of the love of Christ and you will be filled with all
the fullness of God.
(I’ll have some more coffee please.) This is the expanded one.
Ephesians 3:19 Expanded translation
And you will know experientially the greatness of the knowledge of the
love of Christ and you will be filled to full measure with all the fullness of
God.
Now verse 20, “Now unto him…” in King James.
Ephesians 3:20b
…that is able to do exceeding abundantly…
Is that 20? Did I do…I did 19.
Ephesians 3:20c
…above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
[Dr. Wierwille exhales slowly and pauses.] Verses 20 and 21 are a figure of speech
called Benedictio, spelled b-e-n-e-d-i-c-t-i-o. It’s a benediction. That’s what we get the
word “benediction” from. It’s a prayer of blessing or thanksgiving. And verses 20 and 21
close out this great prayer here in Ephesians chapter 3.
The words “Now unto him that is able” in the Aramaic are literally translated “but to
him who is able with power more excellent than all.” I think that’s great in Aramaic.
“…to do exceedingly [sic] abundantly”—Here again you have one of these places like
you have in a number of others in the Word where the superlatives are used and they really
show the weakness of a language to communicate the greatness of God and His Word. It
literally is “super abundantly beyond over and above everything” [chuckles with
excitement].
“…we ask”—We demand for ourselves.
Again “according to” is the standard for doing super abundantly above. We ask for
ourselves the potential power that worketh.
And the word “worketh” here is energized.
So here’s the literal of verse 20.
Ephesians 3:20a Literal translation according to usage
Now to him who is able to do…
…exceedingly…exceeding abundantly, see. Adjective form is on abundantly.
Ephesians 3:20b Literal translation according to usage
…exceeding abundantly above all you ask or think according to the inherent
power that is being energized in you.
And this is the expanded one [voice cracks]. I think this is fantastic. The expanded one.
Ephesians 3:20 Expanded translation
But to God who is able and willing with more excellent power than all other
powers to do for you super abundantly, yes, over and above what you are
asking for yourself and what you are thinking according to the potential
power which is constantly being energized in you in and to the degree of
your believing.
Boy, that’s tremendous. Verse 21, King James.
Ephesians 3:21
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end. Amen.
“…throughout all ages” is “in all generations.”
“…world without end” in the Aramaic is “of the worlds of all ages” and it literally
reads in the Aramaic, “of the ages of the ages.”
The word “Amen” means…well, “thus shall it surely and truly be.”
Here’s the literal according to usage of verse 21. The closing verse of this Parembole
of chapter 3.
Ephesians 3:21 Literal translation according to usage
Glory to Him [parenthesis] (God) in the church by Christ Jesus throughout
all generations and all ages and ages forever, so be it.
The expanded one.
Ephesians 3:21 Expanded translation
To God be the glory in His church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations
and ages of all ages forever, so shall it surely and truly be.
I would like to close tonight, this session with the Corps, by reading to you just the
expanded translations of verses 14 through 21 to get you to feel the great impact of the
truth of God’s Word in this tremendous section of Ephesians, this great prayer. I will open
with the expanded of verse 1 and go to verse 14. Just get the feel of this in your heart.
Ephesians 3:1, 14-19 Expanded translation
1 Because of this grace, of Christ within, the habitation of God, I, Paul, am
handcuffed to Jesus Christ and am an ambassador to and for you Gentiles.
14 …and because of this I get down on my knees in reverence and pray to
the Father
15 (for from Him, the Father, all the family is specifically called, each one,
the angels in heaven and the born-again family on earth),
16 in order to give you the wealth and treasure of His glorious perfection
which is also to be established by His spirit that is in you mightily and
powerfully, permeating entirely, completely complete, your inner being, the
inner man,
17 that Christ may live in everything you are and do; and so by your
continuous believing you are being solidly rooted and you are being a firm
foundation,
18 in order that you will be fully able to really understand and manifest with
understanding, with all the saints, the Mystery of His temple [God’s habitation,
God’s love, and the riches of God’s glory]; in height, it is measureless;
in depth, it is fathomless; in length, it is endless; in breadth, it is boundless.
19 And you will know experientially the greatness of the knowledge of the
love of Christ, and you will be filled to full measure with all the fullness of
God.
And then the tremendous benediction:
Ephesians 3:20-21
20 But to God, Who is able and willing with more excellent power than all
other powers to do for you superabundantly, yes, over and above what you
are asking for yourself and what you are thinking, according to the potential
power which is constantly being energized in you, in and to the degree of
your believing,
21 to God be the glory in His Church by Christ Jesus throughout all generations
and ages of all ages forever—so shall it surely and truly be.
And Corps, that’s the end of the great prayer in Ephesians 3 [Dr. Wierwille’s voice
cracks with excitement] {audience applause}.