Ephesians 1:17-18
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "Father of glory" isn't just about God being glorious; it highlights that He is the source and origin of all glory, the very One from whom eternal glory flows. This title, given to the God of Jesus, emphasizes His majesty and His role as the ultimate giver of all that is glorious, including the spiritual blessings promised in the verse.
Paul begins by recounting his prayers for the Ephesians, expressing his desire that God would grant them a deeper, more profound understanding of Him. He prays that the God of Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give them the Spirit who brings wisdom and revelation, allowing them to truly know Him. This knowledge isn't just intellectual; it's an experiential understanding that transforms their inner being.
Ever wonder how Jesus related to God? This verse highlights a profound connection. It's not just that God is the Father of Jesus, but something deeper.
Paul addresses God as 'the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.' This phrase points to God's unique relationship with Jesus, especially in His humanity. Think about Jesus' own words on the cross: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' (Matthew 27:46) and after His resurrection: 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God' (John 20:17).
This isn't about Jesus lacking divinity; rather, it emphasizes God's role as the source and sustainer of Jesus' human life and mission. It also points to God being known and revealed through Jesus. As believers, we relate to God through Jesus, making Him our God and Father because He is Jesus' God and Father.
Paul prays for believers to receive something incredible. What is this 'glory' and what does the 'Father of glory' generously give?
Paul refers to God as 'the Father of glory.' This title doesn't just mean God is glorious, but that He is the source and origin of all glory. Think of it like a king being called 'the father of his kingdom' – all the kingdom's splendor originates from him. Similarly, this glorious Father is the giver of an incredible gift: 'the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation.'
The word 'Spirit' here, often translated as 'a spirit' in some versions, strongly points to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's presence and power, actively at work within us. This divine gift isn't just a fleeting feeling; it's meant to equip us with profound wisdom and understanding, enabling us to truly know God.
Paul desires for believers to have wisdom and revelation, but where is this supposed to happen? It's tied to a specific kind of knowing.
The verse states that the 'Spirit of wisdom and of revelation' is given 'in the knowledge of him.' This 'knowledge' isn't just casual acquaintance; it's a deep, experiential understanding, often translated from the Greek word 'epignosis.' It goes beyond mere intellectual facts to a profound, intimate knowing.
Understand the original words
epignōsis · Greek Noun
Spiritual and intellectual grasp of God's truth, character, and will. It goes beyond mere information, implying an intimate, relational acquaintance with God.
apokalypsis · Greek Noun
Divine communication where God makes known mysteries or truths that would otherwise be unknowable to human reason alone. It is the unveiling of God's character and purposes.
kardia · Greek Noun
The inner person or center of human thought, will, and emotion. In a biblical context, it is the seat of moral and spiritual perception.
elpis · Greek Noun
The confident, joyful expectation of God’s future promises being fulfilled. It is not wishful thinking but a certainty based on God's character and past faithfulness.
Jesus calls God 'my God,' highlighting God's unique relationship with Him, even after His resurrection, which mirrors the Father being called the 'God of our Lord Jesus Christ'.
1 Corinthians 2:10This passage speaks of God revealing His wisdom to us 'through the Spirit,' directly connecting the Spirit's work to divine revelation and knowledge, similar to Ephesians 1:17.
Colossians 1:9Paul prays for believers to be 'filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,' which parallels the desire for 'wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him' found in Ephesians.
Proverbs 2:6The verse states that 'the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding,' underscoring that true wisdom and revelation are divine gifts, just as Paul asks God to grant them in Ephesians.
1 John 5:20This verse mentions that 'the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true,' linking Jesus's work to granting the knowledge of God, which is the context for the 'knowledge of him' in Ephesians.
cambridgeEphesians 1:17: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"
17 . the God of our Lord Jesus Christ ] Cp. the Saviour’s own words on the Cross, “Eli, Eli” ( Matthew 27:46 ); and after Resurrection ( John 20:17 ), “I ascend unto … my God.” See also John 4:22 .—The Father is the God of the Son Incarnate, in a sense which, however partially, we may be said to understand. Hence in the two passages just qu…
bengelEphesians 1:17: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"
Ephesians 1:17 . Ἵνα , that ) A subject of prayer for true Christians.— ὁ πατὴρ τῆς δόξης , the Father of glory ) That infinite glory, which shines in the face of Christ; nay, more, [the Father] of the glory, which is the Son of God Himself; by whom also the glorious inheritance will become ours, Ephesians 1:18 .— Πνεῦμα σοφίας καὶ ἀποκαλύψ…
The phrase "Father of glory" isn't just about God being glorious; it highlights that He is the source and origin of all glory, the very One from whom eternal glory flows. This title, given to the God of Jesus, emphasizes His majesty and His role as the ultimate giver of all that is glorious, including the spiritual blessings promised in the verse.
Paul begins by recounting his prayers for the Ephesians, expressing his desire that God would grant them a deeper, more profound understanding of Him. He prays that the God of Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give them the Spirit who brings wisdom and revelation, allowing them to truly know Him. This knowledge isn't just intellectual; it's an experiential understanding that transforms their inner being.
Paul begins by recounting his prayers for the Ephesians, expressing his desire that God would grant them a deeper, more profound understanding of Him. He prays that the God of Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give them the Spirit who brings wisdom and revelation, allowing them to truly know Him. This knowledge isn't just intellectual; it's an experiential understanding that transforms their inner being.
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Think of the difference between knowing about a person and truly knowing them through shared experiences, conversations, and time spent together. Paul prays that this deep, growing knowledge of God would be the very context ('in') where the Spirit's work of wisdom and revelation flourishes. True spiritual wisdom and understanding aren't found in abstract theories, but in a progressively deeper relationship with God Himself.
klēronomia · Greek Noun
The portion or possession assigned to one by God. Theologically, it refers to the eternal blessings, restoration, and presence of God that believers inherit through Christ.
hagios · Greek Noun/Adjective
Those who are set apart by God for His service and declared holy. It describes the state of all believers as consecrated to God through faith in Christ.
"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called…" — The phrase "Father of glory" isn't just about God being glorious; it highlights that He is the source and origin of all glory, the very One from whom eternal glory flows. This title, given to the…
