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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - Ephesians 3:18 - 3:18
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May be able - even still further. Greek, “May be fully able.”
breadth ... length ... depth ... height - namely, the full dimensions of the spiritual temple, answering to “the fullness of God” (Eph 3:19), to which the Church, according to its capacity, ought to correspond (compare Eph 4:10, Eph 4:13) as to “the fullness of Christ.” The “breadth” implies Christ’s world-wide love, embracing all men: the “length,” its being extended through all ages (Eph 3:21); the “depth,” its profound wisdom which no creature can fathom (Rom 11:33); the “height,” its being beyond the reach of any foe to deprive us of (Eph 4:8) [Bengel]. I prefer to understand “the breadth,” etc., to refer to the whole of the vast mystery of free salvation in Christ for all, Gentile and Jew alike, of which Paul had been speaking (Eph 3:3-9), and of which he now prays they may have a fuller comprehension. As subsidiary to this, and the most essential part of it, he adds, “and to know the love of Christ” (Eph 3:19). Grotius understands depth and height of God’s goodness raising us from the lowest depression to the greatest height.