Ephesians 3:14–21

Verse 14–15. For this cause I pray and bow my knees to the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity (or fatherhood [5]) in heaven and earth is named. The Greek word oftentimes signifies a family, and therefore may signify, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; and thus the sense will be, that God is not only the Father of his eternal Son, but (as not only the Latin text, but even the Greek may signify) of all angelical spirits in heaven, and of all men, especially Christians, made his adoptive sons in baptism. But here may be signified not only a family, but those in particular who are honoured with the name and dignity of fathers; so that the name which they have of fathers, or patriarchs, is derived from God the Father of all, and communicated to them in an inferior degree. This exposition is found in S. Jerom, in Theodoret, Theophylact. Saint John Damascen, and so forth Witham.—All paternity, or the whole family; πατρια. God is the Father both of angels and men: whosoever besides is named father, is so named with subordination to him. Challoner.

Verse 14–15. For this cause I pray and bow my knees to the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity (or fatherhood [5]) in heaven and earth is named. The Greek word oftentimes signifies a family, and therefore may signify, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; and thus the sense will be, that God is not only the Father of his eternal Son, but (as not only the Latin text, but even the Greek may signify) of all angelical spirits in heaven, and of all men, especially Christians, made his adoptive sons in baptism. But here may be signified not only a family, but those in particular who are honoured with the name and dignity of fathers; so that the name which they have of fathers, or patriarchs, is derived from God the Father of all, and communicated to them in an inferior degree. This exposition is found in S. Jerom, in Theodoret, Theophylact. Saint John Damascen, and so forth Witham.—All paternity, or the whole family; πατρια. God is the Father both of angels and men: whosoever besides is named father, is so named with subordination to him. Challoner.

Verse 17. Christ dwelleth in us by his gifts, and we are just by those his gifts remaining in us; and not by Christ’s proper justice only, as some modern innovators will have it. B.—And this not by faith only, but by faith rooted and founded in charity, which accomplishes all virtues. Ibidem.

Verse 18. What is the breadth, and so forth It is not expressed to what must be referred these metaphorical words of breadth, length, and so forth Some expound them of the charity which in our hearts we ought to have for one another; others, of the love which Christ shewed towards mankind, in coming to redeem all. Witham.—What, and so forth This thought seems borrowed from Job 11: “Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly.” The inspired writer then shews us how the Almighty is incomprehensible; for, says he, “God is higher than the heavens; and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell; and how wilt thou know? The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.” The apostle, alluding to these words, prays that the Ephesians may have faith and charity sufficient to enable them to comprehend all that is comprehensible of God; as S. Dionysius explains it. But we are not hence to conclude, that there exists such a thing as dimension or size with regard to God, for he is a pure Spirit: but these expressions are merely metaphorical. For by breadth we are to understand his virtue and wisdom, which extend over all his creatures: (Ecclesiastes 1) “he poured out wisdom upon all his works.” By length is meant his eternal duration: (Psalms 101) “but thou, O Lord, remainest for ever.” By height we are taught the infinite superiority of his nature over ours: (Psalms 112) “The Lord is high above all nations.” And by depth we are shewn the incomprehensibility of his wisdom: (Ecclesiastes) “Wisdom is a great depth; who shall find it out?” Hence it appears that the end of faith and charity is, that we may arrive at a perfect faith; which may know, as far as it is intelligible, the greatness of his wisdom, his eternal duration, and so forth Saint Thomas Aquinas in Eph.

Verse 19. That you may be filled unto all the fulness of God; that is that as God is full of love and charity for all, so may you in an inferior degree, according as you are capable, be filled with charity. Witham.