Ephesians 3:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

NIV: may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

NASB: may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,

CSB: may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,

NLT: And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

KJV: May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

NKJV: may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—

Paul wants his readers to grow in understanding God's love (Ephesians 3:18), something which requires God-given spiritual strength. This applied to each person individually, both in the church at Ephesus and "with all the saints." Paul used the phrase "all the saints" eleven different times in his New Testament writings, always referring to entire groups of believers. The term is not used in the Bible as a reference to a special class of people, who are somehow more spiritual than others. Hebrews 13:24 uses a similar greeting to "all the saints." Revelation 8:3 speaks of the "prayers of all the saints" in heaven.

Paul then poetically notes the extent of God's love, including every possible physical dimension. He used similar wording in Romans 8:38–39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." The Old Testament often used "height and depth" regarding measurements. Paul used these figurative terms in relationship to God's love that cannot be measured, though believers can grow in their understanding of God's love.

Ephesians 3:14–21 is a prayer from Paul on behalf of the Christians of Ephesus. This prayer begins a transition from the first half of his letter, focused on doctrinal ideas, to the second half, where those ideas are put into practice. The natural theme for this transition is an appeal for spiritual strength from God. In particular, Paul asks God to help the Ephesians exhibit a faith which goes beyond knowledge (doctrine) into action (application).

Ephesians chapter 3 wraps up Paul's doctrinal teaching and introduces its practical application. Paul refers to both his imprisonment and to his spiritual calling. This calling includes proclaiming the fact that all people, Jew and Gentile, can now be part of the same spiritual family. Paul also prays for the spiritual strength of the Ephesian church, as he prepares to explain how knowledge about Christ should translate into living for Christ.

The first three chapters of Ephesians are doctrinal, the last three are practical. Chapter 3 begins the transition from a Christian understanding of salvation, grace, and the power of Christ into a practical guide for Christian living. To make the transition, in this chapter, Paul refers to his own calling by God and prays for the spiritual strength of the Ephesian church. The early verses of chapter 4 will flow out of Paul's references to his own imprisonment.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.