Ephesians 3:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

NIV: and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

NASB: and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.

CSB: and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

NLT: May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

KJV: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

NKJV: to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Paul wants his readers to experience the love of Christ in a way that goes beyond mere information. This does not imply that knowledge is unimportant. Instead, Paul wants the Ephesians to understand that God's love is ultimately beyond our comprehension. We will never completely understand it. Echoing the sentiment of James, he suggests that true, godly love is not limited to mere knowledge; it must be expressed in action (James 2:17–23). Paul called love "the greatest of these [gifts of God]" (1 Corinthians 13:13). Scripture often speaks of God's love, saying "God is love" (1 John 4:8).

In contrast, the Pharisees were said to follow the law, in their actions, yet neglected the "love of God" (Luke 11:42) and did not have the love of God in them (John 5:42). So, action without love is just as invalid as love without action.

Paul's desire for his readers to grow in God's love has a specific purpose. This "fullness of God" is mentioned only one other time in Scripture, in Colossians 1:19: "For in [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell." There, the focus is on the greatness of God which exists in Jesus, clearly labelling Jesus as divine. In a similar manner, Paul wants his audience to be filled with Jesus as much as possible. He knows that love, in both thoughts and actions, is the key to this taking place in the life of a believer (Ephesians 3:18).

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.