to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Truth to Learn
God deserves all our praise!
Behind the Words
The word “glory” is translated from doxa, from which we get our English word doxology. It is derived from the verb dokeō, meaning “thought or opinion, especially favorable human opinion.” The word doxa refers to “honor, praise, glory, splendor, excellence, or renown.”
“Church” is from the Greek word ekklēsia, a compound word made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and a form of kaleō, meaning “to call someone.” Therefore, ekklēsia refers to “a called out group of people.” In the first century, it was a common term referring to a church congregation or to “citizens who were called out to assemble for a public meeting.”
The word “generations” is translated from genea, which is derived from the verb ginomai, meaning “to come into being.” Initially this word simply meant “a generation,” but later it came to refer to “a space of time” or “a circle of time.” As it is used in this verse, it clearly refers to “generations.”
“Forever and ever” is an interesting expression. The Greek words are tou aiōnos tōn aiōnōn, which literally translate to “of the age of the ages.” So technically, “forever and ever” is a paraphrase, but it is probably the closest English expression to expressing the idea of the Greek words.
Meaning Explained
Paul is now closing the prayer for the members of the church in Ephesus (and by extension for all Christians). This prayer, which began in verse fourteen, contains four petitions:
- That the Father would strengthen us internally by the Holy Spirit
- That Christ would settle in and dwell in our hearts through faith
- That we might experientially know the love of Christ
- That we would be filled with all the fullness of God
Take a minute to recognize how effective Paul’s prayer is. All of us who are committed Christians experience all four of those things that Paul prayed for. Thank you, Paul!
In closing his prayer, the Apostle first proclaimed that God has more than enough power to do far more than we could ever ask or think, indicating how mighty He is. Now he proclaims a statement of the recognition that God deserves.
Notice that Paul proclaims the renown, the honor, and the praise that God is due (and which He receives) within the church. Outside the church, however, we see that God receives very little recognition for who He is or for what He has done. Outside the church, God is. Outside the church God’s name is not glorified, it is used as a curse word. For the most part, those outside the church simply want to ignore God and pretend that He doesn’t exist. Like ostriches, they think that if they hide their head in the sand by denying their own sinfulness or God’s sovereignty, they won’t have to face the consequences of their sins. How wrong they are, and how horrified they will be when they finally discover the truth and their fate. However, by then it will be too late!
Application
Like Paul, let us give God the recognition, honor, and praise that He is due. He deserves it all, and we owe Him all that we can possibly give to Him.
In God's service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved