(Thayer gives to be eminently able.) Thus we find thé same three powerful words, dunamis, kratos, ischus, in 3:16, 18 as in 1:19. “Be m ighty to com prehend.” The R. V. has softened “com prehend” to “apprehend.” Delitsch, “The Greek verb is a compound (kata- lambano) in the middle voice, aorist tense, and means to take down, lay hold of, or seize for one’s self; and to seize with the mind, or understanding, is to a p p r e h e n d or comprehend.” “W ith all the saints”; unity brings strength, even in the matter of know ledge and doctrine. “What is the breadth and length and depth and THE JOY OF INTERCESSION II Cor. l-.it I like to feel that though on earth We never meet, Yet we may hold heart fellowship At God's dear feet. I like to feel in all the work Thou hast to do That I, by lifting hands of prayer May help thee, too. I like to think that in the path His love prepares, Thy steps may sometimes stronger prove Through secret prayers. I like to think that when on high Results we see Perchance thou wilt rejoice that I Thus prayed for thee! height.” Here is an immense cube; but of what? Many and varied have been the answers, some quite fanciful, and the end is not yet. But the answer seems to be at hand, at the beginning of the next verse, “the love of C hrist’ (note the word “love” before and after the cube); His love as manifested in the great plan of redemption (5:2, 25; Gal. 2 :2 0 ; Rom. 8:35, 39). Study and meditate upon it, “with all the saints”; (1 ) Its breadth: how broad is the love of Christ? This is the thing that the sinner desires to know. Is it broad enough to take him in? Any of the “whosoever” verses, or their equivalents, such as “if any man,” etc. will answer this (John 3:16 ; 6:37 ; 7:37; Rom. 10:13;
Rev. 22:17). (2) Its length: this speaks of assurance, which is the next ques tion after salvation. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:12). (3 ) Its depth: this may be measured by the immeasurable dis tance which Jesus traveled from the highest heights to the lowest depths, where we were, dead in sins, under the curse. He went from the glory to the cross; not to an ordinary death, but “even” the death of the cross, the curse’s death (Phil. 2:5-8; Gal. 3:10, 13). (4 ) Its height: When He reached the lowest depths, He found us, settled all of our bills .(sin, death, curse, wrath), made full satisfaction to God, and took us out of the lowest depths and away with Himself up to the high est heights (2 :5 , 6 ). Wonderful cube! Marvellous love of Christ! Verse 19— “And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.” To comprehend and to know. To com prehend the incomprehensible; to know the unknowable; the love of Christ, His love to us, which passes, surpasses, ex cels knowledge; literally, the surpass ing-knowledge love of Christ. Here is the same participle as in 1:19 from the great “overshooting - the - mark” verb from which we get our word hyperbole, translated there “exceeding.” Keep on studying, thinking, praying, meditat ing, conversing, learning, knowing, and at the end of life you will know much, yet not much as compared with what there is to know, of the matchless, boundless, fathomless love of Christ. “In order that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.” This is the climax, the ultimate purpose of it all. Christ Jesus is the fulness of all things and of the Godhead; He is the fulness of God (Col. 1:19; 2 :9 ); the church is His fulness (1:23, see note); therefore be filled with Him. ( “Ye are made full in Him,” Col. 2 :1 0 ). The Holy Spirit is His representative on earth; be filled with Him (5 :1 8 ; John 20:22). The goal, sought in the first petition (v. 16), has, through a series of steps, been reached in the aorist tense of single definite action, “may be filled,” or “be kept filled.” 17
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