Paul s Prayer (continued) for “Father” is pater, and for “family” is patrfa. In English the connection is with “father” and “fatherhood,” rather than with “father” and “family.” This relation of names is clearer in Greek than in English. The Received Text and the King James’ Version add the words “of our Lord Jesus Christ” which are in some of the later manuscripts, some ancient versions and quotations, hut are omitted in the most of the ear lier manuscripts, some ancient versions and quotations, and in the Revised Ver sion and margin. If they are retained, the antecedent of “whom” would be “Christ,” and this would emphasize the important fact that, while the church is the family of God and wquld, after the analogy of earthly families, take the name of the Father, yet it is also the bride of Christ (5:23-32; 2 Cor. 11:2), and the bride takes the name of the Bridegroom; Christ, Christians. Here would be another strong reason for the need of the Holy Spirit; the bride must be saved from doing any thing or saying anything or going any where that would bring reproach upon Him whose name she bears. The Prayer (16-19). These verses form a remarkable passage grammati cally, and we have tried to give a faith ful grammatical outline. Strictly speak ing, there is but one petition, “to be made strong with power through His Spirit in the inward man,” followed by a series of purpose clauses, each contain ing the purpose of the preceding one. This will be evident if we use “in order that” instead of “that.” Thayer says, “There is one infinitive of purpose, one subjunctive of purpose, the subject of which is modified by two participles which are practically equivalent to an other purpose clause or two, and then still another subjunctive of purpose. We are to be made strong with power by His Spirit in order that Christ might dwell; have Christ indwelling in order that we may be rooted and grounded; be rooted and grounded in order that we might be strong to comprehend and know the love of Christ; be strong to comprehend and know in order that we might be filled with all the fulness of
God. These four purpose clauses do not all depend upon the petition in verse 16 because there is no “and” between them. Practically, however, there are seven petitions, (1) made strong with power by His Spirit, (2) Christ dwelling in the heart, (3) rooted in love, (4) grounded in love, (5) have full strength to comprehend the cube of the love of Christ, (6) have full strength to know the love of Christ, (7) filled unto all the fulness of God. THAT I MAY KNOW H IM That I may know Him, let this be life's aim; Still to explore the wealth stored in His name With heaven-taught intelligence to trace The glories that light up His sinless face. That I might know His power day by day, Protecting, guiding in the upward way; That I might know His presence, calm and sure; To dwell with Him in spirit day and night; To walk with Him by faith if not by sight: To work with Him as He shall plan, not I: To cleave to Him and let the world go by. To live on earth a life of selfless love; To set the mind and heart on things above. Till I shall see Him without vision dim, And know Him as I know I'm known of Him. — Max I. Reich Verse 16— “In order that He might \give to you, according to the riches of His glory.” The purpose of the prayer; every prayer should have a definite pur pose. God the Father is the Giver, in answer to prayer (Jas. 4:2, last clause). He gives, not out of, but according to, His riches. He is rich in glory, as well as in grace and mercy (1:7; 2:4, 7); He has “unsearchable riches” (3:8). \“Glory” is Himself, the glorious and holy One, the splendor of the manifes tation of His person, power, character, and works. “To be made strong with 22
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