Written by Paul J Bucknell on August, 16, 2022
Ephesians 1:18-23 Christ’s Inexpressible Glory in the Church | Bible Teaching Commentary with Study Questions
Ephesians 1:18-22 Bible Commentary
“18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph 1:18-23).
The mention of these glories in verse 17 immediately leads him into a time of intercession in verse 18, “I pray that….” Paul shares his prayer for them that they might know the value of the supernatural struggle to gain wisdom and insight into God’s supremacy in Christ.
Ephesians 1:18 Commentary
The first request is for the “eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (18). This is the opposite of the hardening or the darkening of the heart, when a person closes his heart to God’s glory and purposes (4:18-19). Illumination is an increased ability to absorb God’s glorious truths that leads to transformation in our lives. This is an essential step in how believers grow in their faith. Paul prays that they “will know what is the hope of His calling” (18). Understanding makes one aware of the hopeful situation. God works to give them further assurance and clarity of the grand hope, which Paul promptly describes.
Paul states two aspects of the calling : (1) the saints’ privileged position and (2) God’s commitment to powerfully rescue them. He spends the remaining verses (19-23) to describe the other element—His power.
Let’s first elaborate on (1) hope’s description, the saints privileged position seen in, “the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (18). Surely, Paul has expanded on this point in verses 3-14—election, redemption, mercy, extreme grace, radical favor of God, pledge of the Holy Spirit, etc. There is no limit to the grandeur of this redemptive work, summarized in verse 3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Every spiritual blessing has been poured out upon His people. It’s not just the saints’ inheritance but the doubly-described adjectival declaration of “the riches of the glory of His inheritance.”
This is the third time in chapter 1 Paul uses inheritance. He describes it in verse 11, “We have obtained an inheritance…” (11). It’s all settled. The pledge of the Holy Spirit confirms it (14). The inheritance is our eternal share in Christ’s reward (18; Is 53:12). Christ shares all He possesses with His people. If we could understand this amazing gift, we would not be attracted at all by the world’s empty promises but instead would live in light of what Christ has secured for us in His fantastic redemptive plan. Further sight and conviction bless our hearts!
Ephesians 1:19 Commentary
Verse 19 points out His amazing power, the (2) second item, to comprehend. His great power accomplishes His redemptive plan centered on the cross and the ascension of Christ. Verses 20-23 afterward expand on the “the strength of His might,” (19) which was “brought about in Christ” (20), raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand (20).
Consider the importance of Christ’s divine nature. Jesus is no longer the faithful master leading his disciples along the roads of Jerusalem, passing on gems of wisdom. Instead, we see Him operating His mighty powers to thwart and cripple the evil one’s supernatural devious plans. The devil thought he won at the cross but didn’t count on Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
Due to His righteousness, Jesus came alive and secured the position of all authority. The evil one backed off, attempting to gather the scattered crumbs from his hoped-for plan to rule the world. The “right hand” symbolizes all authority, just as Jesus declared in Matthew’s Gospel (Mat 28:18-19).
It’s tough for modern Westerners to imagine such power contests. Perhaps viewing a few intergalactic movies would help, but overall we are blind to the powers at work, making it necessary for Paul to stress Christ’s glory. We, like the Ephesians, need enlightenment.
Ephesians 1:21-23 Commentary
Paul continues to describe this mighty power in verses 21-23. The following phrases demand individual treatment to properly explain the powerful description of God’s power awarded to Christ.
1:21: “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion”
God the Father is the subject, exercising His power (20) by placing Jesus at His right hand. The Father set Him “far above all rule and authority….” “Far above” leaves no room to question whether Jesus Christ could be overthrown. “All rule and authority and dominion” includes all forces, whether on the same side or opposing, whether physical or spiritual, whether on earth or in the heavens. The articulation of them prepares further mention of them in 2:2 and 6:12.
The emerging Gnostic cult and the idea of Greek gods broadened the Ephesians’ general understanding of spiritual powers and authorities. But no matter what they are—and Paul did not define them, the inclusive “all” depicts Jesus Christ’s absolute rule.
1:21: “not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
Although Paul spoke of all authority, one might question the length of His reign. The Old Testament writers often specified the length of a reign, such as 40 years or eighteen months. The apostle unequivocally includes all ages from that time forth, “not only in this age but also in the one to come.” There are two ages, the now and the new heavens and earth (2 Pet 3:10). In other words, though the physical worlds will be transformed, Jesus Christ remains “far above” all authority. Neither time nor eternity changes anything. There is no room for another serpent to undermine His rule. Because of His infallible authority and eternal reign, peace becomes the steady mark of Christ’s kingdom (Luke 1:79; Rom 16:20).
1:22: “And He put all things in subjection under His feet.”
Verse 22 expands on Christ’s authority by referencing the subjugation of all things under His feet. The subject, He, refers to God the Father, while “His feet” refers to Christ’s supreme authority (Phil 2:10). This is another way of describing the former verse. God subjects “all things,” whether in heaven or earth, to Him, leaving no room for an insurrection (Eph 1:10-11).
Judas Iscariot misunderstood the timing. Christ would rule, but blindness towards this timing element led Judas to a ruinous decision. He couldn’t grasp how Christ first had to be subjected to death, and only then, rise and secure His people forever (Mat 26:56).
1:22: “Gave Him as head over all things to the church”
Paul explains Christ’s ultimate authority before speaking of His authority over the church; they differ. Indeed, Christ has all authority, in this age and the next, and all things are subject to Him, but what about the saint? He concludes chapter 1 by highlighting the “riches of the glory” of the eternal inheritance of the church (18). Verses 22-23 beautifully bring these truths together in a comprehensive gracious redemptive scheme. Up until now, ‘God’s people’ is simply another group subject to Him, which though true, does not fully disclose her peculiar position.
Paul introduces a head-body analogy, common in his writings (Eph 5:23). He reminds the church of her favored position as His body. God “gave Him (Christ) as head” to (literally, on behalf of: Greek: uper) the church. Christ the head exercises His will through the church, His body. Paul uses “church” to otherwise define the saints (the first of nine times in the book of Ephesians).
The theology hidden in this powerful metaphor should humble the church. God assigned Christ as head over the people He chose “before the foundation of the world” (1:4). In verse 20 “in Christ” is the fifth usage in Ephesians which the body-head analogy gloriously enlarges the scope of His full intention, true on earth but also for eternity.
1:23 “which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
This closing statement of Ephesians 1 is admittedly most challenging to understand. This, no doubt, is due to Paul’s attempt to give us a full picture of salvation in Christ. The greater the glory, the more difficult it to describe.
John Stott goes to great lengths to provide three various interpretations of this one phrase. His second-described interpretation (the active verb ‘to fill’) best complements the head-body analogy, with Christ filling His body with His glory.
Charles Hodge leans to this interpretation, and bases his decision on the linguistic evidence: “In every other case in which it occurs in the New Testament it (sc. pleroma) is used actively—that which doth fill….”
The fullness of Christ’s glory, the head, will fill all the saints, His body. A thorough transformation of the saints extends His rule and glory through His people (Mat 5:14). We are His kingdom (another analogy). His love won our devotion and calls us to join Him in exercising His will among all His subjects. I speculate that the gigantic universe with a year 2020-estimated 2 trillions of galaxies will form places for His saints to rule. Perhaps the dark matter, following its transformation, will reveal a further inexpressibly glorious universe. These speculative words stimulate us to think of God’s glorious plans for the church.
Paul’s point in saying all this is not only to indicate Christ’s glorious position but to show the power of His might—His absolute authority. The apostle uses these words to dazzle our minds at God’s final purpose to glorify His people further. If the head is glorious, God’s people, the body, will share that glory. We have nothing of our own, but we have all might and power in Him. We will reign with Him forever, as Paul elaborates further in chapter 2.
An Overview of Chapter 1
Chapter 1 powerfully teaches God’s redemptive plan’s full effect and purpose. Paul reveals Christ’s special saving grace, especially how God wonderfully and mercifully redeems a beloved people for Himself. In the last half of chapter 1, Paul prays for the ability of God’s people (the church) to comprehend her glorious Savior and her part in His future plans. The church worships the Lord in awe over these spectacular, inter-age God-devised plans.
In chapter two, Paul further describes the wonder of our salvation, but from a different angle. He will further stir our hearts by deeply impressing God’s great love upon us seen in Christ’s grace, hoping His people might respond whole-heartedly in obedience and love.
Applications for Ephesians 1
Paul’s pause in 15-17 reminds us that in the end, all truth has its purpose of transforming His people into the glory of these truths. The truth, though existent, provides little help when we are unaware. Turn the lights on, and you will instantly see better! We are to pray for revelation for ourselves and others, hoping that we might gain an increased view of God’s grand redemptive plan which runs into the eternal world. We can’t get too excited over these truths, but in the end, they must indwell us so that we can better overlook the many temptations that allure us to the world’s ways.
Bible Study Questions on Ephesians 1:18-23
- What is the second thing Paul asks for (18)? What does it mean and who does ‘Him’ refer to?
- What is the “hope of His calling” (1:18)? What might that hope include? Do all Christians have this calling? Explain.
- What do you normally ask God for during the week? Answer the question and then read Ephesians 1:18-23 through. Pay close attention to what Paul the Apostle asks of the Lord.
- Fill in the blank: Christ’s rule is _______ above all rule. List the six things Paul lists that Christ’s authority towers over (1:21).
- How would those around you describe the church? How would you personally define or describe the church in light of Ephesians 1?
- How does Paul describe the church in verse 23? Try putting this in your own words.
