Ephesians 3:14 14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
Paul now offers a prayer for the Ephesians. After encouraging the Ephesians to look to the hope of being found in Christ Jesus, he turns to pray that they come to know more deeply the mystery of this hope in Christ. The opening transition of v. 14 shows this connection. For this reason points back to Paul’s hope in v. 13 that they have confidence and grow in their trust in Jesus Christ. In order to see this actually happen, Paul goes to prayer in their behalf. The one sure way they and all believers can have this deep trust in Jesus is to come to know the love of Jesus. That is the focus of Paul’s prayer.
Paul takes the humble position of bowing his knees before the Father. He knows the one source for confidence during suffering. He had learned this over the many years of ministry, travel, and often suffering. Verse 15 describes more who the Father is. The emphasis is on God’s creative power. He brought all things into existence. The word family (patria) is inclusive all entities that exist. Nothing exists outside of God’s providence and creative power. This verse draws our attention to the awesome power of God. Paul may be starting his prayer this way because it is out of this almighty, creative power that this prayer will be answered. Knowing of God’s creative power reminds us that God’s promises in Christ are true and can be experienced now, in this life. If God promised it, and God is able to do it, then we can ask for it.
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