“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
My Notes
What Does Ephesians 1:17 Mean?
Paul prays one of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture: that God would give the Ephesians the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Not more information. Revelation — the kind of knowing that comes from God opening your eyes.
"The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory" — Paul addresses God with specificity. He is the God Jesus himself related to. He is the Father from whom all glory originates.
"The spirit of wisdom and revelation" — wisdom to apply what you know, and revelation to see what you could not see before. Both are gifts from God, not products of human effort.
"In the knowledge of him" — the goal is not abstract wisdom. It is knowledge of Christ. Every revelation, every insight, every moment of spiritual understanding is aimed at knowing Jesus more deeply.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What is the difference between knowledge about Christ and revelation of Christ?
- 2.Why does Paul pray for opened eyes rather than changed circumstances?
- 3.How do wisdom and revelation work together in deepening your knowledge of God?
- 4.How often do you pray specifically for spiritual insight rather than material provision?
Devotional
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation. Paul does not pray for easier circumstances. He prays for opened eyes.
The spirit of wisdom. Wisdom is not just knowing. It is knowing what to do with what you know. It is the capacity to apply truth to real situations, to navigate complexity with divine insight.
And revelation. Seeing what you could not see before. Not because you tried harder, but because God pulled back the curtain. Revelation is a gift — it comes from above, not from within.
In the knowledge of him. Every prayer for wisdom and revelation circles back to this: knowing Christ. Deeper, richer, more intimate knowledge of who he is. The wisdom serves the knowing. The revelation unveils the person.
This prayer is one you can pray for yourself: God, give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. Give me eyes to see what I cannot see on my own. Give me the capacity to know Jesus more deeply than information alone could produce.
The prayer is not complicated. The answer transforms everything.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture