Ephesians 3:16

My Notes

What Does Ephesians 3:16 Mean?

Paul prays for the Ephesians' inner transformation: that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

That he would grant (didomi — to give, to bestow, to provide as a gift) you — the strengthening is a gift. Grant — given, not earned. The inner transformation Paul prays for cannot be self-produced. It must be given by God. The prayer is for what only God can provide.

According to the riches of his glory (kata to ploutos tes doxes autou — measured by the wealth of his splendor) — the measure of the gift is God's own riches. Not according to your need (though your need is great). Not according to your merit (you have none). According to the riches of his glory — the gift is proportioned to the giver's wealth, not the recipient's worthiness. The riches are God's glory — the infinite, inexhaustible wealth of his manifest excellence. The prayer asks God to give from his deepest reserves.

To be strengthened (krataioo — to be empowered, to become strong, to be fortified from within) with might (dunamis — power, force, capability) — the strengthening is with power. Not gentle encouragement. Power — the same word used for the resurrection (Romans 1:4), for miracles (Acts 2:22), for the gospel itself (Romans 1:16). The inner strengthening is done with dynamite-level force. The power that raised Christ from the dead is the power that strengthens the believer's inner life.

By his Spirit (dia tou pneumatos autou — through his Spirit, by means of the Holy Spirit) — the Spirit is the agent. The power is delivered through the Holy Spirit — the one who already dwells in the believer (v.16 connects to v.17: that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith). The Spirit is the delivery mechanism for divine power. The strengthening happens through the Spirit's internal work.

In the inner man (eis ton eso anthropon — into the inner person, the interior self) — the location of the strengthening is internal. Not the body. Not the circumstances. The inner man — the hidden person of the heart, the center of thought, will, desire, and spiritual perception. The power is applied where it matters most: inside. The outer circumstances may not change. The inner person is fortified.

The prayer is for internal power from external riches: God's glory funds the strengthening. The Spirit delivers it. The inner person receives it. And the result (v.17-19) is the capacity to comprehend the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge — inner strength producing spiritual perception.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What does 'according to the riches of his glory' communicate about the measure of what God provides — and how does it exceed what you expect?
• 2.How does 'strengthened with might' (dunamis — resurrection power) describe the intensity of the inner transformation Paul prays for?
• 3.Why does Paul specify 'the inner man' as the location — and what does internal strengthening accomplish that external change cannot?
• 4.What would it feel like to be strengthened with resurrection-level power in your inner person — and where do you need this prayer answered most?

Devotional

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. This is Paul's prayer for you. Not for better circumstances. Not for easier life. For internal power — the kind of strength that operates in the deepest part of who you are, where no one can see it and nothing external can provide it.

According to the riches of his glory. The measure of the gift is God's wealth. Not your need — though your need is great. Not your capacity — though your capacity is small. According to the riches of his glory — the prayer asks God to give from the deepest well in the universe. The riches are infinite. The glory is inexhaustible. And the strengthening is measured by both.

To be strengthened with might. Strengthened — fortified, empowered, made internally strong. With might — dunamis — the same power that raised Christ from the dead. The inner strengthening Paul prays for is not gentle encouragement. It is resurrection-level power applied to the interior of your life. The power that conquered death is the power God uses to strengthen your inner man.

By his Spirit. The delivery system: the Holy Spirit. The Spirit who already dwells in you is the agent of the strengthening. The power comes from God's riches. It is delivered through God's Spirit. It lands in the inner man — the hidden center of your being, the person you are when no one else is watching.

In the inner man. Inside. Not the outer circumstances. Not the body. Not the reputation. The inner person — the place where your thoughts form, where your will decides, where your desires originate. The strengthening happens where it counts most: in the part of you that determines everything else. A strong inner man produces a faithful outer life. A weak inner man collapses regardless of how good the outer circumstances look.

This is the prayer: God, from your infinite riches, through your indwelling Spirit, strengthen the deepest part of this person with resurrection-level power. That prayer — from Paul's heart, through the Spirit, according to glory's riches — is being prayed over you right now. The strengthening is available. The riches are sufficient. The Spirit is present. And the inner man is waiting to receive.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture