PAUL'S PRAYER

Passage: Ephesians 1:15-23

Key verse: 17,18

NIV

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus(A) and your love for all God’s people,(B) 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you,(C) remembering you in my prayers.(D) 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,(E) may give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom(F) and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened(G) in order that you may know the hope to which he has called(H) you, the riches(I) of his glorious inheritance(J) in his holy people,(K) 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power(L) is the same as the mighty strength(M) 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead(N) and seated him at his right hand(O) in the heavenly realms,(P) 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,(Q) and every name(R) that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.(S) 22 And God placed all things under his feet(T) and appointed him to be head(U) over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,(V) the fullness of him(W) who fills everything in every way.(X)

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 1:17 Or a spirit
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Thanksgiving and Prayer

15 For this reason, (A)because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[a] toward all the saints, 16 I (B)do not cease to give thanks for you, (C)remembering you in my prayers, 17 that (D)the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, (E)may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 (F)having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is (G)the hope to which he has called you, what are (H)the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, (I)according to the working of (J)his great might 20 that he worked in Christ (K)when he raised him from the dead and (L)seated him at his right hand (M)in the heavenly places, 21 (N)far above (O)all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above (P)every name that is named, not only in (Q)this age but also in the one to come. 22 And (R)he put all things under his feet and gave him as (S)head over all things to the church, 23 (T)which is his body, (U)the fullness of him (V)who fills (W)all in all.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 1:15 Some manuscripts omit your love
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The Spirit of wisdom and revelation (15-17)

Paul first gives thanks for the faith and love of the Christians in Ephesus. His first prayer topic for them is that God may give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they may know him better. The Holy Spirit is given to us to help us know God and his Son Jesus better.

2. The eyes of your heart enlightened (18-23)

We need physical sight to see the physical world and we need spiritual eyes to see spiritual things. When the eyes of our hearts are enlightened, our hopes and desires are changed. We can have glorious hope in the heavenly kingdom. We can also see God working with resurrection power in our own lives and in the lives of others. We cannot change ourselves or anyone else, but God can--by his almighty power. Finally, all of our hopes are focused on Christ, whom God exalted to the highest place in the heavenly realm, and who will come again to reign over everything.

Prayer: Lord, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, and enlighten the eyes of my heart so that I may know you better.

One Word: To know him better