Structure--Ephesians 1 contains primarily two parts: 1st, vv. 3-14 which is an enumeration of the blessings that are the Christian’s inheritance and the 2nd part (our lesson, vv. 1:15-23) which is a prayer that God would open the congregation’s eyes to know the richness of the blessings described in the 1st part.

Dividing the text - the hope of God’s call (vs. 17-18a) / the glory of the inheritance (18b) / the greatness of God’s power (19-23).

Verses 20-23: Christian credo? Confession of faith? Resurrection psalm? (Barth); others suggest that they function as "thanksgiving and intercession," "a great intercession," (Stott), or "a jubilation and radiation of joy" (Barth).

 

Ephesians is the prayer epistle. Much of what Paul says is actually a prayer. What impact would that have on you if a friend included thoughtful prayer about you in her letter?

Three themes in this prayer--future hope / present wealth / past heritage [1]

Marius Victorinus (ca 280):

Every prayer that we offer up to God is made either in thanks for what we have received or in petition to receive something else. We are encouraged to pray both for ourselves and for those we love . . . Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians are a pattern for us.[2]

Your God is Too Small--Verses 20-23 may reveal the limitations that we place around Ascension Day. Maybe that’s precisely why such language in our lesson is preceded by a prayer for enlightenment (17-18). We are being summoned to think of Christ in the most comprehensive sense possible-One who encompasses all reality as we know it, One who brooks no rivals, One who has transcended both space and time and in doing so has redefined both.[3]

 

See Barbara Brown Taylor’s homily on this passage: "He Who Fills All in All." [4]

^{____________________________________________________
1)A. Leonard Griffith, Ephesians: A Positive Affirmation (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1975), page 28.
2) Cited in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture VIII (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1999), page 119.
3) Preaching the New Common Lectionary Year A (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1986), page 223.
4) Barbara Brown Taylor, Home By Another Way (Cambridge: Cowley Press, 1999), pp.135-141.}