Using Ephesians 1:17-19 to Introduce Worship Song
In Ephesians 1:17-19, the Apostle Paul offers a prayer for the believers in Ephesus, seeking their spiritual enlightenment and a deeper understanding of God's work. The passage reads, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe" (NIV).
This prayer is situated within the opening of Paul's letter to the Ephesians, which, unlike his letter to the Colossians, does not address specific errors but rather expresses Paul's affection and desire for the church's full instruction in gospel doctrines [4]. Paul begins by blessing God for the Gentiles' adoption as children through Christ and for their redemption through His sacrificial death [8]. He emphasizes that this salvation and the reception of the Holy Spirit are due to God's abundant wisdom and goodness [8].
The prayer itself focuses on three key areas of knowledge Paul desires for the Ephesians:
- Knowing God better through wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). Paul refers to God as "the God of our Lord Jesus" and "the Father of glory" [9]. This wisdom and revelation are given by the Spirit, enabling a deeper understanding of God Himself [3].
- Understanding the hope of God's calling and the riches of His inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). The "eyes of your heart" being enlightened refers to an inner spiritual perception [2]. This hope is tied to the inheritance believers have in God's holy people, which includes Gentiles who are now fully accepted into God's family alongside believing Jews [7, 2].
- Grasping God's incomparably great power for believers (Ephesians 1:19). This power is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at God's right hand [1].
The concept of spiritual enlightenment and a deeper knowledge of God's power and inheritance connects to the broader theme of worship. Ephesians 5:19 encourages believers to express lives filled with the Holy Spirit through "singing... and making music" [6]. This communal singing builds up the body of Christ, and the music in our hearts is heard by the Lord [6]. The "hymn" in early Christian contexts could refer to a number of psalms forming a devotional exercise [5]. Therefore, understanding the profound truths of God's wisdom, the hope of His calling, and His immense power, as prayed for in Ephesians 1:17-19, provides a rich foundation for worship, where believers respond to God's saving grace with joyful praise and thanksgiving [6].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 1:19 cross-references: Psalms 110:2, Isaiah 53:1, John 3:6, Acts 26:18, Romans 1:16, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 3:7, Ephesians 3:20, Ephesians 6:10, Philippians 2:13, Colossians 1:29, Colossians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, James 1:18”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 1:18 cross-references: Psalms 119:18, Isaiah 6:10, Isaiah 29:10, Isaiah 29:18, Isaiah 32:3, Isaiah 42:7, Matthew 13:15, Luke 24:45, Acts 16:14, Acts 26:18, Romans 5:4, Romans 8:24, Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Galatians 5:5, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 3:8, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:4, Ephesians 5:8, Philippians 3:14, Colossians 1:5, Colossians 1:23, Colossians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 Timothy 6:12, Titus 2:13, Titus 3:7, Hebrews 6:4, Hebrews 10:32”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ephesians 1:17 cross-references: Genesis 41:38, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalms 24:7, Psalms 24:10, Psalms 29:3, Proverbs 2:5, Isaiah 11:2, Jeremiah 2:11, Jeremiah 9:24, Jeremiah 24:7, Jeremiah 31:34, Daniel 2:28, Daniel 5:11, Daniel 10:1, Matthew 6:13, Matthew 11:25, Matthew 11:27, Matthew 16:17, Matthew 20:33, Luke 2:14, Luke 12:12, Luke 21:15, John 8:54, John 14:17, John 14:26, John 16:3, John 17:3, John 17:25, John 20:17, Acts 6:10, Acts 7:2, Romans 1:28, Romans 15:6, 1 Corinthians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 12:8, 1 Corinthians 14:6, 2 Corinthians 12:1, Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 3:5,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Ephesians, Epistle to — Was written by Paul at Rome about the same time as that to the Colossians, which in many points it resembles. Contents of. The Epistle to the Colossians is mainly polemical, designed to refute certain theosophic errors that had crept into the church there. That to the Ephesians does not seem to have originated in any special circumstances, but is simply a letter springing from Paul's love to the church there, and indicative of his earnest desire that they should be fully instructed in the profound doctrines of the gospel. It contains (1) the s”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hymn — Occurs only Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16. The verb to "sing an hymn" occurs Matt. 26:30 and Mark 14:26. The same Greek word is rendered to "sing praises" Acts 16:25 (R.V., "sing hymns") and Heb. 2:12. The "hymn" which our Lord sang with his disciples at the last Supper is generally supposed to have been the latter part of the Hallel, comprehending Ps. 113-118. It was thus a name given to a number of psalms taken together and forming a devotional exercise. The noun hymn is used only with reference to the services of the Greeks, and was distinguished from the psalm. ”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 5:19: 5:19-20 Lives filled with the Holy Spirit will be expressed in singing . . . and making music (Col 3:16-17). Joyful praise, worship, and giving thanks are fitting responses to God’s saving grace. • among yourselves: Singing together builds up the body of Christ. • The Lord hears the music in our hearts. • in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is our mediator and representative as we approach God (cp. John 14:13-14; 16:23-27; Rev 22:4).”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
- Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 1 (introduction): The apostle's salutation to the Church, Eph 1:1, Eph 1:2. He blesses God for calling the Gentiles to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, by whose sacrificial death both they and the Jews find redemption, Eph 1:3-7. He shows that it was through the great abundance of God's wisdom and goodness that the Gentiles were called into a state of salvation, and that they should receive the Holy Spirit as the earnest of their inheritance, Eph 1:8-15. He praises God for their conversion, and prays that they may be farther enlightened, that they may see the ”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 1:17: A fit prayer for all Christians. the God of our Lord Jesus--appropriate title here; as in Eph 1:20-22 he treats of God's raising Jesus to be Head over all things to the Church. Jesus Himself called the Father "My God" (Mat 27:46). the Father of glory--(Compare Act 7:2). The Father of that infinite glory which shines in the face of Christ, who is "the glory" (the true Shekinah); through whom also "the glory of the inheritance" (Eph 1:18) shall be ours (Joh 17:24; 2Co. 3:7-4:6). the spirit of wisdom--whose attribute is infinite wisdom and who wo”