Ephesians 3:18-19

3:18

may have power – strength, energy, drive

together with - not by myself but in concert, linked with, other believers

all the saints – holy ones: initially I think of other believers, but this could also include heavenly beings who serve God

to grasp – comprehend, understand

how wide – available to all, no matter what I’ve done, if/when I repent

and long – available for all time; His live never ends

and high – available to the aristocracy and/or those who achieve fame, prestige and/or power

and low – available to those who debase ourselves [this read on these dimensions is not intended to explain the meaning or Paul’s intention, only my impression or application]

is – present tense, ongoing, continuous

the love of Christ – In this light, I must strike the comment above about heavenly beings being included in “all the saints.” Not having rebelled, they cannot comprehend this love. Even I—having rebelled—cannot grasp it. I can only catch glimpses. Whichever direction I look, wide, long high or low, His love extends beyond my view.

3:19

and to know this love – What is the difference between grasping and knowing? I discussed this question just now with my wife Nancy who is an ESL teacher. Together we came to this comparison: If she teaches her language learners the general rule of making a past tense verb, a student might grasp that rule. In her class, for a time, he can apply the rule. But soon thereafter, he forgets it and reverts to previously ingrained patterns. He has not yet internalized the rule. He has a grasp of it but he does not yet truly know it. It is not yet consistently a part of his behavior pattern.

Perhaps this is something akin to what Paul has in mind here in vs. 18 – 19. In the right context, with the proper cues, I can catch a glimpse of the immensity of God’s love in Christ. Intellectually, I know these facts. But away from those stimuli, I easily lose grasp of His love. I forget it and I fail to let His love guide my behavior. Perhaps this is because I have not yet come to know—to internalize—this love.

that surpasses knowledge – If Paul wants me to know something that goes beyond knowledge, then clearly he has two different aspects of knowledge in mind. The sense I get is this: Perhaps “knowledge” as used here refers to information, pure and simple. In this sense, this love exceeds the bounds of human intellect. We cannot quantify it, adequately define it, or describe its boundaries. However, I can “know” this love in the sense that I experience it. I experience Him.

Another angle on the two uses of know and knowledge: As with everything related to God, this love too exceeds my finite mind. I can only know—understand, comprehend—as much of Him—His ways, plans, love, etc.—as He chooses to reveal to me. So, perhaps Paul is simply telling me that I will never fully know—understand—the love of God in Christ. But still Paul calls me to understand as much of this love as God has made available for me to encounter.

that – in order that, with the intended goal or purpose

you may be filled – saturated like a sponge

to the measure – the completeness, totality

of all the fullness of God – triple repetition of synonyms of “full.” Suggests the fullest I can possibly be. Fullness of God does not mean that I could contain all of God—logical impossibility. But what does it mean then? How do I express it? All of God is available to me. All of me can be available to all of Him. But that sounds too cliché. The triple aspect of fullness is a superlative structure that addresses the condition of my soul: How full can I be? Full? Fuller? Fullest? This superlative structure says that Paul is praying that I will be the fullest-filled possible—fullest of God as I can be.