Ephesians 1:17

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you. spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him”

“That”: Here is the substance of such prayers. “For despite his unceasing gratitude to God for them, he is still not satisfied with them. That they may appreciate to the fullest possible extent the implications of the blessing they have already received” (Stott pp. 53-54). Paul continually "pushed" his converts to abound and improve themselves. Paul never said in any of his letters, “You guys are okay and you do not need to work on anything.” Growth was always expected of all Christians (1 Thessalonians 4:10; 2 Peter 3:18). “God of our Lord Jesus Christ”: This statement does not mean that Jesus is somehow less than God, because the word "Lord", is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Jehovah". As other passages teach, Jesus had voluntarily taken. subservient role to the Father in the creation and redemption of man (1 Peter 2:6). “The Father of glory”:

'”To whom all the glory of deity belongs” (Lenski p. 392). As. result He is the one that is worthy to be praised (Psalms 18:3). In 1 Corinthians 2:8. Jesus is called the "Lord of glory". “The Father stands unchallenged in the magnitude of His glory” (Boles p. 214). One problem in the church today, is that some members are more "impressed" with the things of the world, than the nature of God. Some do not hesitate to call something or someone in the material world, "awesome", but may seem embarrassed to praise God with similar language. “A spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him”: “The apostle did not pray that God would give to all the Ephesians the knowledge of the doctrines of the gospel, by an immediate revelation made to themselves: but that He would enable them to understand the revelation of these doctrines which was made to the apostles” (Coffman pp. 132-133). “Spirit”: This use of the word "spirit", seems to point more towards. "mental disposition". Even the translators of the ASV and NASV seemed to see this, by rendering the word spirit with. small "s". “A spirit that is rich in the wisdom derived from God's revelation” (Lenski p. 394).

Paul is not praying for some mystical influence to come upon these Christians. Neither is he praying that God would give them the Holy Spirit, so that they could understand the Holy Spirit's message revealed through the Apostles. Nor is Paul teaching that some truths in God's revelation are so deep and hidden that the Christian needs some "special illumination", to see them. It is not the limited human mind that prevents people from seeing the truth, rather it is wrong attitudes in the human mind (2 Thessalonians 2:10) "Special illumination" is not needed to understand the Bible, for we understood many parts of it only too well, even when we were non-Christians. Compare this statement with Colossians 1:9 “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding”. Other passages teach that this is accomplished by: The right attitude or disposition towards the truth, which is an honest and humble heart (Luke 8:15; James 1:21), and diligent study (Hebrews 5:14; 2 Timothy 2:15). In other words, Paul is praying that God's revelation would prick the hearts of these Christians, and that they would humbly embrace it. Such. disposition is the key to growth in the true wisdom and the true knowledge of God. “Paul did not ask that God may give these blessings to some elite, philosophical company of Christians. He prayed for all the brethren” (Caldwell pp. 50-51). Note carefully, that Paul, in other places, prayed that God would give Christians: "Peace" (2 Thessalonians 3:16), and "patience" (Romans 15:5). In both instances, human cooperation is demanded. The same is true in the above instance. God does not miraculously or unconditionally give Christians. "spirit of wisdom". Hence, this constitutes one more item of evidence that tells us that this "spirit" is. disposition or attitude, which the Christian must cooperate with God in achieving.

“Wisdom”: “Includes also the understanding of how to apply the things of God to life. It is expressed in prudent, practical, intelligent, sagacious activity” (Caldwell p. 51). Not only are Christians to have. disposition characterized by gentleness, meekness, power, discipline, and love (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 1:7), but also. mind that appreciates divine truth and strives to apply it in everyday life. Hence, the Christian who prays for wisdom (James 1:5), must first of all appreciate wisdom. “Revelation”: “True insight” (TCNT). This "revelation" is connected with the next phrase, true insight into the knowledge of God. “In the knowledge of Him”: The Greek term knowledge here refers to. full discernment. It is more than. mere knowledge of the facts, but. full, complete and thorough knowledge. “This is the noun form of the verb know fully (1 Corinthians 13:12)” (Spiritual Sword Lectureship p. 18). “There is no higher knowledge than the knowledge of God Himself. Philosophy taking man for its center says know thyself; only the inspired word which proceeds from God has been able to say know God “ (Stott p. 54). The knowledge of God is the key that unlocks the proper understanding of all other fields (Jeremiah 2:23; Jeremiah 2:9). “To know God is to be wise” (Vincent p. 370). The word of God, the message revealed and recorded by the apostles is able to give anyone. "full knowledge" of God, the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), and Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Hence,. fuller knowledge of God cannot be found outside the Bible. Therefore, we must reject any theory that claims that the Bible is not sufficient to deliver this full and intimate knowledge. Thus those professed believers which are waiting for some "mystical experience" need to start studying the Scriptures just like the rest of us. To fully know God, is the only way that one can really "know thyself" (Genesis 1:26; Ecclesiastes 12:1; 13-14). “A Christian must have more than just raw enthusiasm” (Boles p. 214) (Matthew 13:20; Romans 10:1). Growth in the true knowledge of God is essential to growth in holiness and spirituality (Hebrews 5:14; 2 Peter 1:5).