KJV: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
YLT: to know also the love of the Christ that is exceeding the knowledge, that ye may be filled -- to all the fulness of God;
Darby: and to know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge; that ye may be filled even to all the fulness of God.
ASV: and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
γνῶναί | to know |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active Root: γινώσκω Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel. |
|
ὑπερβάλλουσαν | surpassing |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὑπερβάλλω Sense: to surpass in throwing, to throw over or beyond any thing. |
|
τῆς | - |
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
γνώσεως | knowledge |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular Root: γνῶσις Sense: knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding. |
|
ἀγάπην | love |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ἀγάπη Sense: brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence. |
|
τοῦ | - |
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
|
Χριστοῦ | of Christ |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: Χριστός Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God. |
|
ἵνα | so that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
|
πληρωθῆτε | you may be filled |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 2nd Person Plural Root: πληρόω Sense: to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full. |
|
εἰς | unto |
Parse: Preposition Root: εἰς Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among. |
|
πλήρωμα | fullness |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: πλήρωμα Sense: that which is (has been) filled. |
|
Θεοῦ | of God |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: θεός Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities. |
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 3:19
Second aorist active infinitive with εχισχυσητε exischusēte [source]
Ablative case γνωσεως gnōseōs after υπερβαλλουσαν huperballousan (from υπερβαλλω huperballō). All the same Paul dares to scale this peak. That ye may be filled with all the fulness of God (ινα πληρωτητε εις παν το πληρωμα του τεου hina plērōthēte eis pān to plērōma tou theou). Final clause again (third use of ινα hina in the sentence) with first aorist passive subjunctive of πληροω plēroō and the use of εις eis after it. One hesitates to comment on this sublime climax in Paul‘s prayer, the ultimate goal for followers of Christ in harmony with the injunction in Matthew 5:48 to be perfect (τελειοι teleioi) as our heavenly Father is perfect. There is nothing that any one can add to these words. One can turn to Romans 8:29 again for our final likeness to God in Christ. [source]
Final clause again (third use of ινα hina in the sentence) with first aorist passive subjunctive of πληροω plēroō and the use of εις eis after it. One hesitates to comment on this sublime climax in Paul‘s prayer, the ultimate goal for followers of Christ in harmony with the injunction in Matthew 5:48 to be perfect (τελειοι teleioi) as our heavenly Father is perfect. There is nothing that any one can add to these words. One can turn to Romans 8:29 again for our final likeness to God in Christ. [source]
Practically, through experience; while apprehend marks the knowledge as conception. [source]
Christ's love to us. Human love to Christ could not be described in these terms. [source]
Which surpasses mere knowledge without the experience of love. Note the play on the words know and knowledge. [source]
Note the recurrence of that; that He would grant you; that ye may be strong; that ye may be filled. With is better rendered unto, to the measure or standard of. Fullness of God is the fullness which God imparts through the dwelling of Christ in the heart; Christ, in whom the Father was pleased that all the fullness should dwell (Colossians 1:19), and in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 2:9). [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Ephesians 3:19
These and the succeeding words are the Evangelist's, not the Baptist's. The word fullness ( πλήρωμα ) is found here only in John, but frequently occurs in the writings of Paul, whose use of it in Ephesians and Colossians illustrates the sense in John; these being Asiatic churches which fell, later, within the sphere of John's influence. The word is akin to πλήρης , full (John 1:14), and to πληροῦν , to fill or complete; and means that which is complete in itself, plenitude, entire number or quantity. Thus the crew of a ship is called πλήρωμα , its complement. Aristophanes (“Wasps,” 660), “ τούτων πλήρωμα , the sum-total of these, is nearly two thousand talents.” Herodotus (iii., 22) says that the full term of man's life among the Persians is eighty years; and Aristotle (“Polities,” iv., 4) refers to Socrates as saying that the eight classes, representing different industries in the state, constitute the pleroma of the state (see Plato, “Republic,” 371). In Ephesians 1:23, Paul says that the church is the pleroma of Christ: i.e., the plenitude of the divine graces in Christ is communicated to the Church as His body, making all the body, supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, to increase with the increase of God (Colossians 2:19; compare Ephesians 4:16). Similarly he prays (Ephesians 3:19) that the brethren may be filled unto all the pleroma of God: i.e., that they may be filled with the fullness which God imparts. More closely related to John's use of the term here are Colossians 1:19, “It pleased the Father that in Him (Christ) should all the fullness ( τὸ πλήρωμα , note the article) dwell;” and Colossians 2:9, Colossians 2:10, “In Him dwelleth all the pleroma of the Godhead bodily (i.e., corporally, becoming incarnate ), and in Him ye are fulfilled ( πεπληρωμένοι ).” This declares that the whole aggregate of the divine powers and graces appeared in the incarnate Word, and corresponds with John's statement that “the Word became flesh and tabernacled among men, full of grace and truth;” while “ye are fulfilled ” answers to John's “of His fullness we all received.” Hence John's meaning here is that Christians receive from the divine completeness whatever each requires for the perfection of his character and for the accomplishment of his work (compare John 15:15; John 17:22). [source]
Correct text (Aleph B C D L) and not και kai (and) of the Textus Receptus. Explanatory reason for John 1:14. Of his fulness The only instance of πληρωμα plērōma in John‘s writings, though five times of Christ in Paul‘s Epistles (Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9; Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:13). See Colossians 1:19 for discussion of these terms of the Gnostics that Paul employs for all the attributes of God summed up in Christ (Colossians 2:9) and so used here by John of the Incarnate Logos. We all John is facing the same Gnostic depreciation of Christ of which Paul writes in Colossians. So here John appeals to all his own contemporaries as participants with him in the fulness of the Logos. Received Second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω lambanō a wider experience than beholding The point is in αντι anti a preposition disappearing in the Koiné and here only in John. It is in the locative case of αντα anta (end), “at the end,” and was used of exchange in sale. See Luke 11:11, αντι ιχτυος οπιν anti ichthuos ophin “a serpent for a fish,” Hebrews 12:2 where “joy” and “cross” are balanced against each other. Here the picture is “grace” taking the place of “grace” like the manna fresh each morning, new grace for the new day and the new service. [source]
Which belongs to Christ and is imparted by Him. See John 1:16, and compare Ephesians 3:19. [source]
See note on Colossians 1:25 for οικονομιαν oikonomian In Galatians 4:4 “the fulness of the time” Cf. Mark 1:15; Hebrews 1:1. On πληρωμα plērōma see also Romans 11:26; Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:13. [source]
Μεγετος Megethos is an old word (from μεγας megas), but here only in N.T. υπερβαλλον Huperballon present active participle of υπερβαλλω huperballō reappears in Ephesians 2:7; Ephesians 3:19 and seen already in 2 Corinthians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:14. To enlightened eyes the greatness of God‘s power is even more “surpassing.” [source]
So apparently ηλικια hēlikia here as in Luke 2:52, not age (John 9:21). Boys rejoice in gaining the height of a man. But Paul adds to this idea “the fulness of Christ” (του πληρωματος του Χριστου tou plērōmatos tou Christou), like “the fulness of God” in Ephesians 3:19. And yet some actually profess to be “perfect” with a standard like this to measure by! No pastor has finished his work when the sheep fall so far short of the goal. [source]
This is probably the correct translation of a much disputed phrase. This view takes πληρωμα plērōma in the passive sense (that which is filled, as is usual, Colossians 1:19) and πληρουμενου plēroumenou as present middle participle, not passive. All things are summed up in Christ (Ephesians 1:10), who is the πληρωμα plērōma of God (Colossians 1:19), and in particular does Christ fill the church universal as his body. Hence we see in Ephesians the Dignity of the Body of Christ which is ultimately to be filled with the fulness (πληρωμα plērōma) of God (Ephesians 3:19) when it grows up into the fulness (πληρωμα plērōma) of Christ (Ephesians 4:13, Ephesians 4:16). [source]
“Unto oneness of faith” (of trust) in Christ (Ephesians 4:3) which the Gnostics were disturbing. And of the knowledge of the Son of God (και της επιγνωσεως του υιου του τεου kai tēs epignōseōs tou huiou tou theou). Three genitives in a chain dependent also on την ενοτητα tēn henotēta “the oneness of full (επι epi̇) knowledge of the Son of God,” in opposition to the Gnostic vagaries. Unto a full-grown man Same figure as in Ephesians 2:15 and τελειος teleios in sense of adult as opposed to νηπιοι nēpioi (infants) in Ephesians 4:14. Unto the measure of the stature (εις μετρον ηλικιας eis metron hēlikias). So apparently ηλικια hēlikia here as in Luke 2:52, not age (John 9:21). Boys rejoice in gaining the height of a man. But Paul adds to this idea “the fulness of Christ” (του πληρωματος του Χριστου tou plērōmatos tou Christou), like “the fulness of God” in Ephesians 3:19. And yet some actually profess to be “perfect” with a standard like this to measure by! No pastor has finished his work when the sheep fall so far short of the goal. [source]
Same figure as in Ephesians 2:15 and τελειος teleios in sense of adult as opposed to νηπιοι nēpioi (infants) in Ephesians 4:14. Unto the measure of the stature (εις μετρον ηλικιας eis metron hēlikias). So apparently ηλικια hēlikia here as in Luke 2:52, not age (John 9:21). Boys rejoice in gaining the height of a man. But Paul adds to this idea “the fulness of Christ” (του πληρωματος του Χριστου tou plērōmatos tou Christou), like “the fulness of God” in Ephesians 3:19. And yet some actually profess to be “perfect” with a standard like this to measure by! No pastor has finished his work when the sheep fall so far short of the goal. [source]
Only here in Paul's writings, and elsewhere only Acts 23:1. The verb means to be a citizen. Lit., Be citizens worthily of the Gospel. Rev., Let your manner of life be. Margin, Behave as citizens. Compare Ephesians 3:19, and see on Phlippians 3:20. The exhortation contemplates the Philippians as members of the christian commonwealth. The figure would be naturally suggested to Paul by his residence in Rome, and would appeal to the Philippians as a Roman colony, which was a reproduction of the parent commonwealth on a smaller scale. [source]
Rev., made full. Compare John 1:16; Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:13. Not, ye are made full in Him, but ye are in Him, made full. In Him dwells the fullness; being in Him, ye are filled. Compare John 17:21; Acts 17:28. [source]
Periphrastic perfect passive indicative of πληροω plēroō but only one predicate, not two. Christ is our fulness of which we all partake (John 1:16; Ephesians 1:23) and our goal is to be made full of God in Christ (Ephesians 3:19). “In Christ they find the satisfaction of every spiritual want” (Peake). [source]