SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:14
¶ Por esta causa doblo mis rodillas al Padre del Seor nuestro Jess, el Cristo,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:14
Verse 14. For this cause I bow my knees] That you may not faint, but persevere, I frequently pray to God, who is our God and the Father of our Lord Jesus. Some very ancient and excellent MSS. and versions omit the words tou kuriou hmwn ihsou cristou, of our Lord Jesus Christ. And in them the passage reads: I bow my knees unto the Father. The apostle prays to God the Father, that they may not faint; and he bows his knees in this praying. What can any man think of himself, who, in his addresses to God, can either sit on his seat or stand in the presence of the Maker and Judge of all men? Would they sit while addressing any person of ordinary respectability? If they did so they would be reckoned very rude indeed. Would they sit in the presence of the king of their own land? They would not be permitted so to do. Is God then to be treated with less respect than a fellow mortal? Paul kneeled in praying, Acts xx. 36; xxi. 5. Stephen kneeled when he was stoned, Acts vii. 60. And Peter kneeled when he raised Tabitha, Acts ix. 40.
Many parts of this prayer bear a strict resemblance to that offered up by Solomon, 2 Chron. vi. 1, &c., when dedicating the temple: He kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands towards heaven; 2 Chron. vi. 13. The apostle was now dedicating the Christian Church, that then was and that ever should be, to God; and praying for those blessings which should ever rest on and distinguish it; and he kneels down after the example of Solomon, and invokes him to whom the first temple was dedicated, and who had made it a type of the Gospel Church.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father , &c.] That is, pray unto him for the perseverance of the saints; for nothing is more desirable to the ministers of Christ than that; which is the pure gift of God, and is what he has promised, and therefore should be prayed to for it; for what God has designed and promised to his people, he will be sought to; and the apostle's view might be also to stir up these saints to pray for themselves: the gesture he used in prayer was bowing the knees; a man is not tied to any particular gesture or posture in prayer, the main thing is the heart; mere postures and gestures are insignificant things with God; though where the mind is affected, the body will be moved; and this gesture may be expressive of reverence, humility, and submission in prayer: the object he prayed unto is the Father; that is, as follows, of our Lord Jesus ; though these words are wanting in the Alexandrian copy, and Ethiopic version, yet are rightly retained in others; for God is the Father of Christ, not by creation, nor adoption, but by generation, being the only begotten of the Father; and as such he is rightly prayed to, since not only Christ prayed to him as such; but he is the Father of his people in and through Christ; and there is no other way of coming to him but by Christ; and all spiritual blessings come though Christ, and from God, as the Father of Christ.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-19 - The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himsel had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the bes blessings. Strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man; strengt in the soul; the strength of faith, to serve God, and to do our duty If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Chris is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spiri dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. And how desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! How powerfully the apostle speaks of the love of Christ! The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks; the length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting; the depth its saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery; the height, its raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory. Those wh receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness, may be said to be fille with the fulness of God. Should not this satisfy man? Must he need fill himself with a thousand trifles, fancying thereby to complete his happiness?
Greek Textus Receptus
τουτου 5127 χαριν 5484 καμπτω 2578 5719 τα 3588 γονατα 1119 μου 3450 προς 4314 τον 3588 πατερα 3962 του 3588 κυριου 2962 ημων 2257 ιησου 2424 χριστου 5547
Vincent's NT Word Studies
14. For this cause. Resuming the interrupted clause in ver. 1, and having still in mind the closing thought of ch. 2. Seeing ye are so built together in Christ, for this cause, etc.
Father. Omit of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:14 {I bow my knees} (kamptw ta gonata mou). He now prays whether he had at first intended to do so at #3:1 or not. Calvin supposes that Paul knelt as he dictated this prayer, but this is not necessary. this was a common attitude in prayer (#Lu 22:41; Ac 7:40; 20:36; 21:5), though standing is also frequent (#Mr 11:25; Lu 18:11,13).
