SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:18
podis bien comprender con todos los santos cul sea la anchura y la longitud y la profundidad y la altura,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 3:18
Verse 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints] ina exiscushte katalabesqai. These words are so exceedingly nervous and full of meaning, that it is almost impossible to translate them. The first word, exiscushte, from ex, intensive, and iscuw, to be strong, signifies that they might be thoroughly able, by having been strengthened with might, by God's power. The second word katalabesqai, from kata, intensive, and lambanw, to take, catch, or seize on, may be translated, that ye may fully catch, take in, and comprehend this wonderful mystery of God. The mind must be rendered apt, and the soul invigorated, to take in and comprehend these mysteries. What is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height] Here the apostle still keeps up the metaphor, comparing the Church of God to a building; and as, in order to rear a proper building, formed on scientific principles, a ground plan and specification must be previously made, according to which the building is to be constructed, the apostle refers to this; for this must be thoroughly understood, without which the building could not be formed. They were to be builded up a heavenly house, a habitation of God through the Spirit; and this must have its latitude or breadth, its longitude or length, its altitude or height, and its profundity or depth.
It is supposed by some that the apostle is here alluding to the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, which, as I have already had occasion to remark, was reputed one of the wonders of the world, being in length 425 feet, in breadth 220; it was supported by 127 pillars, each 60 feet high; was builded at the expense of all Asia; and was 220 years in being completed. I cannot, however, allow of this allusion while the apostle had a nobler model at hand, and one every way more worthy of being brought into the comparison. The temple at Jerusalem was that alone which he had in view; that alone could be fitly compared here; for that was built to be a habitation of God; that was his house, and that the place of his rest: so the Christian temple, and the believing heart, are to be the constant, the endless residence of God; and how august must that edifice be in which the eternal Trinity dwells! But what can the apostle mean by the breadth, length, depth, and height, of the love of God? Imagination can scarcely frame any satisfactory answer to this question. It takes in the eternity of God. GOD is LOVE; and in that, an infinity of breadth, length, depth, and height, is included; or rather all breadth, length, depth, and height, are lost in this immensity. It comprehends all that is above, all that is below, all that is past, and all that is to come. In reference to human beings, the love of God, in its BREADTH, is a girdle that encompasses the globe; its LENGTH reaches from the eternal purpose of the mission of Christ, to the eternity of blessedness which is to be spent in his ineffable glories; its DEPTH reaches to the lowest fallen of the sons of Adam, and to the deepest depravity of the human heart; and its HEIGHT to the infinite dignities of the throne of Christ. He that overcometh will I give to sit dawn with me upon my throne, as I have overcome and sat down with the Father upon his throne. Thus we see that the Father, the Son, and all true believers in him, are to be seated on the same throne! This is the height of the love of God, and the height to which that love raises the souls that believe in Christ Jesus!
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. May be able to comprehend with all saints , &c.] This is the end of their being rooted and grounded in love, that they, together with the rest of the saints interested in it, might have a larger and more comprehensive view of what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; not of God himself, who is incomprehensible by finite minds, and is not to be found out to perfection; (see Job 11:7-9) but either of the great mystery of salvation, particularly the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles mentioned in the beginning of the chapter; or of the spiritual building, the church, the dimensions of which are given, ( Revelation 21:15,16) or rather of the love of God, which in its length reaches from one eternity to another; in its breadth to all the elect, in all ages, places, and nations; and in its depth to saints in the lowest state of life; and in its height to bring them to an exalted state in glory.
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
εν 1722 αγαπη 26 ερριζωμενοι 4492 5772 και 2532 τεθεμελιωμενοι 2311 5772 ινα 2443 εξισχυσητε 1840 5661 καταλαβεσθαι 2638 5641 συν 4862 πασιν 3956 τοις 3588 αγιοις 40 τι 5101 το 3588 πλατος 4114 και 2532 μηκος 3372 και 2532 βαθος 899 και 2532 υψος 5311
Vincent's NT Word Studies
18. Rooted and grounded (errizwmenoi kai teqemeliwmenoi).Compare Col. ii. 7, and see note. Grounded or founded, from qemelion foundation. The dwelling in ver. 17 would naturally suggest the foundation. Rooting and grounding are consequences of the strengthening of the Spirit and of Christ's indwelling.
In love. Standing first in the sentence and emphatic, as the fundamental principle of christian life and knowledge.
May be able (exiscushte). Rev., may be strong. This compound verb occurs only here. The preposition ejx has the force of fully or eminently. Iscuv is strength embodied; inhering in organized power. Hence it is an advance on dunamei might in ver. 16 (see note). Paul prays that the inward might or virtue may issue in ability to grasp. Compare Luke xiv. 30; xvi. 3; Acts xxvii. 16; Jas. v. 16, and see notes. 169 Comprehend (katalabesqai). To English readers this conveys the meaning understand. Rev., better, apprehend: grasp. See on John i. 5, and compare Philip. iii. 12, 13.
Breadth, etc. No special interpretations are to be given to these words. The general idea of vastness is expressed in these ordinary terms for dimension. Notice that the article is attached only to the first, breadth, all the rest being included under the one article; the intention being to exhibit the love of Christ in its entire dimension, and not to fix the mind on its constituent parts.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:18 {That ye may be strong} (hina exiscusete). Sub-final clause again with hina and the first aorist active subjunctive of exiscuw, a late and rare compound (from ex, iscuw) to have full strength. Here only in N.T. {To apprehend} (katalabesqai). Second aorist middle infinitive of katalambanw, old and common verb, to lay hold of effectively (kata-), here with the mind, to grasp (#Ac 25:25). {With all the saints} (sun pasin tois hagiois). No isolated privilege. Fellowship open to all. Paul gives a rectangular (four dimension) measure of love (breadth platos, length mekos, height huyos, depth baqos, all common enough words).
