God’s Family

As I pack my bags for a quick trip back to see my family, the words "home" and "family" linger in my mind like echoes from a distant memory. What do they truly mean to me now, in this season of life? Technically, I juggle three families: the one I've built in my own household, the one where I grew up with all its joys and scars, and the grandest of all, the family of God. The concept of "home" mirrors this complexity. For some, home is a sanctuary far removed from family ties; for others, family is the anchor that makes any place feel like home. It's confusing, isn't it? And then there's Paul's profound insight in Ephesians: we are part of one vast family in heaven and on earth, all named by our heavenly Father. Our ultimate home isn't here; it's awaiting us in eternity. Until then, we chase that sense of belonging, that warm embrace of acceptance, in our earthly relationships.

Every time I "go home," a whirlwind of emotions swirls up, some sweet, like shared laughter over old stories, and others bitter, stirred by the shadows of death, divorce, and disease that have marked my family's path. Yet, woven through it all is this God-given pull toward connection, a desire for fellowship that's hardwired into our souls. But what I'm most grateful for is the family of Christ. Looking at my life today, I see how my deepest friendships, those bonds forged in faith, embody the family God has gifted me. The love and fellowship in the body of Christ? It's unparalleled.

Even when our earthly families falter, riddled with instability or pain, we can take heart knowing our heavenly family is united in the Lord. In heaven, the grudges, the hurts, the "who did what to whom" will dissolve. Our Father will envelop us in perfect care, and home will be with Him forever. As the old adage goes, "home is where the heart is." I believe that's gospel truth. If my heart is anchored in Jesus, then my home is there too, not just in the heavenly realms but right here on earth, amid His people. I cherish my earthly family deeply, but I find ultimate comfort in the greatest family of all: the body of Christ.

This reflection draws me to Ephesians 3:14-15, a passage that captures the essence of our spiritual identity as God's family. In this blog post, we'll delve into these verses from an evangelical perspective, examining the text, highlighting key words and phrases in the original Greek, and unpacking their meaning using the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible. We'll explore the broader context of Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21, connect it to other Scriptures, and apply it to our lives today. As evangelicals, we hold the Bible as the inspired, inerrant Word of God, authoritative for faith and practice. This exegesis isn't just academic; it's meant to stir your heart toward a deeper relationship with Christ and His church.

Paul's Grand Vision in Ephesians

To fully appreciate Ephesians 3:14-15, we must step back and see its place in the letter. Ephesians is a masterpiece of Pauline theology, written around AD 60-62 during Paul's imprisonment in Rome. The epistle divides neatly: chapters 1-3 focus on doctrine, what God has done in Christ, while chapters 4-6 emphasize duty, how we live in response. Chapter 3 is a pivot point, where Paul interrupts his flow to pray, overwhelmed by the mystery of God's plan.

In Ephesians 3:1-13, Paul recounts his role in revealing the "mystery" (μυστήριον, mystērion in Greek), that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Jews in Christ's body. This wasn't a puzzle to solve but a divine secret now unveiled through the gospel. "For this reason" (τοῦτο χάριν, touto charin) in verse 14 ties back to this revelation. Paul's prayer isn't random; it's grounded in God's eternal purpose to unite all things in Christ (Ephesians 1:10). As evangelicals, we see this as the heart of the gospel: salvation by grace through faith, creating one new humanity in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9, 14-16).

Exegeting Ephesians 3:14-15: Verse by Verse

Let's turn to the text itself, using the ESV:

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named." (Ephesians 3:14-15 ESV)

Verse 14: "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father"

a. For this reason (τοῦτο χάριν, touto charin): This phrase anchors the prayer in the preceding truths. In Greek, touto charin literally means "for the sake of this" or "on account of this." Paul is saying his prayer flows directly from God's redemptive plan. As evangelicals, we emphasize praying in alignment with God's will (1 John 5:14). Without insight into His purposes, gleaned from Scripture, we pray amiss. Paul's confidence stems from knowing God's heart, which is the inclusion of all believers into one family.

b. I bow my knees (κάμπτω τὰ γόνατά μου, kamptō ta gonata mou): The verb kamptō means "to bend" or "to bow," and gonata refers to the knees. This isn't the typical Jewish posture for prayer, which was standing with hands uplifted (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:8). Kneeling signifies profound humility and submission. Why does Paul kneel? His imprisonment (Ephesians 3:1) humbles him, yet God's unstoppable plan exalts him in wonder. In the original language, this act contrasts cultural norms, highlighting reverence before God's majesty.

Biblical precedents abound: Solomon knelt at the temple dedication (1 Kings 8:54 ESV: "When Solomon had finished praying... he arose from before the altar of the Lord, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven"). Ezra knelt in confession (Ezra 9:5). Daniel defied decree to kneel thrice daily (Daniel 6:10). Jesus Himself knelt in Gethsemane (Luke 22:41). As evangelicals, we aren't bound to postures, but kneeling models surrender. It's not required (many prayers in Scripture aren't on knees), but it's commendable for expressing dependence on God.

Commentator Adam Clarke notes a parallel to Solomon's prayer, suggesting Paul is "dedicating" the Christian Church as the new temple. In theology, the Church is God's dwelling (Ephesians 2:19-22), built on Christ, the cornerstone.

c. Before the Father (πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, pros ton patera): Pros implies "toward" or "before," denoting intimate access. Patera is the accusative form of patēr, meaning "father." In Trinitarian terms, Paul prays to the Father as the divine planner (cf. Ephesians 1:3-6). Evangelicals affirm prayer directed to the Father, through the Son (John 14:13-14), in the Spirit (Romans 8:26). This isn't rigid but reflects God's relational nature, He is Abba, intimate Father (Romans 8:15).

Verse 15: "From whom every family in heaven and on earth is named"

a. From whom (ἐξ οὗ, ex hou): This prepositional phrase means "out of whom" or "from whom," indicating source or origin. Everything derives from the Father.

b. Every family (πᾶσα πατριὰ, pasa patria): Here's a keyword gem. Pasa means "every" or "all," emphasizing universality. Patria derives from patēr (father) and refers to "family," "clan," or "lineage", not just nuclear families but patriarchal groups or tribes. In Greek, it's a play on words: the Father (patēr) names every patria. The ESV's "every family" captures this, but some translations say "the whole family" (as in the provided reflection). The nuance is inclusive: all familial structures, human and angelic, trace back to God.

   In context, this underscores unity amid diversity. Jews and Gentiles, once divided, are now one patria in Christ. "In heaven and on earth" encompasses both angelic hosts (Hebrews 12:22-23) and earthly believers, including those who are living and those who have departed. Evangelicals view this as the church, both universal and visible, and invisible, named by God, not a human invention.

c. In heaven and on earth (ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ γῆς, en ouranois kai epi gēs): En ouranois (in the heavens) and epi gēs (upon the earth) span creation's realms. This echoes Philippians 2:10, where every knee bows "in heaven and on earth and under the earth." It affirms God's sovereignty over all.

d. Is named (ὀνομάζεται, onomazetai): From onoma (name), this passive verb means "is called" or "derives its name." In ancient culture, naming implied authority and identity (Genesis 2:19-20). God as Father bestows identity on all families, our worth comes from Him, not ancestry or achievements. For evangelicals, this combats identity crises: in Christ, we're adopted sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5), heirs with eternal inheritance.

Expanding the Prayer: Ephesians 3:16-21

Paul's prayer doesn't stop at verse 15; it swells into a doxology. To exegete fully, let's continue:

"That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:16-21 ESV)

Key Phrases and Original Language Insights

a. Strengthened with power through his Spirit (κραταιωθῆναι διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ, krataiōthēnai dia tou pneumatos autou): Krataiōthēnai (aorist passive infinitive of krataioō) means "to be made strong." Pneuma is "spirit," here the Holy Spirit. Paul prays for inner fortitude, not physical might. Evangelicals stress the Spirit's indwelling as empowerment for holy living (Romans 8:11).

b. Christ may dwell in your hearts (κατοικῆσαι τὸν Χριστὸν ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν, katoikēsai ton Christon en tais kardiais hymōn): Katoikēsai (from katoikeō) implies permanent residence, not a visit. Kardiais (hearts) symbolize the core self. Through faith (dia tēs pisteōs), Christ "settles in." For new believers, this is an initial experience; for the mature, it's a deeper communion.

c. Rooted and grounded in love (ἐρριζωμένοι καὶ τεθεμελιωμένοι ἐν ἀγάπῃ, errizōmenoi kai tethemeliōmenoi en agapē): Errizōmenoi (rooted, like a plant) and tethemeliōmenoi (grounded, like a building) are perfect passives, indicating completed action with ongoing results. Agapē is selfless, divine love. We're stabilized in God's love, enabling us to comprehend its dimensions.

d. Breadth and length and height and depth (πλάτος καὶ μῆκος καὶ ὕψος καὶ βάθος, platos kai mēkos kai hypsos kai bathos): These spatial terms describe Christ's love as infinite, multi-dimensional. No Greek keyword stands out, but the imagery evokes a vast cube or cross, immeasurable yet knowable experientially.

e. Surpasses knowledge (ὑπερβάλλουσαν τῆς γνώσεως, hyperballousan tēs gnōseōs): Hyperballousan (surpassing) from hyperballō, meaning "to throw beyond." Gnōseōs is knowledge. We "know" (gnōnai) this love paradoxically, beyond intellect, through relationship.

f. Filled with all the fullness of God (πληρωθῆτε εἰς πᾶν τὸ πλήρωμα τοῦ θεοῦ, plērōthēte eis pan to plērōma tou theou): Plērōthēte (filled) and plērōma (fullness) emphasize completeness. Evangelicals link this to sanctification, progressive filling with God's character.

The doxology (vv. 20-21) praises God's exceeding power (dynamis), working in us, for eternal glory.

Broader Biblical Themes: Family and Home in Scripture

Ephesians 3:14-15 doesn't stand alone; it weaves into the Bible's tapestry of family and home.

God as Father

The Old Testament portrays God as Father to Israel (Deuteronomy 32:6; Isaiah 63:16). Jesus revolutionizes this in the New Testament, teaching us to pray "Our Father" (Matthew 6:9). In Greek, patēr in the Lord's Prayer echoes Ephesians. Evangelicals emphasize adoption: "You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" (Romans 8:15 ESV). Abba is Aramaic for "Daddy," conveying intimacy.

The Family of God

Scripture expands the concept of "family" beyond blood. Abraham's promise includes spiritual descendants (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:29). The church is God's household (1 Timothy 3:15), with believers as brothers and sisters (Matthew 12:50: "Whoever does the will of my Father... is my brother and sister and mother"). In heaven, this family includes the redeemed from every nation (Revelation 7:9).

Home as Eternal Dwelling

"Home" in Scripture often means eternal rest. Jesus prepares "a place" for us (John 14:2-3). Hebrews 11:13-16 describes faith heroes as "strangers and exiles on the earth," longing for a heavenly homeland. Paul yearns for his "heavenly dwelling" (2 Corinthians 5:1-4). Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).

Earthly Families as Reflections

God ordains earthly families to mirror heavenly ones (Ephesians 5:22-6:4). Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church; children are to obey their parents as unto the Lord. Yet, when families fail, as mine has with loss and brokenness, we find solace in the church. Jesus redefined family: blood ties yield to spiritual bonds (Mark 3:31-35).

Living as God's Family

Ephesians 3:14-15 calls us to action.

Pray with Humility and Confidence: Like Paul, kneel in awe of God's plan. Pray for unity in divided families, knowing the Father names us all.

Embrace Spiritual Family: If earthly ties hurt, invest in the body of Christ. Small groups, mentorships, these are God's provision. I've found healing in church friendships that feel like true siblings.

Pursue Christ's Indwelling: Invite the Spirit to Strengthen Your Inner Being. Study Scripture, worship, serve, to comprehend love's dimensions.

Overcome Identity Struggles: In a world of fractured homes, root your identity in the Father. You're named by Him, valuable, loved, purposed.

Anticipate Heavenly Home: Amid trials, fix eyes on eternity. Death, divorce, disease lose sting when home is with Jesus.

My Journey Home

Returning to my story: trips "home" unearth mixed emotions. But Ephesians reminds me, my true family spans heaven and earth. A few years ago, amid family strife, I bowed my knees like Paul, praying for strength. God answered through the Church community, showing me love's "breadth and length." Today, I define home not by address but by heart, where Christ dwells.

The Father's Eternal Embrace

Ephesians 3:14-15 unveils our cosmic family, named by the Father, united in Christ. Through exegesis, we've seen Greek nuances like patria and kamptō illuminate humility, unity, and identity. As evangelicals, this fuels evangelism: invite others into this family through faith in Jesus.

May you, reader, bow your knees today, experiencing the Father's love. Home isn't a place, it's Him. And in His family, we find a lasting sense of belonging.