That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
What does Ephesians 3:17 mean?
The apostle seems to be more anxious lest the believers should be discouraged and faint upon his tribulations, than for what he himself had to bear. He asks for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Ephesians 3:13-17 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Ephesians 3:17
Expressions like this often occur in the Scriptures, where God is said to dwell in us, and we are said to be the temples of the Holy Spirit; see the John 14:23 , note; 1 Corinthians 6:19 , note. That ye being rooted - Firmly established - as a tree is whose roots strike deep, and extend afar. The meaning is, that his love should be as firm in our hearts, as a tree is in the soil, whose roots strike deep into the earth. And grounded - θεθεμελιωμενοι tethemeliomenoi - "founded" - as a building is on a foundation.
Context in Ephesians 3
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Ephesians 3 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as from death to life and Jew-Gentile unity. Ephesians presents the church as Christ’s body and temple, chosen in grace, united across dividing walls, and called to mature holy life. Read this chapter with the wider themes of union with Christ, church, and grace in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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