TRV
Translation
King James Version
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Complete Jewish Bible
so that the Messiah may live in your hearts through your trusting. Also I pray that you will be rooted and founded in love,
Berean Standard Bible
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
American Standard Version
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
World English Bible Messianic
that Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Young's Literal Translation
that the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and founded,
In the KJVVerse 29,269 of 31,102
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Commentary on Ephesians 3 verses 14–21
14 ¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
We now come to the second part of this chapter, which contains Paul's devout and affectionate prayer to God for his beloved Ephesians. - For this cause. This may be referred either to the immediately foregoing verse, That you faint not, etc., or, rather, the apostle is here resuming what he began at the first verse, from which he digressed in those which are interposed. Observe,
I. To whom he prays - to God, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of which see Eph 1:3.
II. His outward posture in prayer, which was humble and reverent: I bow my knees. Note, When we draw nigh to God, we should reverence him in our hearts, and express our reverence in the most suitable and becoming behaviour and gesture. Here, having mentioned Christ, he cannot pass without an honourable encomium of his love, Eph 3:15. The universal church has a dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ: Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. The Jews were wont to boast of Abraham as their father, but now Jews and Gentiles are both denominated from Christ (so some); while others understand it of the saints in heaven, who wear the crown of glory, and of saints on earth who are going on in the work of grace here. Both the one and the other make but one family, one household; and from him they are named CHRISTIANS, as they really are such, acknowledging their dependence upon, and their relation to, Christ.
III. What the apostle asks of God for these his friends - spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings, and the most earnestly to be sought and prayed for by every one of us, both for ourselves and for our friends. 1. Spiritual strength for the work and duty to which they were called, and in which they were employed: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his grace, to be strengthened, etc. The inner man is the heart or soul. To be strengthened with might is to be mightily strengthened, much more than they were at present; to be endued with a high degree of grace, and spiritual abilities for discharging duty, resisting temptations, enduring persecutions, etc. And the apostle prays that this may be according to the riches of his glory, or according to his glorious riches - answerable to that great abundance of grace, mercy, and power, which resides in God, and is his glory: and this by his Spirit, who is the immediate worker of grace in the souls of God's people. Observe from these things, That strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man is the best and most desirable strength, strength in the soul, the strength of faith and other graces, strength to serve God and to do our duty, and to persevere in our Christian course with vigour and with cheerfulness. And let us further observe that as the work of grace is first begun so it is continued and carried on, by the blessed Spirit of God. 2. The indwelling of Christ in their hearts, Eph 3:17. Christ is said to dwell in his people, as he is always present with them by his gracious influences and operations. Observe, It is a desirable thing to have Christ dwell in our hearts; and if the law of Christ be written there, and the love of Christ be shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Christ is an inhabitant in the soul of every good Christian. Where his spirit dwells, there he swells; and he dwells in the heart by faith, by means of the continual exercise of faith upon him. Faith opens the door of the soul, to receive Christ; faith admits him, and submits to him. By faith we are united to Christ, and have an interest in him. 3. The fixing of pious and devout affections in the soul: That you being rooted and grounded in love, stedfastly fixed in your love to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to all the saints, the beloved of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many have some love to God and to his servants, but it is a flash, like the crackling of throns under a pot, it makes a great noise, but is gone presently. We should earnestly desire that good affections may be fixed in us, that we may be rooted and grounded in love. Some understand it of their being settled and established in the sense of God's love to them, which would inspire them with greater ardours of holy love to him, and to one another. And how very desirable is it to have a settled fixed sense of the love of God and Christ to our souls, so as to be able to say with the apostle at all times, He has loved me! Now the best way to attain this is to be careful that we maintain a constant love to God in our souls; this will be the evidence of the love of God to us. We love him, because he first loved us. In order to this he prays, 4. For their experimental acquaintance with the love of Jesus Christ. The more intimate acquaintance we have with Christ's love to us, the more our love will be drawn out to him, and to those who are his, for his sake: That you may be able to comprehend with all saints, etc. (Eph 3:18, Eph 3:19); that is, more clearly to understand, and firmly to believe, the wonderful love of Christ to his, which the saints do understand and believe in some measure, and shall understand more hereafter. Christians should not aim to comprehend above all saints; but be content that God deals with them as he uses to do with those who love and fear his name: we should desire to comprehend with all saints, to have so much knowledge as the saints are allowed to have in this world. We should be ambitious of coming up with the first three; but not of going beyond what is the measure of the stature of other saints. It is observable how magnificently the apostle speaks of the love of Christ. The dimensions of redeeming love are admirable: The breadth, and length, and depth, and height. By enumerating these dimensions, the apostle designs to signify the exceeding greatness of the love of Christ, the unsearchable riches of his love, which is higher than heaven, deeper than hell, longer than the earth, and broader than the sea, Job 11:8, Job 11:9. Some describe the particulars thus: By the breadth of it we may understand the extent of it to all ages, nations, and ranks of men; by the length of it, its continuance from everlasting to everlasting; by the depth of it, its stooping to the lowest condition, with a design to relieve and save those who have sunk into the depths of sin and misery; by its height, its entitling and raising us up to the heavenly happiness and glory. We should desire to comprehend this love: it is the character of all the saints that they do so; for they all have a complacency and a confidence in the love of Christ: And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, Eph 3:19. If it passeth knowledge, how can we know it? We must pray and endeavour to know something, and should still covet and strive to know more and more of it, though, after the best endeavours, none can fully comprehend it: in its full extent it surpasses knowledge. Though the love of Christ may be better perceived and known by Christians than it generally is, yet it cannot be fully understood on this side heaven. 5. He prays that they may be filled with all the fulness of God. It is a high expression: we should not dare to use it if we did not find it in the scriptures. It is like those other expressions, of being partakers of a divine nature, and of being perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. We are not to understand it of his fulness as God in himself, but of his fulness as a God in covenant with us, as a God to his people: such a fulness as God is ready to bestow, who is willing to fill them all to the utmost of their capacity, and that with all those gifts and graces which he sees they need. Those who receive grace for grace from Christ's fulness may be said to be filled with the fulness of God, according to their capacity, all which is in order to their arriving at the highest degree of the knowledge and enjoyment of God, and an entire conformity to him.
The apostle closes the chapter with a doxology, Eph 3:20, Eph 3:21. It is proper to conclude our prayers with praises. Our blessed Saviour has taught us to do so. Take notice how he describes God, and how he ascribes glory to him. He describes him as a God that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. There is an inexhaustible fulness of grace and mercy in God, which the prayers of all the saints can never draw dry. Whatever we may ask, or think to ask, still God is still able to do more, abundantly more, exceedingly abundantly more. Open thy mouth ever so wide, still he hath wherewithal to fill it. Note, In our applications to God we should encourage our faith by a consideration of his all-sufficiency and almighty power. According to the power which worketh in us. As if he had said, We have already had a proof of this power of God, in what he hath wrought in us and done for us, having quickened us by his grace, and converted us to himself. The power that still worketh for the saints is according to that power that hath wrought in them. Wherever God gives of his fulness he gives to experience his power. Having thus described God, he ascribes glory to him. When we come to ask for grace from God, we ought to give glory to God. Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus. In ascribing glory to God, we ascribe all excellences and perfections to him, glory being the effulgency and result of them all. Observe, The seat of God's praises is in the church. That little rent of praise which God receives from this world is from the church, a sacred society constituted for the glory of God, every particular member of which, both Jew and Gentile, concurs in this work of praising God. The Mediator of these praises is Jesus Christ. All God's gifts come from his to us through the hand of Christ; and all our praises pass from us to him through the same hand. And God should and will be praised thus throughout all ages, world without end; for he will ever have a church to praise him, and he will ever have his tribute of praise from his church. Amen. So be it; and so it will certainly be.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–21. Public domain.
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TertullianAD 220
On the Resurrection of the Flesh
Thus when, writing to the Ephesians, he spoke of "Christ dwelling in their inner man," he meant, no doubt, that the Lord ought to be admitted into their senses. He then added, "in your hearts by faith, rooted and grounded in love,"-making "faith" and "love" not substantial parts, but only conceptions of the soul.
AmbrosiasterAD 384
EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 3.17.1-2
Paul prays that believers be made more steadfast, not doubting but believing increasingly that Christ dwells in them even when they do not see him with their physical eyes. He prays that the Spirit which has been given them might infuse into them a certainty that Christ lives and is the Son of God, so that he lives by faith in their hearts. Thus when we have faith in him we behold him in our hearts. The benefit of this is that we grow more sure of his blessing. He does not desert us. He is always present through that faith in him which he guards in us. The gift of the Spirit, which is also the gift of God the Father, is given to us that he may keep us safe, to his glory.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on Ephesians 7
"That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory that ye may be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
Mark with what insatiable earnestness he invokes these blessings upon them, that they may not be tossed about. But how shall this be effected? By the "Holy Spirit in your inward man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith." How again shall this be?
However, he does not ask the whole of God, but demands of them also faith and love, and not simply love, but love "rooted and grounded," so that neither any blasts can shake it, nor any thing else overturn it. He had said, that "tribulations" are "glory," and if mine are so to you, he would say, much more will your own be: so that to be afflicted is no token of men being forsaken, for He who hath wrought so great things for us, never would do this.
But how doth Christ dwell in the hearts? Hear what Christ Himself saith, "I and my Father will come unto him, and make our abode with him." He dwelleth in those hearts that are faithful, in those that are "rooted" in His love, those that remain firm and unshaken.
"That ye may be" thoroughly "strong," saith he; so that there is great strength needed.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Ephesians 3:17 is a pivotal verse within Paul's profound prayer for the Ephesian believers, articulating a core desire for their spiritual stability and maturity. It envisions Christ not merely as an external figure but as a permanent resident within the believer's innermost being, establishing His home in their hearts through faith. This intimate indwelling is presented as the prerequisite for, and the result of, being deeply rooted and firmly grounded in the transformative power of divine love, providing an unshakable foundation for their Christian walk.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Ephesians 3:17 is rich in Metaphor, employing two distinct but complementary images to convey spiritual stability: "rooted" (agricultural) and "grounded" (architectural). The image of being "rooted" like a tree suggests organic growth, drawing sustenance, and enduring through deep, unseen connections. The image of being "grounded" like a building implies a deliberate, strong foundation that provides stability and resilience against external forces. Together, these metaphors create a comprehensive picture of a Christian life that is both organically vibrant and structurally sound. The phrase "Christ may dwell in your hearts" also contains Personification, attributing the act of "dwelling" or making a home to Christ, emphasizing His active, personal, and intimate presence within the believer. Furthermore, the pairing of "rooted and grounded" exemplifies Parallelism or Synonymous Pair, where two similar concepts are used to reinforce and intensify the same idea of deep establishment and stability. This rhetorical device underscores the absolute necessity of love as the unshakeable foundation for the believer's life.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ephesians 3:17 powerfully articulates the profound theological truth of Christ's intimate union with believers, a union so deep that He makes His permanent home within their hearts. This indwelling is not merely a mystical experience but a dynamic reality that empowers and stabilizes the believer. It underscores that true spiritual maturity and resilience are not achieved through human effort alone, but through the active, abiding presence of Christ, channeled by faith. Furthermore, the verse elevates divine love to its foundational status, portraying it as the very soil and bedrock upon which the Christian life is built. This love, sourced in God, is the essential environment for spiritual growth, enabling believers to withstand trials, understand God's vast purposes, and live out their faith authentically. It implies that the Christian life is fundamentally about receiving and being transformed by God's love, which then overflows into love for others.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ephesians 3:17 presents a transformative vision for the Christian life, moving beyond mere intellectual assent to a vibrant, lived reality of Christ's intimate presence and love's foundational power. To truly live out this verse means to actively cultivate a conscious awareness of Christ's indwelling, recognizing that He is not a distant deity but an ever-present companion and Lord within. It calls us to intentionally deepen our faith, trusting Him not just for salvation, but for daily guidance, strength, and transformation. Furthermore, it challenges us to examine the "soil" and "foundation" of our lives. Are we truly rooted and grounded in God's love, allowing it to be the primary source of our identity, security, and motivation? This involves meditating on the vastness of God's love, allowing it to permeate every aspect of our being, and then extending that love to others. When Christ dwells supremely in our hearts, and love is our unshakeable foundation, we become resilient, fruitful, and truly reflect the character of God in a world desperately in need of His love.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean for Christ to "dwell" in our hearts by faith?
Answer: For Christ to "dwell" (Greek: katoikéō) in our hearts means He makes His permanent, settled home within the innermost core of our being – our mind, will, emotions, and spirit. It's not a temporary visit or a superficial presence, but a deep, abiding, and authoritative residence. This indwelling is facilitated "by faith," meaning that our continuous trust, reliance, and surrender to Him is the channel through which this intimate relationship is maintained and experienced. It signifies a profound, personal union where Christ is actively present, guiding, comforting, and transforming us from within. This is a spiritual reality that begins at salvation and deepens as we walk with Him, allowing Him full access to every part of our lives.
How are "rooted" and "grounded" different, and why are both used?
Answer: The terms "rooted" (rhizóō) and "grounded" (themelióō) are distinct yet complementary metaphors that emphasize comprehensive stability. "Rooted" draws from the agricultural world, picturing a tree deeply planted, drawing nourishment and stability from its roots in the soil. This suggests organic growth, vital connection, and resilience against external forces like wind. "Grounded" comes from the architectural realm, referring to a building with a strong, deep foundation. This implies deliberate construction, structural integrity, and the ability to withstand pressures and storms. Both are used to convey the idea that the believer's life must be profoundly and unshakeably established in love. The combined imagery assures us that our spiritual life is both organically sustained and structurally secure, providing a holistic picture of deep, enduring stability.
Is the "love" in this verse God's love for us, or our love for Him/others?
Answer: The "love" (Greek: agápē) in this verse primarily refers to God's divine, unconditional love for believers. It is His love that is the ultimate source and foundation. As believers, we are to be "rooted and grounded in" this love, meaning we are to be firmly established in the knowledge, experience, and reality of God's profound affection for us. This understanding of God's love then becomes the wellspring from which our love for God in return, and our love for one another, flows. It's a foundational love that transforms us and enables us to fulfill the greatest commandments—to love God and to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ephesians 3:17 finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is the very embodiment of God's love and the source of our spiritual stability. The prayer for Christ to "dwell in your hearts by faith" points directly to the new covenant reality initiated by His atoning sacrifice and resurrection. Before Christ, God's presence was often localized (e.g., the Temple), but through Christ's finished work and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, He now makes His permanent residence within every believer. This indwelling is a direct result of Christ's victory over sin and death, enabling a union far more intimate than anything previously imagined. He is the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) and the One who promised, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23). Furthermore, Christ Himself is the ultimate expression of the love in which believers are to be rooted and grounded. His life, death, and resurrection perfectly demonstrate the breadth, length, height, and depth of God's love (Ephesians 3:18-19). He is the "chief cornerstone" upon whom the entire spiritual edifice is built (Ephesians 2:20), making Him the very foundation ("grounded") and the life-giving source ("rooted") for all who believe. Thus, this verse is a profound declaration of the Christ-centered nature of Christian experience and growth, where He is both the means and the end of our spiritual journey.