Wide, Long, High, and Deep
Last Tuesday we studied Ephesians Chapter 3 and at some length discussed Paul's prayer for the Ephesians in verses 14 through 21. There are two things which came out of this study for me.
Of course we admired Paul's prayer that we "may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (v 3:18 niv). It should be a prayer we carry with us as we are drawn to pray for our friends and family. This verse is the basis for the chorus in "The Love of Christ" by Wes King. And there's a verse that follows:
The width of two arms outstretched on a tree
The length of the road to Calvary
The height of the crown on a cruel cross
The depth of the pain is the cost
And what more should we pray for? Paul says, "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God".
This intrigued us. How do you know something that supasses knowledge? What does that really mean? We thought, "Is Paul using hyperbole here?" He did in verse 3:8 when he says, "I am less than the least." We almost missed an important point but the Lord prompted us to dig further.
To answer this we went to the original Greek manuscript. You see, the word "know" and the word "knowledge" are not from the same root. The Blue Letter Bible online has a concordance with original Greek. The word "knowledge" in this verse was translated from the Greek word "gnosis" which signifies general intelligence and understanding. But the word "know" is translated from the Greek word "ginosko" which means to become acquainted with. Aha! There's the difference.
Here's an example. I can say I know (gnosis) Wes King. I've listened to his music since day one. I know most of the verses of his songs and know what state he grew up in. I even met him once at a concert. But I don't really know (ginosko) him.
We may fail our discipleship and do this with Christ. We can read the Bible, memorize scripture, study where Jesus came from and learn where he went, all of this being knowledge but yet we won't know him. Although shiny on the outside what empty vessels we would be.
Of couse we shall not forsake reading the Bible and memorizing scripture, and the such. But furthermore the Lord wants us to know (ginosko) Him, and He to know (ginosko) us. He wants us to be filled to the measure with all the fullness of Himself.
Of course we admired Paul's prayer that we "may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (v 3:18 niv). It should be a prayer we carry with us as we are drawn to pray for our friends and family. This verse is the basis for the chorus in "The Love of Christ" by Wes King. And there's a verse that follows:
The width of two arms outstretched on a tree
The length of the road to Calvary
The height of the crown on a cruel cross
The depth of the pain is the cost
And what more should we pray for? Paul says, "and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God".
This intrigued us. How do you know something that supasses knowledge? What does that really mean? We thought, "Is Paul using hyperbole here?" He did in verse 3:8 when he says, "I am less than the least." We almost missed an important point but the Lord prompted us to dig further.
To answer this we went to the original Greek manuscript. You see, the word "know" and the word "knowledge" are not from the same root. The Blue Letter Bible online has a concordance with original Greek. The word "knowledge" in this verse was translated from the Greek word "gnosis" which signifies general intelligence and understanding. But the word "know" is translated from the Greek word "ginosko" which means to become acquainted with. Aha! There's the difference.
Here's an example. I can say I know (gnosis) Wes King. I've listened to his music since day one. I know most of the verses of his songs and know what state he grew up in. I even met him once at a concert. But I don't really know (ginosko) him.
We may fail our discipleship and do this with Christ. We can read the Bible, memorize scripture, study where Jesus came from and learn where he went, all of this being knowledge but yet we won't know him. Although shiny on the outside what empty vessels we would be.
Of couse we shall not forsake reading the Bible and memorizing scripture, and the such. But furthermore the Lord wants us to know (ginosko) Him, and He to know (ginosko) us. He wants us to be filled to the measure with all the fullness of Himself.
posted by Gary at 8:23 PM
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