Paul made a word play from the word "father" ( Ephesians 3:14, Gr. patera). A father is the head of the typical family (Gr. patria). God is not only the Father of the family in which Gentile and Jewish believers are one (i.e, the church), but He is the prototypical father. He is the ultimate Father over every other family that has a father. Every human family exists as a family with a father because of God"s relationships as a Father. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Ephesians 3:14-21 - The Greatest Of All Desires
The kernel of this prayer is in the clause that Christ may make His home in the believer's heart through faith. The previous petitions lead up to this. Note the Apostle's attitude-with bended knee; his plea with God-that He is the Father from whom all family love emanates; his measure-the wealth of God's glorious perfection; the necessary preliminary to Christ's indwelling-the penetration of our inmost being with the strength of the Holy Spirit. And then note the outcome: The indwelling Christ means that we shall be rooted and grounded in love. When this is the case we shall understand His love; and when we experience and know Christ's love, we shall be as completely filled in our little measure as God is in His great measure.
A dying veteran in Napoleon's army, when the surgeon was probing for the fatal bullet, said, "A little deeper and you will find the Emperor." Faith opens the door to the Spirit; the Spirit reveals Christ; Christ fills the heart; the heart begins to understand love; and love is the medium through which we become infilled with God, for God is love. It is staggering to ask all this; but the God who works in us with such power is able to do more than we ask, more than we think-abundantly more, exceeding abundantly more. [source]
Chapter Summary: Ephesians 3
1The hidden mystery that the Gentiles should be saved was made known to Paul by revelation; 8and to him was that grace given, that he should preach it 13He desires them not to be discouraged over his tribulation; 14and prays that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 3:15
Every family [πασα πατρια] Old word (πατρα patra is the usual form) from πατηρ patēr descent from a common ancestor as a tribe or race. Some take it here as = πατροτης patrotēs fatherhood, but that is most unlikely. Paul seems to mean that all the various classes of men on earth and of angels in heaven get the name of family from God the Father of all. [source]
The whole family [πᾶσα πατριὰ] Rev., more correctly, every family. Πατριά is, more properly, a group of families - all who claim a common πατήρ . father. Family, according to our usage of the term, would be οἶκος houseThe Israelites were divided into tribes ( φυλαί ), and then into πατπιαί, each deriving its descent from one of Jacob's grandsons; and these again into οἶκοι housesSo Joseph was both of the house ( οἴκου ) and family ( πατριᾶς ) of David. We find the phrase οἶκοι πατριῶν housesof the families, Exodus 12:3; Numbers 1:2. The word occurs only three times in the New Testament: here, Luke 2:4; Acts 3:25. In the last-named passage it is used in a wide, general sense, of nations. Family is perhaps the best translation, if taken in its wider meaning of a body belonging to a common stock - a clan. Fatherhood (Rev., in margin), following the Vulgate paternitas, means rather the fact and quality of paternity. Observe the play of the words, which can scarcely be reproduced in English, pater, patria. [source]
In heaven and earth [] To the angelic hosts and the tribes of men alike, God is Father. There may be a suggestion of the different ranks or grades of angels, as principalities, thrones, powers, etc. See Ephesians 3:10. “Wherever in heaven or in earth beings are grouped from their relation to a father, the name they bear in each case is derived from the Father” (Riddle). [source]
What do the individual words in Ephesians 3:15 mean?
fromwhomeveryfamilyin[the] heavensandonearthis named
Greek Commentary for Ephesians 3:15
Old word (πατρα patra is the usual form) from πατηρ patēr descent from a common ancestor as a tribe or race. Some take it here as = πατροτης patrotēs fatherhood, but that is most unlikely. Paul seems to mean that all the various classes of men on earth and of angels in heaven get the name of family from God the Father of all. [source]
After whom. [source]
Rev., more correctly, every family. Πατριά is, more properly, a group of families - all who claim a common πατήρ . father. Family, according to our usage of the term, would be οἶκος houseThe Israelites were divided into tribes ( φυλαί ), and then into πατπιαί, each deriving its descent from one of Jacob's grandsons; and these again into οἶκοι housesSo Joseph was both of the house ( οἴκου ) and family ( πατριᾶς ) of David. We find the phrase οἶκοι πατριῶν housesof the families, Exodus 12:3; Numbers 1:2. The word occurs only three times in the New Testament: here, Luke 2:4; Acts 3:25. In the last-named passage it is used in a wide, general sense, of nations. Family is perhaps the best translation, if taken in its wider meaning of a body belonging to a common stock - a clan. Fatherhood (Rev., in margin), following the Vulgate paternitas, means rather the fact and quality of paternity. Observe the play of the words, which can scarcely be reproduced in English, pater, patria. [source]
To the angelic hosts and the tribes of men alike, God is Father. There may be a suggestion of the different ranks or grades of angels, as principalities, thrones, powers, etc. See Ephesians 3:10. “Wherever in heaven or in earth beings are grouped from their relation to a father, the name they bear in each case is derived from the Father” (Riddle). [source]