Ephesians 3:20 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Now unto him, &c. This doxology is admirably adapted to strengthen our faith, that we may not stagger at the great things the apostle has been praying for, as if they were too much for God to give, or for us to expect to receive from him. Unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly, &c. Here is a most beautiful gradation. When God has given us abundant, yea, exceeding abundant blessings, still we may ask for more, and he is able to give, or do for us, what we ask. But we may think of more even than we have asked, and he is able to do this also; yea, and above all this; above all we ask, above all we can think, nay, exceeding abundantly above all that we can either ask or think: according to the power that worketh in us Which is already so illustriously displayed, and worketh so efficaciously in us. The change which the Ephesians had already experienced, not only in their views of things, but in their hearts and lives, their dispositions, words, and actions, yea, in all the powers and faculties of their souls, through the mighty working of the power of God in them, was a sufficient foundation on which to build their hope of receiving all the blessings promised to them in the gospel; and particularly the blessings of a complete restoration to a conformity to the image of God's Son (Rom 8:28; 1Jn 4:17) in this life, and happiness greater than can be now conceived in the life to come. To him be glory in the church On earth and in heaven; by Christ Jesus Its glorious Head, through whom all his blessings descend to us, and our praises ascend to him; throughout all ages Through the most distant ages and periods, as long as the earth with its successive generations shall continue; and world without end Or, as the original, εις πασας τας γενεας του αιωνος των αιωνων, literally signifies, through all the successive generations of the age of ages. “The variety,” says Blackwall, in his Sacred Classics, “and emphasis of the elegant and sublime repetitions in these two last verses of this chapter, are such as cannot be reached in any translation.” And with this sublime doxology the apostle ends the doctrinal part of the epistle.