IN chapter 1 The Apostle had been speaking of that unto which the Church was predestinated—of the dispensation of the fullness of times—of the inheritance, and the redemption of the purchased possession.
Therefore, in the prayer which follows, he addresses God as the Father of GLORY; his petition is for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that their understandings might be enlightened, that they might know the glory of this inheritance, and the greatness of that power which wrought in them—even that power which raised up Christ from the dead, and put Him far above every name which is named, either in this world or in that which is to come.
But in chapter 3 the Apostle had been speaking of tribulation, desiring that they should not faint. He was himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ for them (verse 1); but it was their glory (verse 13): yet was it glory in the form of SUFFERING; not that which had occupied chapter 1. Therefore his prayer now is to the FATHER of our Lord Jesus Christ, not for “the spirit of wisdom,” but “to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.” The wilderness way was in his thought, not so much the future glory; and he does not take them far above principality and power, where Christ is set, but prays that down here “Christ may dwell in their hearth by faith,” that they may know, not the exceeding greatness of His power, but the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of His Love, which yet “passeth knowledge.” Their PRESENT NEED was upon the Apostle’s heart, and the assurance is, “God is able to do above all we ask or think:” but their condition was one of necessity, and although God be able to do for them exceeding abundantly, the word which belongs to the wilderness condition is, “ask,” “think.”
Another point of contrast may be marked in the words (chapter 1), “His body, the fullness of HIM that filleth all in all” and in chapter 3, “That ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” In chapter 1 we are beholding Christ, the knowledge of Him, His calling, His inheritance, the power that wrought in Him, and made Him head over all; the Church coming in as His fullness. But in chap. 3 the Apostle seeks to pour all of grace, glory, or love, into that empty vessel the Church, to fill up their hearts to the brim, even that they “might be filled with all the fullness of God.”