"that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him." - Ephesians 1:17 NASB)
In several passages throughout Ephesians, the concept of the Trinity is highlighted. Specifically, in Ephesians 1:3-14, here in verse 17; chapter 2:18; chapter 3:14-17; and chapter 4:4-6, we encounter references to the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit, collectively representing the Trinity.
Here, Paul prays “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ” would cause these Gentile believers to grow in their knowledge of God. In what way is God the Father the God of Christ? Well, God, the first person in the Trinity, is the one who chose Christ to be the Mediator, made a covenant with Him, prepared a human nature for Him, anointed Him with the Holy Ghost, and upheld Him through all his trials. Christ prayed to God, believed in Him, and obeyed His commands. God is also the Father of Christ, as Christ is the Son of God. He is praised as the God and Father of Christ because these are his New Testament titles and because He is our God and Father in Christ.
“The Father of glory” is a Hebrew expression which signifies that God is glorious in Himself and is the source of all glory. All glory is to be given to Him. Note that this expression is also used for Jesus in 1 Corinthians 2:8 and James 2:1 to highlight His deity.
Note in the phrase “may give to you a spirit,” the word “spirit” is used without “the” definite article. This refers to the human spirit under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This idea is similar to Isaiah 11:2, where God gives the Spirit as “a spirit of wisdom,” “understanding,” “counsel,” “strength,” “knowledge,” and “fear of the Lord.” The New Testament, for its part, talks about different ways the Spirit’s influence in the lives of believers. For example, it mentions “a spirit of holiness” (Romans 1:4), “a spirit of adoption as sons” (Romans 8:15), “a spirit of gentleness” (1 Corinthians 4:21), “a spirit of faith” (2 Corinthians 4:13), “a spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17), and “the spirit of truth” and “the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). Paul appeals to the glorious Father to give the believers true wisdom and understanding of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s prayer matches what he told the Corinthians, where he says that it is the Holy Spirit who reveals knowledge and true wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 2:6-16).
The phrase “of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” refers mainly to God the Father. This means that the wisdom and revelation mentioned are not just for certain people, but for all believers, as emphasized in Ephesians 4:13. This is Paul’s reaction against the focus of false teachers on intellect and exclusivity. The knowledge of the Gospel, as explained in Ephesians, is a gift from God through the Spirit, and centered on Jesus, who embodies the truth (cf. Colossians 1:9, and John 8:32; 14:6).
Paul underscores the essential role of the Spirit of wisdom in enlightening the “eyes” of our understanding. Because “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, of which we were, so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). It is the Holy Spirit who removes the scales from our eyes so that we may understand deeper things about God, in the end that we may move on to Christlikeness.
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