Ephesians 3:17
New International Version
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

New Living Translation
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

English Standard Version
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Berean Standard Bible
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Berean Literal Bible
for Christ to dwell in your hearts through faith, being rooted and being founded in love,

King James Bible
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

New King James Version
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

New American Standard Bible
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

NASB 1995
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

NASB 1977
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Legacy Standard Bible
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being firmly rooted and grounded in love,

Amplified Bible
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love,

Christian Standard Bible
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,

American Standard Version
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Contemporary English Version
and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love.

English Revised Version
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Christ will live in you through faith. I also pray that love may be the ground into which you sink your roots and on which you have your foundation.

Good News Translation
and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through faith. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love,

International Standard Version
and that the Messiah would make his home in your hearts through faith. Then, having been rooted and grounded in love,

Majority Standard Bible
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

NET Bible
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love,

New Heart English Bible
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Webster's Bible Translation
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Weymouth New Testament
I pray that Christ may make His home in your hearts through your faith; so that having your roots deep and your foundations strong, in love, you may become mighty to grasp the idea,

World English Bible
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, having been rooted and founded in love,

Berean Literal Bible
for Christ to dwell in your hearts through faith, being rooted and being founded in love,

Young's Literal Translation
that the Christ may dwell through the faith in your hearts, in love having been rooted and founded,

Smith's Literal Translation
For Christ to dwell by faith in your hearts; in love being rendered firm, and the foundation laid,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being rooted and founded in charity,

Catholic Public Domain Version
so that Christ may live in your hearts through a faith rooted in, and founded on, charity.

New American Bible
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love,

New Revised Standard Version
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
That Christ may dwell in you by faith, and in your hearts by love, strengthening your understanding and your foundation;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The Messiah may dwell by faith, and in your hearts by love, when your root and your foundation shall be confirmed,
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through the faith;

Godbey New Testament
that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

Haweis New Testament
that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that rooted and grounded in love,

Mace New Testament
so that your souls may be possess'd with faith in Christ.

Weymouth New Testament
I pray that Christ may make His home in your hearts through your faith; so that having your roots deep and your foundations strong, in love, you may become mighty to grasp the idea,

Worrell New Testament
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that ye, having been rooted and grounded in love,

Worsley New Testament
that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: and be ye rooted and grounded in love,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Prayer for the Ephesians
16I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth…

Cross References
John 15:4-5
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. / I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Colossians 2:6-7
Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, / rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Romans 8:9-11
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. / But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. / And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

1 John 4:16
And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

John 14:23
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, / so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, / filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Psalm 1:2-3
But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. / He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Isaiah 61:3
to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Psalm 92:12-14
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. / Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. / In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,


Treasury of Scripture

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Christ.

Ephesians 2:21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

John 6:56
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

being.

Matthew 13:6
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1 Corinthians 8:1
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

grounded.

Matthew 7:24,25
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: …

Luke 6:48
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

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Christ Deep Dwell End Established Faith Foundations Founded Grasp Grounded Hearts Home Idea Love Mighty Rooted Roots Strong
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Christ Deep Dwell End Established Faith Foundations Founded Grasp Grounded Hearts Home Idea Love Mighty Rooted Roots Strong
Ephesians 3
1. The hidden mystery that the Gentiles should be saved was made known to Paul by revelation;
8. and to him was that grace given, that he should preach it.
13. He desires them not to be discouraged over his tribulation;
14. and prays that they may perceive the great love of Christ toward them.














so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
This phrase emphasizes the indwelling presence of Christ in the believer's life, a central theme in Pauline theology. The concept of Christ dwelling in the heart signifies a deep, personal relationship with Jesus, beyond mere intellectual assent. The heart, in biblical terms, often represents the center of one's being, including emotions, will, and intellect. This indwelling is made possible "through faith," highlighting the necessity of trust and belief in Jesus for salvation and spiritual growth. The idea of God dwelling among His people has roots in the Old Testament, such as in the tabernacle and temple (Exodus 25:8, 1 Kings 8:27), and finds its fulfillment in the New Covenant through Christ (John 1:14). This indwelling is a transformative process, aligning the believer's life with the character and purposes of Christ.

Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
The imagery of being "rooted and grounded" suggests stability and strength, akin to a tree with deep roots or a building with a solid foundation. This metaphor indicates that love is the essential foundation for the Christian life. Love, as described in the New Testament, is selfless and sacrificial, modeled after Christ's love for humanity (John 15:13, 1 John 4:10). The dual metaphor of agriculture and architecture underscores the importance of both growth and stability in the believer's life. This love is not merely an emotion but an active, living principle that influences every aspect of a believer's conduct. The call to be rooted and grounded in love connects to the greatest commandments to love God and love others (Matthew 22:37-39), and it is through this love that believers reflect the nature of Christ to the world.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Ephesians, writing to encourage and instruct the church in Ephesus.

2. Christ
Central figure in Christianity, whose indwelling presence in believers' hearts is emphasized in this verse.

3. Ephesus
A major city in Asia Minor, known for its diverse culture and the early Christian church to which Paul writes.

4. The Ephesian Church
The recipients of the letter, a community of believers in Ephesus.

5. Faith and Love
Key themes in this passage, highlighting the means by which Christ dwells in believers and the foundation of their spiritual life.
Teaching Points
Christ's Indwelling Presence
Emphasize the importance of Christ dwelling in our hearts as a personal and transformative relationship.

Encourage believers to cultivate a heart where Christ feels at home through faith and obedience.

Faith as the Foundation
Highlight faith as the means by which Christ dwells in us, urging believers to strengthen their faith through prayer, study, and community.

Discuss the Greek word "pistis" (faith) as trust and reliance on Christ.

Rooted and Grounded in Love
Explain the agricultural and architectural metaphors of being "rooted" and "grounded," signifying stability and nourishment in love.

Encourage believers to let love be the foundation of all their actions and relationships.

The Role of Love in the Christian Life
Discuss how love is both the root and the fruit of a life in Christ, impacting how we interact with others.

Challenge believers to express love in practical ways, reflecting Christ's love to the world.(17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.--What that indwelling power is he now indicates, so passing to another Person of the Holy Trinity. It is (see Colossians 1:27) "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The indwelling of Christ (as here the construction of the original plainly shows) is not a consequence of the gift of the Spirit; it is identical with it, for the office of the Holy Spirit is to implant and work out in us the likeness of Christ. So in John 14:16-20, in immediate connection with the promise of the Comforter, we read: "I will not leave you orphaned; I will come to you." "Ye shall know that . . . ye are in me and I in you." Hence the life in the Spirit is described as "To me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21); "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). Faith is simply the condition of that indwelling of Christ (comp. Ephesians 2:8), the opening of the door to Him that He may enter in.

The prayer is here complete, all that follows being but consequent from it. In accordance with the universal law of revelation, all is from the Father, all is through the Son vouchsafing to tabernacle in our humanity, all is by the Spirit effecting that indwelling of Christ in each individual soul. . . .

Verse 17. - That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith. Reversing the usual order, the prayer begins (ver. 16) by asking the blessing of the Third Person of the Godhead; now we have a cluster of petitions connected with the Second Person. The first of these is for the indwelling of Christ in their hearts, as opposed to mere occasional visits or influences from Christ; the instrument by which this blessing is attained being their faith. Christ exercising a constant power within them, both in the active and passive movements of the heart, giving the sense of pardon and acceptance, molding the will, sweetening the emotions, enlightening and confirming the conscience, purifying the whole springs and principles of action. This to be secured by their faith, opening the door, receiving Christ in all his fullness, resting and living on him, believing his promises, and longing for his appearing the second time. In order that ye, having been rooted and grounded in love. Two images are combined to make the idea emphatic - that of a tree and that of a building; denoting what is both the starting-point and the support of the Christian's life, viz. love. In what sense? The love of Christ is specified afterwards (ver. 19), but this may be as a pre-eminent branch of that manifold love which bears on the Christian life - the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; the love of the brethren to one another; and the reciprocal love evoked from the believer by the reception of this love. Evidently it is implied that the Christian life can begin and flourish only in such an atmosphere of love; as warm sunshine is needed to start and advance the life of a plant, so love is needed to start and carry on the life of the soul. Experience of Divine love is a great quickening and propelling power. "One glance of God, a touch of his love, will free and enlarge the heart, so that it can deny all and part with all and make an entire renunciation of all to follow him" (Archbishop Leighton).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
so that
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Christ
Χριστὸν (Christon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

may dwell
κατοικῆσαι (katoikēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2730: To dwell in, settle in, be established in (permanently), inhabit. From kata and oikeo; to house permanently, i.e. Reside.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

hearts
καρδίαις (kardiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

through
διὰ (dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

faith.
πίστεως (pisteōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4102: Faith, belief, trust, confidence; fidelity, faithfulness.

[And I pray that] you, being rooted
ἐρριζωμένοι (errizōmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4492: To cause to take root; met: I plant, fix firmly, establish. From rhiza; to root.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

grounded
τεθεμελιωμένοι (tethemeliōmenoi)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2311: To found, lay the foundation (lit. and met.). From themelios; to lay a basis for, i.e. erect, or consolidate.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

love,
ἀγάπῃ (agapē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.


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NT Letters: Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts (Ephes. Eph. Ep)
Ephesians 3:16
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