PAUL'S PRAISE AND BENEDICTION
(3:20-22)

VERSES 20-21:
These verses are both a doxology (praise) and a benediction.  They also conclude the first main division of the epistle.

VERSE 20:
“Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,”

“unto Him that is able to do”
Literally:  “to Him being able”–Contrasted with ourselves and our needs. Having finished his energetic prayer, Paul brings in his doxology, giving praise to Him from whom all blessings come, and to Whom all thanks are due.  It is not uncommon for Paul to utter a praise in the midst of an argument:

        “Whose {are} the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ {came}, Who is over all, God blessed forever.  Amen” (Rom. 9:5).
        “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, {are} all things:  to whom, {be} glory, forever.  Amen” (Rom. 11:36).
        “To Whom {be} glory forever and ever.  Amen” (Gal. 1:5).

Here his mind is full of the subject; and in view of the fact that God communicates to His people such blessings, that they may become filled with all His fairness, He desires that praise should be given to Him.

        UNTO HIM:  (tôi)-–Literally:  “to the {One}.”     Contrasted with ourselves and our needs. Unto Him be the glory (that is, the whole glory of the gracious dispensation of salvation just spoken of) in the Church, which is the theater for the manifestation of the glory, (v. 10).

In Christ Jesus (for in Him all the glory centers, Zech. 6:13) “to all the generations of eternal ages,” literally, “of the age of the ages.”  This doxology is adapted to strengthen our faith, that we may not stagger at the great things for which Paul has been praying, as if they were too much for God to give, or for us to expect from him.       

         “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,” |
          Literally:  “exceeding abundantly all that we ask or think”–             

         EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY: (hyperekperissou)—Literally:  “above the greatest abundance.” 

        It is impossible to express the full meaning of these words, God is omnipotent, therefore He is able to do all things, and able to do superabundantly.  And who can doubt this, who has any rational or Scriptural views of His power or His love?  The compound Greek word used here (hyperekperissou) occurs only in this place, and in I Thess. 3:10; 5:13. It means, to an extent which we cannot express.  More than all that we can desire in our prayers; more than all that we can conceive. The highest aspiration is not beyond God's power to bestow.      
         He is not simply able to do all that that we ask or think;  He is able to do exceeding abundantly all that we ask or think.  we may think of more than we have asked.  He is able to do this also.  Yea, and above all this.  Think of it!  The power and ability of God surpasses by far:
1.       Our highest aspirations,
2.       Our most concentrated thinking,
3.       Our most earnest petitions.

ABOVE ALL:  (hyper panta)—These words should not have been connected with “that” as the KJV and Rev. have it–“above all that we ask” etc.  This phrase should really have been rendered to say, “…above all we ask or think, that according to the power that worketh in us.”

         “according to the power that worketh in us.”
         Literally:  “according to the power working in us”–The indwelling Spirit (Rom. 8:26).

         Paul appeals to their and his experience. The exertion of that same power can accomplish for us more than we can now conceive.  They knew something of the mighty working of the Spirit, and therefore of the Divine power. But God was able to do for them beyond all that they could conceive.

         The exertion of that same power can accomplish for us more than we can now conceive.  The highest aspiration is not beyond God's “power” (dynamin) to bestow. What God can do, He will do; but only “according to the power that worketh in us.”  He will never bestow upon us anything above our capacity to receive and to exercise.  Divine power must be controlled by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, thus according to the measure of our faith in, and our yieldedness to Him will He impart that power to us.  He will do as much for us and through us as we let him in us.
        “According to the power that worketh in us” do we experience the measure of His limitless ability to do for us and through us far more than our tongues can ask or our minds can conceive.  Paul’s exertion is that that same power can accomplish for us more than we can now conceive.

VERSE 21:
“Unto Him that be glory by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.”

         “Unto Him be glory in the Church”
          Literally:  “to Him {be} glory in the church” or “Let His glory be acknowledged.”–To the Master-Builder Who is building His Church.

The general church, the Body Christ. In the church or, by the church, (v. 10). The church was to be the instrument by which the glory of God would be shown; and it was by the church that His praise would be celebrated. Let the church in all ages manifest His glory by its light.   

        GLORY:  (doxa)–Properly, “the glory,” which is His due.  Simply stated, “Let Him be praised.” 

 “throughout all ages, world without end ”|
Literally:  “to all the generations of the age of the ages”–Through all succeeding generations; while the race of human beings continues to exist on the face of the earth.  Unto all the generations of the age of ages.  The idea is, through the endless succession of ages, or through all time.

Throughout eternity-in the coming world as well as in this.  The song of praise, begun upon earth, and protracted through all the generations of men, shall be continued in heaven, by all that are redeemed from the earth, where eras, limits, and periods are no more forever.

         “Amen.” 
         Literally:  “So be it.  So let it be!” and so it will be; for all the counsels of God are faithfulness and truth; and not one jot or tittle of His promise has failed, from the foundation of the world to the present day; nor can fail, till mortality is swallowed up of life. This is the highest privilege and possibility of the Church now, and it will be unto all generations forever and ever.  Glory in the Church!  “Amen”—let it be so.

    Therefore, to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
be glory, dominion, power, and thanksgiving,
now, henceforth, and for ever! Amen and Amen!

That is, the whole glory of the gracious dispensation of salvation just spoken of, in the Church (as the theater for the manifestation of the glory, v. 10) in Christ Jesus (as in Him all the glory centers, Zech. 6:13) to all the generations of eternal ages, literally, “of the age of the ages.” Eternity is conceived as consisting of “ages” (these again consisting of “generations”) endlessly succeeding one another.