Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Parallel translations
- KJV Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
- BSB Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
- NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
- NASB Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
- NLT Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God is able to do far more than we ask or imagine, by his power at work in us. It exalts God's limitless power active within believers.
Overview
Paul breaks into doxology, praising God 'who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.' God's power exceeds even our boldest prayers and imaginings, and it operates 'according to the power that works in us' — the same Spirit who indwells believers. This grounds confidence in prayer and Christian growth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 31
- 2 Cor 9:8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
- Rom 4:21and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.
- Jer 32:27“Behold, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?
- Jude 1:24Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy,
- 1 Cor 2:9But as it is written, “Things which an eye didn’t see, and an ear didn’t hear, which didn’t enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him.”
- Eph 1:19and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might
- Jer 32:17“Ah Lord Yahweh! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for you,
- Heb 7:25Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
- Ps 36:8–9They shall be abundantly satisfied with the abundance of your house. You will make them drink of the river of your pleasures.
- Eph 3:7of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.
- Rom 16:25—
- Heb 13:20–21Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, our Lord Jesus,
- 1 Kgs 3:13I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you for all your days.
- John 10:29–30My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
- Gen 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless.
- Dan 3:17If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
- Col 1:29for which I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.
- John 10:10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
- Exod 34:6Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,
- 2 Chr 25:9Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “Yahweh is able to give you much more than this.”
- Jas 4:12Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?
- Isa 55:7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
- Heb 11:19concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
- 1 Tim 1:14The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
- Dan 6:20When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
- 2 Pet 1:11For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- Isa 35:2It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.
- 2 Sam 7:19This was yet a small thing in your eyes, Lord Yahweh; but you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come; and this among men, Lord Yahweh!
- Matt 3:9Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
- Song 5:1I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.
- Gen 18:4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
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Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
How Ephesians 3:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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