I the least of all the saints, this grace was given, to proclaim the good news to the Gentiles the "infinitely searchable" riches of Christ and enlighten to all what is the dispensation of the mystery, that hidden for ages in God, the one creating all.(Ephesians 3:8-9)
This word "infinitely searchable" how do we translate it? The Greek word is ἀνεξιχνίαστος (anexichniastos) and is usually defined as incomprehensible, unsearchable, inscrutable. Surely the meaning of incomprehensible as "impossible to comprehend; unintelligible, unable to be understood or comprehend" and the meaning of unsearchable as "not capable of being searched or explored" would apply to unbelievers who are blinded so as not to see the Light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.(2 Corinthians 4:4) But not to believers. Paul says grace was given to him so to proclaim the good news of the inscrutable or "infinitely searchable" riches of Christ.
the inscrutable riches of Christ
Incomprehensible has an archaic meaning of "having or subject to no limits" or immeasurable which I believe is closer to what Paul is trying to convey. The word inscrutable gets us closer too, "not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood; mysterious."* Mysterious is defined as wonder, curiosity, or surprise while baffling efforts to comprehend or identify. I would say that the riches of Christ are "infinitely searchable," or immeasurable with the idea that the kingdom of God is searchable, as we are to seek it with all our heart, and it is like treasure found, and treasure to be searched for. Proclaiming the gospel is about the mystery, God's wisdom being manifested in Christ, and the "infinitely searchable" riches of Christ.
so their hearts are encouraged and united in love and to the extent of all riches of full persuasion of understanding, to the extent knowing of God's mystery, that Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(Colossians 2:2-3)
To be rich in Christ is to be in fullness, mature, to have full assurance, understanding, knowing God's mystery in Christ, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden, which implies they are to be found by those who seek. We see there is a fullness that we grow into, through the knowledge of Him, which is why he is head of the Church so that in the church we attain to this fullness, so we know him, comprehend his love, that is surpassing. Paul writes this so we would not be led astray by persuasive speech.(Colossians 2:4) When we stand before Christ we will not be able to use the excuse that this preacher or this commentary or author said this or that because we are to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in him, to grow in our knowledge of Christ, in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. So we pray for godly men, fathers, who know him who is from the beginning.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, gives you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing him, to the extent the eyes of your hearts are enlightened...(Ephesians 1:16-18)
We can comprehend the riches of Christ through a spirit of revelation and wisdom in him. Since it is a subject with no limits, it can be said the riches in Christ are infinitely searchable. In other words we search and seek and ask and knock to find the riches of Christ without limits. And maybe when we are in heaven we will fully find all the riches in Christ? Which doesn't mean we can't understand nor comprehend now but the completeness, the fullness of the riches we have in Christ we are not able to comprehend, understand, grasp in totality. As Paul writes, a child sees dimly like looking in a foggy mirror... but there is a place that we will be fully known as we are known. The closer to that place we get, the more richer we become. We are moving toward that goal in the race we run, to know more and more of his riches, our aim being to fight the good fight of faith, the fixation of our eyes on the author and perfecter of faith, to behold the riches of His glory looking into the face of Christ which shines the radiance of the glory of God. Great riches are to be had.
blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one blessing us in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ... who chose us... predestined us for adoption as his own... favored us in the Beloved... receiving redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.(Ephesians 1:3-5)
From the riches of his grace, we are blessed with these spiritual blessings in Christ, these treasures from heaven. He made known, revealed, manifested to us the mystery of His will, which he purposed in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time.(Ephesians 1:9-10) His will and purpose and the mystery is comprehensible though a mystery. There are more riches; we have obtained an inheritance according to his purpose, we have living hope in Christ to exist to the praise of His glory, and as a pledge of our inheritance he has sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise, until the complete redemption when he takes possession of his own to the praise of His glory.(Ephesians 1:11-14) The riches of Christ are seen in the many blessings in Him, from the riches of His grace and glory.
the mystery, that hidden from the ages and generations, now at the present
revealed to the saints, whom God willed to make known who, among the nations the glorious riches of this
mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.(Colossians1:26-27)
It is a mystery Paul writes revealed, made known, a glorious treasure; Christ in us. Is this something we most likely will not understand completely until all is complete, until we attain fullness as sons? Or maybe we will never comprehend in fullness God's wisdom, he is God and we are mere men? Or maybe for eternity we will always be knowing more and more of Him. Is not this the way of agape love? infinitely searchable, a "subject with no limits," a love without bounds? But as Paul prays if we have the strength we can grasp or lay hold of it and we can know the love of Christ. More like know more and more from this infinite source. Treasure infintiely searchable. If we find knowing Christ as valuable, then the christian life is like treasure being found, not boring at all. Yes, it is something we can comprehend, be enlightened to! The scriptures do write there is a fullness in Christ that is attainable.* We can but seek the riches in Christ as treasure valued.
A spirit of wisdom and revelation in
Christ, is that the eyes of our hearts are enlightened so we may
comprehend/know what are the riches of his glory, the inheritance among
the saints...(Ephesians 1:18-19) Think about that, what are the riches
of his glory, the inheritance among the saints, if we could but
comprehend, we would sell all the riches of this earthly life, to possess
such treasure. If we are enlightened we would know that this earthly life and its afflictions is bringing into effect, working out an eternal weight of glory, accordingly beyond comparison.(2 Corinthians 4:17) Paul writes, those who are mature have this mindset, not that we have obtained, but we reach ahead, pressing on toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 3:13-15) To know Christ because he has taken hold of me.
the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field that a man finds hidden and from joy he goes and sells all that he possesses and buys that field. Again ... it is like a merchant seeking fine pearls when he finds one of great value he goes away selling all that he has to possess it.(Matthew 13:44-46)
Paul writes of Jesus being treasure in this way, that he counts all else as loss in order to know Christ, all as dung in order to gain Christ.(Philippians 3:7-8) Paul sees Christ as treasure to be gained, thus knowing Jesus is the value of the kingdom of God, more than earthly silver or gold, and if we valued him we would sell all we had of earthly value to possess this treasure of great value, worth. "To know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, if somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead."(Philippians 3:10-12) To value as treasure, knowing Christ, one would suffer persecution and constant death in this body in order to somehow attain His life.
not that I have already obtained or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that to the extent like as also Christ Jesus took hold of me.(Philippians 3:10-11)
It is treasure that is without limits as Paul writes we are reaching forward to possess it, because we know his worth. In the kingdom of God, the vessels are the treasure, in which there are some of honor and dishonor, if therefore any purifies himself, this vessel is brought forth for honor, set apart useful to the master, prepared for good works.(2 Timothy 2:19-21) This is the concept of His workmanship, prepared beforehand to walk in good works.(Ephesians 2:10) This consecration of a person's heart is to God, more precious than gold, and refined by fire. God prepares the person so that he walks, conducts his life, walks like Jesus walked, as a vessel prepared, set apart useful to the master.
now God will supply your every need according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:19)
God will supply my earthly need if I put my trust in him and seek his kingdom first. He cares for the birds in such a way that their needs are met without the need to sow and reap and we are much more valuable.(Matthew 6:26) Even if I go hungry, he meets my need, "in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger... sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." (2 Corinthians 6:3-10) We see the riches in Christ are not earthly at all. Oh, to be rich in Christ, to be joyful in all things.
The deceit of earthly riches is like a thorn that grows up to choke out a plant, thus the message and riches of the gospel.(Matthew 13:22) The weed of the cares of this world is to take our eyes off the treasure. God cares more about blessing us from the riches of his glory than with earthly riches. Riches like the spiritual blessings we have found in him and that we have a spirit of revelation and wisdom in Christ, that we know his power, hope, and the riches of his glory and our inheritance.(Ephesians 1:18-20)
God being rich in mercy through his great love which he loved and we existing dead in our transgression,
made us alive together with Christ... to demonstrate in the ages to come the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness to us in Christ
Jesus.(Ephesians 2:4-7)
The word surpassing ὑπερβάλλω (hyperballō from hypér, "beyond, above" and bállō, "throw" – properly, throw beyond; (figuratively) surpassing (transcending); excel, exceed.* This word is also translated as incomparable, which means without an equal. God wants us to know/experience the surpassing riches of his grace in his kindness toward us, that is without equal. From the riches of his mercy, which come from his great love, though we were dead in our trespasses and sin He made us alive together, we have been raised and seated with Him in the heavenly places. This is amazing, the riches we have in Christ. The good news proclaims such a living hope.* The gospel proclaims Christ crucified and resurrected, for without his resurrection our proclamation is empty and so is our faith.(1 Corinthians 15:14) The riches of God include his kindness, forbearance, and patience toward us.(Romans 2:4)
so that according to the riches of his glory, he grants you to have dominion, powerful ability through His Spirit in your inner being...(Ephesians 3:16)
Finally, Paul writes, "grow strong in the Lord and in the might/dominion of his power, putting on the armor of God, towards you having power to stand against the schemes of the devil..."(Ephesians 6:10-11) According to the riches of His glory he grants us the ability to grow strong in the Lord, so to have power in our struggle over sin, and all the forces of evil in the heavenly realm. There is a selling of all, a good fight to fight for it. There is something about the fight, as a rite of passage into adulthood, that brings about the riches of his glory, to be strengthened through his power in us.
for this reason I bow my knees before the Father... so that according to the riches of His glory he grants you... to be strong so to grasp together with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, all this, to know the love of Christ surpassing knowledge so that filled to all the fullness of God.(Ephesians 3:14-20)Surpassing, transcending, exceeding, excelling, without equal or worth, immeasurable, infinitely searchable and infinitely attainable is the love of Christ. We receive agape love from the riches of His glory, by him granting us strength of his power through the Spirit in our inner being so we can lay hold of it, to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, (throws us beyond mere human understanding into wisdom and revelation in him) so to be filled with the fullness of God.(Ephesians 3:13-20) If such knowledge were unattainable then Paul would not pray for God to grant it to us. God wants us to have such power and to lay hold of Him, his infinite love, without bounds, surpassing and incomparable riches, so that we are filled to the fullness of God.
rather I regard all as loss through the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord...(Philippians 3:8)
Paul valued knowing Christ as treasure, the riches of Christ, as surpassing worth above all other things. "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable his judgements and inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor or who has preceded him in giving also gives back to him? Because from him and through him and to the extent of him, all his, to his glory for all time! Amen"(Romans 11:33-36) Surely he is above our wisdom and understanding, does not the potter have power over the clay to do as he wills? "so that making known the riches of his glory to the vessels of mercy, which he had beforehand prepared for glory,"(Romans 9:21-23) Yes, God is beyond our ability to comprehend, will we ever know Him fully? We will find out one day. He desires us to know Him, more and more of Him through Christ, this is good news to proclaim, the "infinitely searchable" riches of Christ.
for this reason I bow my knees before the Father... so that according to the riches of His glory he grants you...(Ephesians 3:13-21)
I like how Paul proclaims the good news as infinite searchable riches in Christ, without limits, "to proclaim the good news of the "infinitely searchable" riches of Christ and enlighten to all what is the dispensation of the mystery, that hidden for ages in God." To me it sums up proclaiming the gospel as infinitely searchable, immeasurable riches in Christ. There are many riches we have obtained in Christ, like adoption, redemption, forgiveness, a living hope, life and glory, an inheritance among the saints, and there are many more riches of Christ. Come, buy, without money, riches that satisfy.(Isaiah 55:1-4)