who is over all
The phrase "over all" (ἐπὶ πάντων, epi pantōn) signifies God's supreme authority and sovereignty. In the ancient world, where multiple gods were believed to govern different aspects of life, this declaration asserts that the Christian God is sovereign over all creation. This sovereignty is not just a matter of power but also of care and providence, as God oversees the universe with wisdom and love. The historical context of Ephesus, a city filled with temples to various gods, makes this assertion of God's supremacy particularly poignant.

and through all
The preposition "through" (διὰ, dia) indicates God's immanence and active presence in the world. It suggests that God is not a distant deity but is intimately involved in the workings of creation. This involvement is seen in the sustaining power of God, who works through all things to bring about His purposes. Theologically, this speaks to the omnipresence of God, affirming that there is no part of creation where God is not actively present and working.

and in all
The phrase "in all" (ἐν πᾶσιν, en pasin) highlights the indwelling presence of God within His creation. This is a profound statement of God's intimate relationship with the world, suggesting that His presence permeates every aspect of life. In the context of Ephesians, this also speaks to the unity of believers, as God's presence in all underscores the shared divine life that unites the church. Historically, this would have been a radical concept in a world where gods were often seen as residing in specific temples or locations.

Who is above all, and through all, and in you all.--The word "you" has little authority; many MSS. and commentaries have "us." But the best MSS. and authorities omit both, as probably early glosses of explanation which have crept into the text. Accordingly, the word "all" throughout must be taken, as above, as applying to all God's rational creatures, made in His image (and indeed, in a lower sense, even to all His creatures), but especially and properly to the members of Christ's Church. In the three-fold sentence many ancient and modern interpreters trace a reference to the Holy Trinity. But, strictly speaking, this cannot be, as the passage expressly points to the Father; although, in virtue of the eternal unity of the Godhead, it may be true that in the expression "through all" and "in all" we trace those manifestations of the Father which are especially made through the Son and by the Holy Spirit. Hence we must refer all properly to the ultimate conception of God the Father; as "above all" in the sovereignty of His will, since to work out "His pleasure they are and were created," and His will becomes to them the "law eternal;" as "through all" in the diffusive power of the forces--physical, moral, and spiritual--by which the world of nature, still more the world of man, most of all the society of Christians, are swayed as wholes; and "in all" by the indwelling of God in the individual for creation, sustentation, regeneration, which is the breath of life--both the physical and spiritual life. (This individuality, and the especial reference to Christians, are marked by the very natural gloss "us," or "you," in this clause.)

Parallel Commentaries ...