Blest Father of glory, we worship

A SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

The God of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory

At the beginning of Paul’s prayer in chapter 1 , he prayed “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him” ( v. 17 ). Here Paul addressed his prayer not only to God but to “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. ” We can consider the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory as one title with two aspects. This title is very profound and weighty. If we would know the church as the Body of Christ, we need to know God according to this divine title. If we do not know such a God, it will be rather difficult for us to know the Body of Christ, for this divine title has very much to do with the Body of Christ.

Prayer in Ephesians

Chapter 1 (LSM)

The Hope of God’s Calling

The first part of verse 17 says, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory. ” This follows the previous verses, which show that God has a dual status, being both God and the Father. This also indicates that Paul prayed in this dual relationship between God and His creatures and between the Father and His children. The One to whom we pray has this dual relationship with us. On the one hand, He is the God of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus lived as a man on the earth, and God was His God. This also indicates that God was mingled with man. God is not merely the One who created all things but also the incarnated God, the God who has been mingled with the creature ( John 1:1-3 , 14 ). On the other hand, He is the Father of glory. Glory refers to God expressed. God’s glory is His expression through His many sons.

Revelations in Ephesians: Seeing the Blessings and Position of the Church in Christ CWWL, 1953, vol. 2

Chapter 6 (LSM)

Edward Arthur is a pseudonym for David Evans. (hymnary. org)

David Evans (b. Resolven, Glamorganshire February 6, 1874; d. May 17, 1948, Rhosllannerchrugog, Wales) was an important leader in Welch Church music.

Evans was a Welsh musician, scholar and composer. He worked the coal industry as a teenager but music was his primary interest. He won a music scholarship and became a pupil of Joseph Parry—a Welsh composer and musician and the first one to receive a Bachelor and Doctor’s degree in music from the University of Cambridge.

Evans entered the University of Wales Cardiff, in 1895. He went on to become an organist and choirmaster of Jewin Street Welsh Presbyterian Church, in London. He succeeded Joseph Perry, his former teacher in the music Department of Cadiff where he was appointed a professor in 1908. He was also the music editor of “The Church Hymnary, ” 1927.

Evans conducted the well-known Welsh singing festival (Cymafa Ganu) originated by John Roberts.

John Roberts was a teacher, editor, minister, journalist, lecturer, poet, composer, and conductor, traveling all over South Wales. In 1859 he set up a coral union in Aberdare, the center South Wales coal field. He was an imaginative teacher and created methods of improving Welsh choral singing. He was also an accomplished musician, conducting music festivals and service as judge at the National Eisteddfod—a competitive festival of music and poetry. Like many others Roberts was also a fervent Nonconformist from whom singing was an expression of a pure and Godly way of life.

As marked out beforehand for sonship,

We praise now the glory of grace

And bow in Thy presence and worship,

As conscious, in Christ, of our place.

We think of the glory that chose us,

’Twas Thine, blessed Father, the Source; The glory of love that redeemed us! Through Jesus, the Man of Thy choice.

感谢主的拣选！

Note that the Lyrics are designated as 'Unknown'. In fact, they were written by a Mr BM Deck, published in Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Little Flock, 1962.