The prayer ends with this doxology. Good News Translation attempts to keep the whole in a single sentence by translating To him who … or even think of: to God; the Greek text has only “to him who is able … to him” (see Revised Standard Version).

The subject of the sentence is the glory (verse 21), which is directed to God in the prayer, worship, and praise of redeemed mankind. God, to whom the glory is given, is described as one who is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of. The verb translated ask for is the same one used in 3.13, and think of translates the verb used also in 3.4; so much more translates a compound adverb “exceeding abundantly above” (King James Version; see its use also in 1 Thes 3.10; 5.13).

The complex grammatical relationship expressed in verses 20 and 21 may require considerable restructuring in some languages. For example, it may be necessary to begin this doxology as “we should give glory to God who by means of his power…” or “we should praise God who by means of his power….” It may then be necessary to break up this rather extended sentence into two or three parts.

By means of his power working in us: see similar language in 1.19; power translates dunamis (see 1.19, 21; 3.7, 16) and working translates the Greek verb energeō (see 1.11, 19; 2.2).

The clause who by means of his power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of may also require some extensive restructuring, for example, “he is able to do so much more than we can ever think of asking for or even imagine, and he does this because of the way his power works in us” or “… what his power causes us to do” or “… what his power is able to help us to do.”

In this passage glory means the expressions of praise and honor which are offered to God by the worshiping community.

In the church and in Christ Jesus: both the church and Christ Jesus are spoken of as the “place” where this tribute of praise and honor is paid. Although formally the same, the preposition “in” must mean two different things, since the church is a group of people, or an institution, while Christ Jesus is a person. Robinson explains the parallelism between the two: “glory in the Body alike and in the Head.” Translator’s New Testament translates “glory in the church, through our union with Christ Jesus”; Goodspeed has “through the church and through Christ Jesus.”

Verse 21 may be restructured in a form somewhat parallel to what is required in some languages for verse 20, for example, “we who are in the church and who are in union with Christ Jesus should always praise God forever and ever.”

The final words, for all time, forever and ever, translate a very full and redundant phrase, “for all the generations of the age of the ages”; for “generations” see 3.5, and for “age” see 3.9, 11. See similar language in Colossians 1.26.

Before translating verses 20 and 21, translators should consider what a normal formula for a doxology would be in their language. Very often doxologies used in church worship services are based on biblical ones and may or may not be similar to normal benedictions and blessings in the language (and therefore may or may not be well understood by the people). Some languages have to start off with verse 21, using a phrase such as, “May glory (great honor) come to God…,” or they may be able to keep the order that is in the text by putting a phrase at the beginning of verse 20 such as “May it be….”

In English (and in Greek) God is not mentioned until verse 21, and in verse 20 it simply says to him. In many languages this is not possible and it would be important to name God in verse 20.

It may also be necessary in many languages to make the attributes of God that are given in verse 20 declarative sentences. Thus, “God is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for or even think of, because of his power working in us. To him be the glory….”

In a context such as this in verse 21 where glory is being directed to God, translators may have to use the expression such as “great honor,” “great power,” or “great authority.”

Amen translates the Greek amēn, which represents the Hebrew word meaning “so be it” or “yes, it is so,” the response given by the worshiping congregation to the petition or praise being offered to God.

In many Christian congregations the term Amen has already been borrowed, and in such a context as this it can be used, although many people understand Amen as being merely a sign for the end of a prayer. For a number of languages the more appropriate equivalent of Amen is “we agree.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1982. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .