The distinctive feature of this manifestation of spiritual life in Christianity is that here it occurs in the Church and in Christ Jesus. It occurs in the Church, because all blessings are received by her, recognized and defined by her, and communicated by her to all her members. From her, with one voice, glory also goes up to God.
As the Apostle showed above, in the words "to understand with all the saints," that isolation in knowledge is not tolerated before God, so now he shows that isolation in prayer and doxology is not tolerated before Him. Glorify God with the lips of the Church, or with the whole Church, even when you pray alone.
We express this when we draw near to God through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, the choir of Angels, and all the saints. It occurs in Christ Jesus, because all that we have and can have, we have and can have only through the Lord Jesus Christ.
This comes through faith in Him and through living union with Him, according to which all that is His descends upon us. Through Him, in turn, doxology must ascend to God. Only in this form is it pleasing to God, just as we ourselves are pleasing to Him only for His sake, because we are clothed in Him.
He is the Head, and the mouth by which one may glorify is found in the head. Chrysostom also observes: "It is also worthy of wonder that for the gifts we have received from God, the Apostle glorifies God in Christ Jesus." Theophylact adds: "He does not simply say, 'To Him be glory,' but also 'in Christ Jesus,' that is, through Christ Jesus. For truly no one can glorify God worthily unless by the grace and power of Christ. He both moves us to doxology and teaches us how to perform it fittingly."
The words "throughout all generations, unto the age of ages" express the uninterruptedness of doxology. Generation after generation will change in the course of time, and age after age will pass. Yet the great work of God accomplished in Christ Jesus, presented and contained by the Church, will remain unchanged.
It will enrich our race with ever greater heavenly gifts, and it will always move the mouth to doxology. Glory to God is ceaselessly offered in the Church. She alone can offer it with the uninterruptedness indicated by the Apostle.
"To Him be glory throughout all generations" may mean either "let there be" or "there will be." By the first, the obligation is laid upon us to glorify God for the work of salvation (Theodoret). By the second, it is said that if there will always be glory to God in the Church, then the Church will always exist.
Or again, the Church will always exist, and there will always be glory to God. Chrysostom says: "This too is said very fittingly: glory in the Church. For it is known that the Church will exist forever. Since she always abides, the Apostle wishes us also to glorify God until the end of the world. He explained this by saying, 'throughout all generations of the age.'"
The last two verses of the dogmatic part of the Epistle are beautifully paraphrased by blessed Jerome. We cite his words. "By this the Apostle shows that in his petition he is limited by the measure of man and asks what he finds useful for the Ephesians. But according to the reality itself, God can grant more than is asked of Him and can surpass our hopes by His benefactions.
We ourselves do not even know what to pray for, or how, and we often ask for what is not useful to us. For example, a fornicator asks for health, though it is far more useful for him to be sick and worn down by infirmities. Then he would not have strength to make the temple of Christ members of a harlot.
God is able to give not only more than we ask, but more than we understand. Sometimes we do not express our thoughts in words. Yet in silent thought, with groanings unutterable, as the same Apostle says, we ask for what we cannot express.
God grants this also. He grants more than this, and all according to the power working in us. As now, not according to our works and beyond our expectation, He grants us many things we would not have dared to ask, so He can also grant us many other things that the mind cannot conceive and speech cannot express.
To such a good God be glory: first, in the Church, which is pure and has no stain or blemish. Moreover, she alone can receive the glory of God, because she is the body of Christ. Second, glory be to Him in Christ Jesus, in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and whose members are all who believe in Him.
This glory is not limited to the present time and the following ages. It extends to all generations and, through the ages of ages, abides, grows, and multiplies, resounding through all endless eternity."
THEOSIS