βWhat is the name that βthe whole family in heaven and earth is namedβ after in Ephesians 3:15?β
βFor this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is namedβ (Eph. 3:14-15).
The previous verse (Eph. 3:14) provides us with the answer to this question. The name is βour Lord Jesus Christ.β Ephesians teaches the precious, magnificent truth of believers being βin Christβ (Eph. 1:3; 2:6,13). The moment we trust the gospel of salvation, we are placed into Christ by the Holy Spirit. As members of His Body, we are united with Christ andΒ His name. In our Saviorβs exaltation, He is βFar aboveβ¦ every name that is namedβ (Eph. 1:21). And we are one with Him, joined to His life eternal, resurrection power, seated position, and exalted name (1:17-23).
Paul wrote that the βwhole family in heaven and earthβ is named after Christ. The βwhole familyβ is the entire familyΒ of God.Β In this epistle, Paul taught about the blessing of believing Gentiles under grace being βno more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, andΒ of the household of Godβ (2:19). We have been born by the Spirit into βthe household,β or the family, βof God.β
βHeaven and earthβ are the two places you can currently find theΒ whole family of God. Part of the family is already home in heaven, and the rest of the family is here on earth, representing Christ to this world as His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20). We are all one in Christ; we belong completely to Him, and we are one with His name: βour Lord Jesus Christ.β source