The fourth dimension is the spiritual reality Paul describes when he prays believers will comprehend the breadth, length, depth, and height of God's purposes.
In Ephesians 3, Paul asks God to strengthen Gentile believers in the inner man so Christ can dwell in their hearts through faith. Les Feldick points out that Paul lists four dimensions—breadth, length, depth, and height—while humans only live in three physically. Spiritually, believers are already in that fourth dimension and are to comprehend it by faith.
Ephesians 3:16-19 — This prayer lists breadth, length, depth, and height—the four dimensions Les says every believer is to comprehend.
In Ephesians 3:14-19 Paul is praying for Gentile believers. He asks God to grant them strength by the Holy Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith, and that being rooted and grounded in love they may comprehend all four dimensions Paul names: "what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height." Paul's prayer continues: "And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." The Scripture itself does not use the exact phrase "fourth dimension," but it does present four distinct dimensions for believers to grasp.
Les teaches that Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 lists four dimensions even though people normally live in only three. He notes that Einstein was the first to promote the idea of a fourth dimension, and the world didn't know what he was talking about. The Bible, however, says believers are to enjoy a knowledge that goes into the fourth dimension—not just height, width, and length, but an additional spiritual dimension. Les applies this to every believer. Paul was writing to Gentiles, and the prayer is still valid for us. It is not about intellectual head knowledge alone; it is about being strengthened by the Holy Spirit in the inner man, having Christ dwell in the heart through faith, and being rooted and grounded in love. Les emphasizes that this is for every one of us and that every believer has the potential to be filled with all the fullness of God.
Paul says, "For this cause I bow my knees," revealing that Ephesians 3:14-19 is a prayer. He prays that Gentile believers would be strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man, that Christ would dwell in their hearts by faith, and that being rooted and grounded in love they may comprehend the breadth, length, depth, and height. Les stresses that "this is for every one of us."
Les references Einstein to show that the idea of a fourth dimension is not new to the scientific world. Einstein promoted it and the world didn't know what he was talking about. Les says people live in three dimensions physically, but the Bible tells believers they are to enjoy a knowledge that goes into the fourth dimension. He adds that there is another dimension we don't know physically, but spiritually we are already there—living in four dimensions.
It is not by intellectual study alone. Paul prays for strength by the Holy Spirit in the inner man, so Christ may dwell in the heart through faith and the believer may be rooted and grounded in love. Les also says these eternal realities are beyond human comprehension, and what little we can comprehend we appropriate by faith. Every believer has this potential, Les explains, to be filled with all the fullness of God.
Paul's Prayer for Gentile Believers
Les connects the four dimensions to Paul's prayer for believers to be strengthened by the Spirit and for Christ to dwell in the heart through faith.
Einstein and the Fourth Dimension
Les explains that Einstein promoted the idea of a fourth dimension and that the Bible calls believers to enjoy knowledge that goes into that fourth dimension.
Four Dimensions—Three Physical, One Spiritual
Les notes that Paul mentions height, depth, width, and length, which is four dimensions, and says physically we live in three but spiritually we are already in four.
Eternal Realities and Faith
Les says eternal things are without dimension and beyond human comprehension, and we appropriate what little we can comprehend by faith.
Ephesians as Advanced Spiritual Mathematics
Les compares coming out of elementary arithmetic into high mathematics to show that Ephesians presents advanced spiritual truths believers are meant to understand.
What Happens When We Die? — 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 Explained
You know, I was sharing with one of the class again the other night, all men get excited about eternity, because even though Israel is more or less still going to enjoy the ramifications of the new earth and God's earthly people, yet you and I as members of the body of Christ are going to be what? Heavenly. Heavenly.
Every Believer's Potential
Les says every believer has the potential to be filled with all the fullness of God, applying Paul's prayer to ordinary believers in the church.
Romans 8:24-29 — Does God Choose You or Do You Choose Him?
Now hold it, where so far as you and I are concerned is the Spirit? He's in us. Now that's a concept that we can't understand. A person of the Godhead dwelling in me? Absolutely! That's what the book says. And again we take it by faith that that third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is indwelling the believer.
Ephesians 3:16: That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
This is the Spirit-empowered basis for entering the full knowledge Paul describes.
Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Christ's dwelling in the heart through faith is the condition for comprehending the four dimensions.
Ephesians 3:18: May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
This verse directly contains the four dimensions—breadth, length, depth, and height—believers are to comprehend.
Ephesians 3:19: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Knowing Christ's love and being filled with God's fullness is the goal of this four-dimensional comprehension.
The Bible doesn't use the exact phrase 'fourth dimension,' but Paul prays that every believer may comprehend 'what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height' in Ephesians 3:18. Les identifies these as four dimensions, with the added dimension being a spiritual reality God wants believers to know through faith.
No. Les references Einstein to show that the idea of a fourth dimension exists in science, but his emphasis is not physics. It is spiritual. Believers are already living in four dimensions spiritually even though they live in three dimensions physically.
Yes. Paul's prayer is for Gentile believers, and Les says this is for every one of us. Every believer has the potential to be filled with all the fullness of God through Holy Spirit strengthening and Christ dwelling in the heart by faith.
Watch the Teaching: Why Most People Miss Who Jesus Really Is — Colossians 1:15 Explained