For Ever and Ever Amen

For Ever and Ever Amen Line-By-Line Commentary

The expressions "For ever and ever.  Amen "immediately following the doxology - a passage devoted to God's worship ("For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory"). Our hearts are pleading for these things to remain so in perpetuity. By doing so, we identify ourselves with God's eternal nature. "I am who I am," the Lord is (Exodus 3:14-15). He has always been, is constantly present, and always will be. He is the "First and the Last" and the "Alpha and Omega" (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet), a nature Christ likewise declares of himself (John 8:58 and Rev 22:12-13), revealing his dual nature as man and everlasting God. 

The term "Amen" simply translates as "so be it," but it also has a deeper connotation — that what has been uttered is reliable, trustworthy, and truthful. Here we are reminded that the Lord's Prayer is not "my Father," but "our Father," and thus everything uttered is declared true as a community of faith anytime we recite this prayer together.

Matthew Henry's Commentary

Finally, we are taught to add our Amen to all of this. God's Amen is a grant; his fiat is, it shall be thus; our Amen is merely a summarised desire; our fiat is, let it be so: we say Amen as a symbol of our desire and assurance to be heard. Amen refers to each preceding petition, and thus, out of compassion for our frailties, we are instructed to weave the whole together in one word, and thus to collect up what we have lost and let go in the particulars in the general. 

It is beneficial to end religious tasks with strength and zeal, so that we may depart with a sweet aroma in our souls. It was once customary for good people to say, Amen, audibly at the conclusion of each prayer, and it is a commendable practise, provided it is carried out with understanding, as the apostle directs (1Co 14:16), and uprightly, with life and vitality, and inward expressions responsive to the outward expression of desire and confidence. Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible, Volume V (Matthew to John)

Albert Barnes's Commentary

The word "for" connects this doxology, or ascription of praise, to the prayer, indicating that all of these things—reign, God's might, and glory—will be displayed by granting these pleas. It is not for our advantage, but for the sake of God's name and perfections to be manifested. Thus, when we approach him, the first and foremost thing we should seek is his glory. We are to allow our concerns to be submerged and forgotten in the incomparable glory and dignity associated with his name and authority. We are to seek temporal and everlasting life primarily to advance the honour of our Creator and to magnify his name in the eyes of his creatures. In our opinion, he is to be "first, last, highest, and best," and all selfish and worldly desires are to be absorbed by the soul's one great longing that God be "all in all." By approaching him with these emotions, our prayers will be heard, our devotions will ascend like incense, and our hands will be raised in the manner of the evening sacrifice. Amen. 

This is a Hebrew term derived from a verb meaning to be steadfast, secure, true, and faithful. It is a term that conveys assent or strong approval, a word that makes a forceful assertion. That is to say, unquestionably, so be it. This word was very certainly used by the congregation in the synagogue to indicate their agreement with the minister's prayer. And, to a degree, it was presumably employed in this manner in the Christian church. 1 Corinthians 14:16. It may be necessary to point out that this doxology, "for mine is the kingdom," etc., is missing from numerous manuscripts, raising doubts about its authenticity. (b) "against evil" Rev 5:12,13 "For thine" Jn 17:15 (c) "For thine" Barnes' Notes on the New Testament. 

Adam Clarke's Commentary

[For ever and ever. Amen]EISTOUSAIWNAS, throughout perpetuity. Our typical translation-ever in our ancient usage of the word encompasses the entire duration of time; the second ever encompasses the entirety of eternity. May thy name be exalted both in this world and the one to come! The term AIWN is derived from the words AEI always and WN being, or existence. This is how Aristotle defined it. Genesis 21:33. There is no word in any language that more emphatically emphasises eternity's magnificent characteristic—something which constantly exists. It is sometimes used to refer to a finite period of time, the end of which is unknown; nonetheless, this is an adapted use of the word, and any argument about the phrase must resort to the grammatical and correct sense of the word. 

We occasionally use the phrase for evermore, i.e. for ever and more, to refer to both the entirety of time and the additional or infinite length beyond it. Matthew 25:46. Amen.] This is a Hebrew word that means faithful or true. According to others, the name is derived from the opening letters of adoni melech neetnan, which means My Lord, the faithful King. The term itself suggests a secure repose of the soul in God, with the complete faith that all these pleas would be granted to anybody who prays in accordance with the directives already given by our glorious Lord. Mr. Gregory has demonstrated that our Lord gathered this prayer from the Jewish Euchologies and offers us the complete form as follows: - "Be gracious to us, our Father in heaven! O Lord our God, hallowed be thy name, and may thy name be honoured in heaven above and on earth below! Allow thine kingdom to reign over us immediately and in perpetuity! According to the holy elders of old, remit and forgive all mankind for anything they have done against me! And do not lead us into temptation, but save us from evil! For the kingdom is thine, and thou shalt reign in splendour forever and ever." Gregory's Works, 4to. 1671, p. 162. Gregory's Works, 4to. 1671, p. 162. This is amply demonstrated in the Lightfoot and Schoettgenius collections. Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary. 

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