`Till we all come in the unity of the faith (namely that unity which is

comprehended by the "one faith" of the unity of the Spirit), and of the

knowledge (better "acknowledgment" epignosis) of the Son of God, unto a

perfect man, unto the measure of the stature (or "full age" helikia,

John 9:21; Heb. 11:11) of the fulness of the Christ' (Eph. 4:13).

Just as the fulness of Ephesians 1:23 flows from the exaltation of

Christ `far above all', so does it here (Eph.  4:10 -13).  What was the goal

of the ministry of Ephesians 4 is the goal of prayer in Ephesians 3, just as

in Colossians Paul's `teaching' and Epaphras' `praying' had the presenting

and the standing `perfect' of every man.

The purpose of the original creation of heaven and earth, the

subsequent `fillings' of the creation of the six days, the planting of

Paradise, the provision of the Ark, the promise to Abraham, and the promotion

of the Gentile upon the failure of Israel, and the perfect man of the present

dispensation -- Purpose, Planting, Provision, Promise, Promotion and

Perfection -- are all successive `fillings' foreshadowing `all the fulness of

God' that could be contained alone in the Lord Himself.

We sincerely hope that enough has

been brought to light to quicken the

interest of the earnest student, supply

him with much food for thought, theme

for ministry, and above all to lead him

to the place of praise, so fitly

expressed in the doxology of the prayer

concerning the pleroma.

`Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we

ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be

glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without

end (literally "unto all the generations of the ages of the ages")'.

(A description of the pleroma when at last it is complete) (Eph.

Such a lengthy article as this upon one subject may appear out of place

in this analysis, but it had to be considered at some length or not

considered at all.  In many ways it contains in germ all that we have

endeavoured to teach these many years, and if taken together with the article

on the Seed4, will provide much to help in the due appreciation of

Dispensational Truth and the Purpose of the Ages.

Three Greek words are translated `Godhead' in the New Testament,

namely: (1) to theion that which is Divine, the thing pertaining to theos;

(2) theiotes, Divinity, the characteristic property of theos, that which is

discernible from the works of creation, thereby making idolatry `without

excuse' (Rom. 1:20); (3) theotes, Deity, the being in Whom theiotes of the

highest order resides (Col. 2:9).

The above is partly quoted from Dr. Bullinger's Lexicon, and it agrees

with the definitions given by Trench, Cremer, Lightfoot and most

Some who believe the doctrine of the Deity of Christ, naturally turn to

Colossians 2:9 as to a proof text, but this may not be the right attitude of

heart and mind when dealing with the Sacred Scriptures.  We do no honour to

the Lord, if we misuse a portion of Scripture, even to `prove' or to enforce