mere list of the occurrences of epouranios would have only the appearance of

argument while lacking validity.

`In heavenly places' is the translation of the Greek words en tois

epouraniois.  We have seen that the word epouranios occurs six times in the

epistle to the Hebrews, but there it speaks of a heavenly calling, a heavenly

gift, heavenly realities, and a heavenly country or city.  There can be no

comparison between a `heavenly gift' that was enjoyed on earth with `the

heavenly places' of Ephesians 1:3: the one refers to character, the other to

a place.  The occurrences of epouranios in Ephesians must be segregated, for

they form a group by themselves.  The phrase en tois epouraniois occurs only

in Ephesians and nowhere else either in the New Testament or in the

Septuagint, a note which some readers may question if they accept teaching

given them without verification.

The second occurrence of the phrase is found in Ephesians 1:20,21,

where we learn that this sphere is `where Christ sitteth' at the right hand

of God.  Whether we continue the use of the phrase `far above all' or whether

we exchange it for a more limited rendering, nothing is more certain than

that there can be no conceivably higher position in the whole universe than

the right hand of God.  Such is the height of this exaltation of Christ that

the passage continues:

`Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and

every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that

which is to come' (Eph. 1:21).

Quite apart from the words `far above', there can be no denial of the

fact that there is here indicated a sphere without compare in the whole range

of Scripture.  To conclude the first part of our examination, we turn to

Ephesians 2:6 where we have a categorical statement that there, where Christ

sits, is the sphere of blessing for every member of the Church which is His

Body.  In these three passages (Eph. 1:3,20,21; and 2:6) we have indubitable

evidence of a sphere of blessing that differs entirely from anything that had

hitherto been revealed.

But our task will not have been completed if we fail to take note of

the attempts that have been made to discredit the teaching of the three

spheres by concentrating attention upon the A.V. rendering of huperano.  The

words translated `far above all' in Ephesians 1:21 and 4:10 are adjuncts of

the teaching we have already proved by other means, and no alteration or re -

translation can make the slightest difference to the threefold distinctions

we have already seen.  As the word in question only occurs three times in the

New Testament, it is a matter of importance to ascertain whether it occurs in

the Septuagint, and if so, in what connection.  A writer who has gone out of

his way to denounce the teaching of The Berean Expositor says:

`As the adverb huperano, Over -up, appears so seldom in the later Greek

Scriptures, we have given all of the occurrences in the Septuagint

But when we consult the Septuagint, we discover that our critic omits

the first occurrence and upon examination we further find that this first

occurrence is antagonistic to his contention that huperano means position but

never distance.  The omitted reference is Genesis 7:20, `fifteen cubits

upward did the waters prevail, and the mountains were covered'.