doctrinal section of Ephesians, he calls himself `the prisoner of Jesus

Christ' (or Christ Jesus R.V.) (Eph. 3:1), but when he next refers to himself

as `the prisoner' it is at the opening of the practical section (Eph. 4:1)

where he speaks of himself as `The prisoner in the Lord'.  That this is by no

means fanciful or accidental let the distribution of the title `Lord' in

Ephesians speak for itself.

One occurrence in the doctrinal section (Eph. 2:21).

Fifteen occurrences in the practical section (Eph. 4:1,5,17;

5:8,10,17,19,22; 6:1,4,7,8,9,10,21).

The reader is warned against the blind use of a concordance in aiming

at this conclusion or in checking off the references.  The R.V. omits

Ephesians 5:29 and reads `Christ' instead, with the best texts; while

Ephesians 6:9 is translated `Master' and so does not appear as `Lord' in an

English concordance.

To those who give any weight to Bible numerics, the number of

occurrences of Kurios `Lord' in Ephesians is interesting.  It is sixteen, and

any multiple of eight suggests Lordship or dominion.  The Greek word Kurios

has the numerical value of 800, as may be seen thus: K = 20, U = 400, R =

100, I = 10, O = 70, S = 200.  We find the same number of occurrences of

Kurios, namely sixteen, in 2 Timothy. (Remember to include 2:19 and 4:22 with

the R.V.).  When, therefore, we are enjoined to keep the Unity of the Spirit

and to remember that there is `One Lord', the truth to be guarded is not so

much His character as Saviour, but His character as Head.  As it is essential

that the Headship of Christ be held in mind when we confess Him Lord, let us

acquaint ourselves with this title in the epistles of the Mystery:

`And hath put all things under His feet, and gave

Him to be the Head

over all things to the Church, which is His Body'

(Eph. 1:22,23).

`May grow up into Him in all things, which is the

Head, even Christ:

from Whom the whole Body ... maketh increase ...'

(Eph. 4:15,16).

`Christ is the Head of the church' (Eph. 5:23).

`He is the Head of the Body, the church ...

that in all things He

might have the pre -eminence' (Col. 1:18).

`Ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all

principality and

power' (Col. 2:10).

`Let no man beguile you ... not holding the Head'

(Col. 2:18,19).

A further confirmation of the intimate connection between the Headship

and the Lordship of Christ, is seen by comparing Ephesians 1:10 with

Philippians 2:9 -11.

`With a view to a dispensation of the fulness of seasons that He might

head up (anakephalaioo) in one, all things in Christ, both which are in

heaven and which are in earth' (Eph. 1:10).

`Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him (see Eph. 1:20), and given

Him a (the) name which is above every name (Eph. 1:21), that in the

name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in

earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father' (Phil. 2:9 -