of the One Body has such an anointing, but where there were miraculous gifts,

there would also be found this anointing.  In 1 Corinthians 12, which deals

with supernatural gifts in the Pentecostal church, the apostle uses the

somewhat strange expression, 'so also is Christ' (12:12).  Now a reading of

the context will make it impossible to read this of our Lord.  Valpy says of

the word 'Christ' here:

'The word Christos is frequently used by Paul as a trope*, denoting

sometimes the Christian spirit and temper, as when he says until Christ

be formed in you (Gal. 4:19); sometimes the Christian doctrine as, But

ye have not so learned Christ (Eph. 4:20), and in this place the

Christian church'.

*

Trope = figurative use of a word.

All that we need add to Valpy in this place is,

'that church as endued with supernatural gifts'.  The 'stablishing' and the

'anointing' belong to the calling that lies on the side of Acts 28 that

commences with Pentecost.  Ephesians has the seal and the earnest just the

same, but the supernatural gifts are conspicuous by their absence.  The seal

is 'with that holy spirit of promise'.  The construction of this phrase in

the original of Ephesians 1:13, is somewhat peculiar.  It is:

To

to hagio

With the

of the

with the holy.

While there are many instances in the New Testament where the presence

of the article 'the' with the words translated 'Holy Spirit', indicates the

Person, the Giver, and the absence of the article with 'Holy Spirit'

indicates His gift; there is no mechanical rule possible, for the article can

be added or omitted for a number of reasons.  This passage is a case in

point.  Most readers know the valuable contribution to the subject of Dr.

Bullinger in his book, The Giver and His Gifts, and in Appendix 101 of

The Companion Bible the findings of this work are summarized.  Pneuma hagion

without the article is never used of The Holy Spirit, the Giver, but only and

always of His gift.  It is not so universally true, however, to say, that

where the article 'the' is added to 'Holy Spirit', or two articles are

employed as 'the' Spirit, 'the' holy, that the reference is only and always

of the Giver, Ephesians 1:13 being a case in point.  The note in The

Companion Bible reads:

'Although both articles occur (see Ap. 101, II. 14), yet it is clear

from the "earnest" (verse 14) that it is the gift, not the Giver'.

The bulk of commentators read this verse as though it spoke of the Holy

Spirit Himself which had been 'promised', and refer back to Luke 24:49, Acts

1:4 and 2:33.  The Holy Spirit, promised by the Father, and fulfilled at

Pentecost, is not in view in Ephesians 1:13.  Here it is not the Spirit that

was promised, but the spirit that confirmed something that had been promised.

The apostle himself suggests the true meaning of the phrase here, by going on

to speak of this 'spirit' with which we are sealed as the 'earnest'.  There

is waiting for us, in our own tongue a term that well expresses the intention

of the apostle.  It is the 'promissory note'.  This is a written promise to

pay a given sum of money to a certain person on a specified date.  The stamp

duty is ad valorem, that is according to the value of the subject matter.