An Alphabetical Analysis
Volume 6 - Doctrinal Truth - Page 125 of 270
INDEX
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
pneumati
tes
epaggelias
to hagio
With the
spirit
of the
promise
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.