also Himself be subject unto Him ... that God may be all in all', 'A

willingly subjected Son, the Pattern and Goal of the ages' (A. H. Morton).

The first occurrence of the word is beautiful in its suggestiveness.

That One of Whom it was prophesied that 'all things should be subjected

beneath His feet' did not presume to act out of harmony with the Father's

will for Him during His boyhood, for:

'He ... came to Nazareth (with His parents), and was subject unto them'

(Luke 2:51).

In Romans 8:7 the two words 'enmity' and 'subjection' are seen to be

'The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the

law of God, neither indeed can be'.

The word 'subject' involves the idea of a 'willing surrender'.  All

must come down in that day.  Some by being 'abolished' or 'destroyed', others

by a willing surrender like unto that of the Son of God Himself.  In Romans

8:20 it is revealed that the creation has become involuntarily subjected to

vanity, and this cries aloud for that willing submission of all things to the

true goal of all creation -- Christ.  The word is used in Philippians 3:21

where the transforming of the body of humiliation is said to be according to

the selfsame energy whereby He is able to subject all things to Himself.

Surely this cannot include the power that destroys, it is foreign to the

thought.  Destruction or subjection is the idea of 1 Corinthians 15.

While 1 Corinthians 15 is mainly concerned with the human phase of the

great purpose of God as expressed in the words 'in Adam', nevertheless the

reference to 'all rule and all authority and power' goes beyond the sphere of

Adam.  Before the Son delivers up the kingdom, all rule, authority and power

will be abolished (arche, exousia, dunamis).  These are the principalities

and powers of Colossians 2:15.  They are linked with death in the closing

verses of Romans 8, over which the believer is more than conqueror.

Ephesians 6 reveals that the church of the One Body has principalities and

powers among its spiritual enemies, and Colossians 1:16-20 shows that some

principalities will be reconciled.  Once again we are forced to see that the

reign of Christ before 'the end' is reached will be a process of

discrimination.  Some will be 'destroyed', others will be 'reconciled', and

when all enemies will have been abolished, and all the redeemed and unfallen

brought into perfect line (subjection carries with it the idea of perfect

harmony and order) with the great Archtype of all, then 'the end' or 'the

goal' is reached and God will be all in all.

There is a tendency on the part of some expositors to wander outside

the passage and introduce subjects which are quite foreign to the intention

of the apostle.  This is so with regard to the word 'death'.  What 'death' is

intended in verse 26?  The subject is introduced in verse 21 definitely and

exclusively.  There can be no doubt as to what is intended:

'By man came death ... as in Adam all die' (15:21,22).

'Death is swallowed up in victory' (15:54).

Its sting is removed (verse 55), which sting is sin (verse 56).