energy ('the working of the mighty power which He wrought in Christ') that

raised Christ from the dead and seated Him far above all.  The mighty

antagonist is called 'The prince of the power of the air'.

Thirdly, the methods adopted by these evil powers are indicated in

Ephesians 4:14 where it speaks of 'every wind of doctrine, by the cunning

craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive'; and again in Ephesians 5:11

and 18: 'Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness'; 'Be not

drunk with wine, wherein is excess'.

Fourthly, the last chapter of Ephesians reveals most definitely the

nature of the foe.

'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood in heavenly places, but

against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the

darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness' (Eph. 6:12

author's translation),

and the whole armour of God is provided in view of 'the evil day' (6:13).

We have not put forward any justification for our revised translation

in these four phases of truth; this we have done in the series on Ephesians

which runs through The Berean Expositor, volumes 35 to 42.  We press on for

the moment in our quest to discover what is indicated in these later epistles

of Paul concerning the character of the age as the dispensation of the

Mystery nears its close.

The references in Philippians are of a general character.  They

indicate the dangers that lurk within the church and which necessarily

contribute to the failure at the end.  Such passages as the following give an

indication of the leaven that works the mischief:

'Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ ...

that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for

the faith of the gospel' (Phil. 1:27).

'All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's' (2:21).

'Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision'

'Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as

ye have us for an ensample.  For many walk, of whom I have told you

often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the

cross of Christ' (3:17,18).

It will be observed that whereas Ephesians reveals

the spiritual foes that attack the church from without, Philippians draws

attention to the evils that are within, which will help that outside attack.

These two aspects are naturally in perfect harmony with the distinctive

objects of these two related epistles.

Turning to Colossians, we have an epistle which traverses much the same

ground as is covered by Ephesians, but which also introduces the note of

warning and the reference to the prize (Col. 2:18), which links it on to

Philippians as well.  We are warned against enticing words, philosophy,

tradition, rudiments, shadows, voluntary humility and worshipping of angels,