The apostle, while not offending common decency, did not overload his

letter with salutation and greetings, and chose under inspired guidance two

words that would express not only a conventional greeting, but which would speak

to the heart of his reader, for charis was the light-hearted salutation of the

Greek, whereas peace was the more solemn greeting of the Jew.  Here the apostle

combines them both, and such in effect is the glorious doctrine that he taught.

Having read the address and salutation of this epistle, we now approach

the subject matter which commences with the third verse.  The reader will

remember that we have set out the disposition of the doctrinal and practical

portions of this epistle under the figure of a great house, having two

corresponding wings and a central tower.  The first chamber that demands our

attention is called the Muniment Room, and the section of Ephesians that this

represents covers Ephesians 1:3-14.

The word `muniment' primarily means `a fortification' and like `munition'

and `ammunition' is derived from the Latin munio `to fortify'.  However, we do

not use the word in this primary sense, `the armoury' of Ephesians 6 being

reserved for that, for a `muniment room' has come to mean a room in a public

building such as a cathedral, college or castle in which deeds, charters,

writings, etc., are kept for safety.  It is in this sense that the word is

employed today, and it is in this sense that we apply the term to Ephesians 1:3-

14, because in these opening words of the epistle we have `the charter of the

Church of the One Body'.

One way in which the teaching of these verses can be set before the eye of

the reader is to take the recurring word `according' as the pivot, and make a

simple alternation as follows: