Ephesians 1:4 that, when once perceived, makes the calling of the Church of the

One Body completely separate from that of any other company spoken of in the

Scriptures.  The peculiarity of this calling does not rest in the word

`foundation', whatever the word shall ultimately prove to be; it rests on the

word `before'; this is the unique feature.  All other callings are related to a

choice and a purpose that is dated `from' or `since' the foundation of the

world; this calling of Ephesians alone is related to a choice and a purpose that

goes back `before' that era.  As a certain amount of doctrine must be built upon

these two prepositions `before' and `from', some acquaintance with them seems

called for.

Pro `before' is a preposition that indicates place, time and preference.

Before, in respect of place:

`The Judge standeth before the door' (Jas. 5:9).

Before, in respect of time:

`Judge nothing before the time' (1 Cor. 4:5).

Before, in respect of preference:

`He is before all things' (Col. 1:17).

Apo `from' is a preposition that indicates separation or origin.  The

primary use of apo is with reference to place, but by a recognized transition,

it can be employed of the distance of time, of the temporal terminus `from

`From that time Jesus began to preach' (Matt. 4:17).

`From two years old and under' (Matt. 2:16).

`From the beginning of the world' (Eph. 3:9).

The two expressions `from the foundation of the world' and `before the

foundation of the world' occur as follows:

With reference to the use of parables, in speaking of the mysteries

of the kingdom of heaven:

`That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have

been kept secret from the foundation of the world' (Matt. 13:35).

With reference to the separation of the nations at the second coming

of Christ:

`Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye

blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the

foundation of the world' (Matt. 25:34).

With reference to the character of those who killed the prophets

sent to them:

`That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the

foundation of the world, may be required of this generation' (Luke

With reference to the typical character of the Sabbath: