I N D E X
At first, unless like true Bereans we consider the context, we may assume
that, inasmuch as both 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13 speak of both seal
and earnest, that it is all one and the same, whether the epistle thus quoted is
on one side of Acts 28 or the other.  A closer examination, however, will reveal
an essential dispensational difference:
`Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is
God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the spirit in our
hearts' (2 Cor. 1:21,22).
The word `stablish' is the Greek bebaioo, which is used in 1 Corinthians 1
and Hebrews 2 with particular reference to the confirming nature of miraculous
gifts.
`Which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto
us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs
and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost,
according to His own will?' (Heb. 2:3,4).
`That in every thing ye are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and in all
knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that
ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ' (1 Cor. 1:5-7).
Paul practically said, therefore, in 2 Corinthians 1:21 `Now He which
confirmeth us (by the endowment of miraculous gifts) with you ... is God'.
Associated with this confirmation is `anointing'.  Chrio `to anoint' gives the
title `Christ', The Anointed.  This anointing, says John in his first epistle,
made it unnecessary that any man should teach those who received it, for `the
same anointing teacheth you of all things' (1 John 2:27).  No member 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'.
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 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;
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