for a number of reasons.  This passage is a case in point.  Dr. Bullinger in his

book The Giver and His Gifts, makes a valuable contribution to the subject, and

also in Appendix 101 of The Companion Bible the findings of this work are

summarized: `Pneuma hagion (without Articles) is never used of the Giver (the

Holy Spirit), but only and always of His gift'.  It is not so universally true

however to say, that where the article `the' is added to Holy Spirit, or two

articles are employed as `The' Spirit, `the' holy, that the reference is only

and always of the Giver, Ephesians 1:13 being a case in point.  The note in The

Companion Bible reads:

`Although both articles occur (see App. 101 ii. 14) yet it is clear from

the "earnest" (v 14) it is the gift, not the Giver'.

The bulk of commentators read this verse as though it spoke of the Holy

Spirit Himself which had been promised, and refer back to Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4

and 2:33.  The Holy Spirit promised by the Father, and fulfilled at Pentecost is

not in view in Ephesians 1:13.  Here it is not the Spirit that was promised, but

the spirit that confirmed something that had been promised.  The apostle himself

suggests the true meaning of the phrase here, by going on to speak of this

`spirit' with which we are sealed as the `earnest'.  There is waiting for us, in

our own tongue, a term that well expresses the intention of the apostle.  It is

the `promissory note'.  This is a written promise to pay a given sum of money to

a certain person on a specified date.  The stamp duty is ad valorem, that is

according to the value of the subject matter.  This use of the word `spirit' as

a pledge or earnest does not occur here for the first time.  We meet it in

Romans 8 and there are accompanying features in that chapter that illuminate

Ephesians 1:13 while not speaking of it.  In Romans 8:15 and 16 we read of `the

spirit of adoption', and that this spirit bears witness with our spirit.  The

structure of Romans 8:15-17 is as follows:

A

a  Ye have received.

b  The sonship spirit.

a  We cry.

b  Abba, Father.

B Spirit Itself  bears witness with our spirit.

A

a  We are the children of God.

b  And if children.

b  Then heirs.

a  Heirs of God.

This section denominated `the spirit of adoption' is balanced in the

structure of the chapter by verses 22-28 `waiting for the adoption'.  Romans

8:15 speaks of the spirit of adoption, enjoyed now in this life.  Romans 8:23

speaks of the literal, future adoption, `the redemption of the body', for which

the believer waits and which cannot be enjoyed apart from resurrection.  What is

called `the spirit of adoption' in verse 15, is called `the firstfruits' of the

spirit in verse 23.  Now the firstfruits were a pledge of the yet future

harvest, so Paul, who wrote Romans 8, could link the Spirit of the promise, the

Holy One, with the earnest of a future inheritance.  Not only is there in both

passages the `adoption', there is `predestination' and `hope'.