consequently proceeds to pray concerning their `hope', these three often being

brought together in his epistles.

The original wording of Ephesians 1:15 is somewhat strange.  Our version

reads `After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus', which is straightforward

enough.  Weymouth inserts the words `which prevails among you'.  Darby adds

`which is in you'; Rotherham has `on your part'.  Each of these translators was

endeavouring to express the intention of the apostle who said:

of this

I also

having heard

of the

according to

`The according to your faith' is not English, and conveys no true meaning, yet

the very fact that so strange a term should be introduced here is a challenge.

In Acts 26:3 we read `especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs

and questions which are among the Jews', where the original reads ton kata

Ioudaious.  Again in Acts 18:15, `but if it be a question of words and names,

and of your law, look ye to it'.  Here again the Greek reads kai nomou tou kath'

humas `and of a law that is according to you'.  In these references we readily

perceive that to the Roman Gallio, or in Paul's speech to King Agrippa, laws,

customs and questions that are peculiarly Jewish are in mind.  The preposition

kata is translated `according to' one hundred and eight times, and is found in

Ephesians, so translated, fifteen times.

Let us observe its occurrence in the charter of the Church (Eph. 1:3-14).

These believers were predestinated to adoption `according to the good pleasure

of His will'.  Forgiveness of sins was `according to the riches of His grace'.

The revelation of the Mystery of His will was `according to His good pleasure,

which He hath purposed in Himself', and the taking of these believers for an

inheritance was also `according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things

after the counsel of His own will'.  It is impossible to avoid the fact that the

high calling of this church, its revelation at that time and all that pertained

to it was `according to' plan.  If the same word is used once more in verse 15,

surely we are expected to continue this thought.  Your faith, said the apostle

in effect, must not be confounded with the faith that is put forth by a believer

in some other dispensation or calling.  It may not be the `gift of faith' by

which mountains are moved; it must be that aspect of faith that harmonizes

(`accords') with your calling.  It is, however, only too true, that there may be

a clear comprehension of the distinctive character of our calling with very

little corresponding `love unto all the saints', and where this is lacking,

growth must cease.  Happily the Ephesians manifested both the true faith and the

consequent love, and on this basis the apostle goes forward with his unceasing

prayer for them.  Let us not forget the connection established here, between the

revelation of truth, and its manifestation in life.