dispensation of the Mystery.  So here, in Ephesians 2:1-4, room must be provided

in our examination for a digression full of teaching.

Taking the hint from verse 1 as compared with verse 5 where the theme is

resumed, we see that the section before us falls into the following pattern:

A

Eph. 2:1.

Dead ones to sins.

B

Eph. 2:2,3.  A walk ... this world.

An energy ... the prince of the power of

the air.

involved  A conversation ... the wills of the flesh.

C

Eph. 2:4.

A

Eph. 2:5.

Dead ones to sins.

B

Eph. 2:5,6. A quickening together.

What is

A raising together.

A seating together.

C

Eph. 2:7.

Exceeding riches.

Before these believers died to trespasses and sins, they had walked

according to the course of this world.  `Walk' is a term which belongs to

practical truth.  It is the outward expression of inward life.  As Shakespeare

says, `the apparel oft proclaims the man', and in the practical section the

words `put off' and `put on' literally refer to clothing.  Ephesians 2:2 and 10

contrast the walk of the old and of the new, but it is left to chapters 4 to 6

to develop this practical aspect, as they do in 4:1,17; 5:2,8 and 15.  Here, in

Ephesians 2, the walk that characterized the believer's past was `according to

the course of this world'.  The word translated `course' is aion, literally an

age, but not to be limited merely to lapse of time; the word carries with it

something of character, even as we say today `the golden age', `the age of

innocence'.  This meaning the A.V. has attempted to give by the rendering

`course'.  Weymouth translates the passage freely thus:

`Your offences and sins, which were once habitual to you while you walked

in the ways of this world'.

In other contexts, the apostle speaks of `the rudiments of the world' in

much the same way.  It is the most natural thing `to walk according to the

course of the world', for otherwise, there would be a mad scramble, a traffic

jam, and progress would be impossible.  Yet in spite of this `sweet

reasonableness', the fact remains that this world is at present in a state of

enmity with God, and to walk in harmony with its ends and aims is contrary to

the will of God and to the design of His great salvation.  After having said so

far, the apostle draws aside a veil, and shows that what on the surface appear

to be the free actions of free agents, are many times the result of a spiritual

power that is using the desires of men to accomplish his own ends.  This