repeat, while we have to learn of both the fact and of the character of this new

dispensation, those to whom Paul wrote had heard of it throughout the whole

years in which he was permitted to receive visitors from all the churches under

his care,

and they took back the glad message.  He had explained and expounded it for at

least a year before the epistle we are now studying was written.  While this may

call for exceeding patience and prayerful vigilance while we follow out all the

clues that are here imbedded in this epistle, let us remember that no such

ambiguity existed at the beginning; the hope of these glad tidings had been

proclaimed to every creature under heaven, according to Colossians 1:23.  This

fact is a support to us and an encouragement to continue in our search, being

assured that what was so openly proclaimed at the beginning, will not be

withheld from any true member even at the end of the days.

The expansion and explanation of the meaning of the words `The

dispensation of the grace of God which is given to me to you-ward' is found in

the next verse, and introduced, as it is, by the connective `how':

`How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery' (Eph. 3:3).

The word translated `how' is the Greek hoti used epexegetically, an epexegesis

being a full or detailed account or explanation of something which has gone

before, and makes the sentence dependent upon the previous verse `If ye have

heard' and explains the peculiar character of the `dispensation' given.  The

peculiarity of the dispensation is further established by the mode of its

endowment `How that by revelation He made known'.  A superficial criticism may

object that this explanation does not say a dispensation was entrusted, but that

something was `revealed', and to this we must make an answer.  The word

translated `revelation' is apokalupsis and generally supposes something hitherto

hidden or veiled, as in Ephesians 3:5.  The word generally opposes the thought

that the subject thus revealed could have been discovered by human wit or

sagacity (1 Cor. 2:10).

A new and wonderful body of truth, such as is found in the epistles of the

Mystery, was not revealed to Paul for his own private enjoyment, but given to

him because he was Divinely chosen to be an earthen vessel.  In the first place,

even though the gospel had been preached unto Abraham (Gal. 3:8), yet the gospel

preached by Paul was given him `by revelation' (Gal. 1:12), and the apostles of

the circumcision ultimately admitted that it had something special and peculiar

about it (Gal. 2:7), even as the declared purpose `I went up by revelation, and

communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles' (Gal. 2:2)

makes clear.  Here the original reads kata apokalupsin `according to revelation'

not dia (through) as in Galatians 1:12.  The words used

in Ephesians 3:3 are kata apokalupsin `according to a revelation' and the

difference should be noted.  Kata followed by the accusative is translated `by'

in the Authorized Version twenty-six times.  A few instances must suffice which

we will translate each time literally `according to':

`According to our law'; `That it might be according to grace'; `According

to permission'; `According to commandment'; `I went up according to a

revelation'; `How that according to a revelation He made known unto me the

Mystery'; `According to the effectual working of His power' (John 19:7;

Rom. 4:16; 1 Cor. 7:6; 2 Cor. 8:8; Gal. 2:2; Eph. 3:3,7).