is revealed that the creation has become involuntarily subjected to vanity, and

this cries aloud for that willing submission of all things to the true goal of

all creation -- Christ, the willingly submissive Son.  The word is in

Philippians 3:21, where the transforming of the body of humiliation is said to

be according to the selfsame energy whereby He is able to subject all things to

Himself.  Surely this cannot include the power that destroys; it is foreign to

the thought.  Destruction or subjection is the idea of 1 Corinthians 15.

While 1 Corinthians 15 is mainly concerned with the human phase of the

great purpose of God, as expressed in the words `in Adam', nevertheless the

reference to `all rule and all authority and power' goes beyond the sphere of

Adam.  Before the Son delivers up the kingdom, all rule, authority and power

will be abolished (arche, exousia, dunamis).  These are the principalities and

powers of Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:21.  They are linked with death in the

closing verses of Romans 8, over which the believer even now is more than

conqueror.  Ephesians 6 reveals that the church of the One Body has

principalities and powers among its spiritual enemies, and yet Colossians 1:16-

20 shows that some principalities and powers will be reconciled.  Once again we

are forced to see that the reign of Christ before `the end' is reached, will be

a process of discrimination.  Some will be `destroyed', others will be

`reconciled'; and when all enemies have been abolished and all the redeemed and

unfallen brought into perfect line (subjection carries with it the idea of

perfect order and harmony) with the great Archetype of all, then `the end' is

reached and God will be all in all.

While much more should be written if an exposition of 1 Corinthians 15

were our object, sufficient has been placed before the reader, we trust, to

justify the claim of the apostle that he had received a fuller revelation of

`the mystery of Christ' than had been given to the sons of men in earlier days.

We now turn to the second chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews, where Psalm 8

once more has a prominent place, and first of all we will set out the structure:

A

Not Angels

a

A little lower than angels.

b  Crowned with glory and honour.

B  -8.  But now we see not.

B  9-.  But we see Jesus.

A

-9-.  Jesus

a  A little lower than angels.

b  Crowned with glory and honour.

C  -9,10.  The Captain  Archegon

c  It became Him.

d

Perfect ... sufferings.

A

11-13.  All of one, sanctified, brethren.

B  14.  Flesh and blood, took part, destroy, death.

B  15,16.  Seed of Abraham, took not angels, deliver ... death.

A

17-.  Made like to brethren.

C  -17,18.  High Priest.  Archiereus c  It behoved Him.

d

Suffer ... tempted.

`The world to come' (Heb. 2:5) here is oikoumene `the habitable world'

found already in Hebrews 1:6, and used of the Roman Empire (Luke 2:1; Acts