ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth' (2 Tim. 2:15).

`Study' is the word endeavour.

In the same epistle Paul urges Timothy to

come to him in his captivity:

`Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: for Demas hath forsaken me ...

Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.  Do thy diligence to come before

winter' (2 Tim. 4:9-21).

`Do diligence' is the word endeavour.

`Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after

the same example of unbelief' (Heb. 4:11).

`Let us labour' is the word endeavour.

It will be seen that the word used by the apostle indicates active,

watchful diligence.  This sacred trust is our concern.  We jealously watch for

any intrusion, any root of bitterness, any faction or element of strife.  We

cannot put the responsibility off on to another.  Each one must share in the

watch, each must honestly and truly endeavour to keep this treasure.

There are many words translated `keep' in the Scriptures:

Bosko =

To keep as a shepherd.

=

To guard as a soldier.

Echo  =

To hold as the servant did the pound.

Poieo =

To keep as the passover.

Not one of these words is used by Paul in Ephesians 4:3.  The word used

here is tereo, which means to keep as one would a treasure; diatereo (Luke 2:51)

is used of Mary who treasured up in her heart things spoken of her infant Son.

Tereo is used once more in the prison epistles of Paul himself:

`I have kept the faith' (2 Tim. 4:7).

Here then is the sacred trust.  We are to keep the unity of the Spirit as

Paul kept the faith.  Through good report or evil report, through honour or

dishonour, nothing must turn away our attention; we must be ever diligent in our

duty, ever studying to keep our treasure intact, ever labouring to preserve this

truth complete.  Nevertheless, with all this personal sense of responsibility

must be the equally important sense of the Lord's greater care.  The same

apostle who so nobly kept the faith, was persuaded that the Lord was able to

keep that which had been entrusted until that day.  The unity of the Spirit may

be viewed as part of that good deposit which is so wonderfully spoken of in 1

Timothy 6:20 and 2 Timothy 1:12 and 14.

What therefore are we to keep!  The answer is `The unity of the Spirit'.

This however is an incomplete statement.  We are to keep this unity in the bond

of the peace, that is the full statement.  Those who are joined to the Lord are

said to be one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:17).  Some commentators speak of this

unity as being the work of the Holy Spirit; others look upon it as indicating

the unanimity of spirit that should actuate all the members of the One Body.

There is no conflict between these two views.  Unanimity of spirit is only

possible in that unity made by the Spirit of God.  Outside must ever be strife