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the same time. "Babes" cannot understand the "mystery" (I Cor. 3: 1, 2; Heb. 5: 11-14;
Eph. 4: 14).
In II Cor. 1: 8 and 4: 7, 17 there are some important lessons. The words printed in
italics represent the word huperbole:--
"We were pressed out of measure, beyond power" (1: 8).
"We have this treasure in earthen vessel, that the excellency of the power may be of
God, and not of us" (4: 7).
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding
age-abiding weight of glory, while we look not on the things which are see" (4: 17).
How wonderfully the use of this word here emphasizes the grace of God. The heavy
pressure of 1: 8 becomes light when the "weight" of glory is seen; it is "but for a moment"
when compared with the glory "age-abiding." There is a suggestive lesson for us in
noticing that the apostle who here suffered affliction "out of measure" had, in his
unconverted days, persecuted the church of God with like intensity. "For ye have heard
of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I
persecuted the church of God, and wasted it" (Gal. 1: 13). In the next verse (14) he
speaks of this "religion" as coupled with an exceeding zeal for the traditions of his
fathers. This has ever been the case, the traditions of men and religion have ever been the
persecuting agencies of satan. The truth, like love, "suffereth long, and is kind." They
who know the truth are to be "gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patiently bearing up
under evil, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves" (II Tim. 2: 24, 25).
Again, in II Cor. 11: 23, the apostle says of himself, "In labours more abundant, in
stripes above measure." So it was, that the most zealous persecutor of the church became
by grace its greatest champion, and keenest sufferer. Suffering was among the first
things mentioned in his commission, "I must show him how great things he must suffer
for My name's sake" (Acts 9: 16). The apostle, in the midst of all his sufferings, could
look away to "that day" and, as we have seen in II Cor. 4: 17, speak of his "exceeding
heavy trials as "light" in comparison with the "weight" of glory. It is noteworthy that the
words translated "a far more exceeding" in II Cor. 4: 17 are huperbolen eis huperbolen,
emphasizing the fact that the apostle did not magnify his sorrows, but his hoped-for-joys.
The epistle to the Ephesians has three helpful passages containing this word, viz.:--
"The exceeding greatness of His power towards us who believe" (1: 19).
"The exceeding riches of His grace" (2: 7).
"The love of Christ which passeth knowledge" (3: 19).
Here we have faith, hope, and love enriched by this mighty superabundance, for the
theme of Eph. 1: 19 is faith, and that is the result of resurrection power. Eph. 2: 7 looks
forward to the "ages to come," and the riches of grace, while Eph. 3: 19 leads to the
fulness of God in the "knowledge-surpassing love of Christ." Eph. 3: 19 is the last
occurrence of the word in Scripture. The first occurrence of the noun is Rom. 7: 13,
"exceeding sinful"; the last occurrence of the verb is in Eph. 3: 19, "The love of Christ
which passeth knowledge." "Where sin abounded grace did superabound." Oh, for grace
to appreciate the "exceeding riches of his grace