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the fact that aiġnios means something more than length of time. Therefore, while
retaining in the title the English "ages," in the articles themselves we shall transliterate
the word and use aiġn, allowing the reader the same liberty and scope that he would have
were he reading the original.
#4.
The Ages made and adjusted.
pp. 100 - 102
"God, Who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers
by the prophets, hath is these last days spoken unto us by (His) Son, whom He hath
appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ages." (Heb. 1: 1, 2).
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For
in this the elders were attested. By faith we perceive the ages to have been adjusted by a
declaration of God that the things which are seen have not come to pass out of things
which are apparent" (Heb. 11: 1, 2).
Here in the epistle to the Hebrews we find two important passages that must not be
passed over hurriedly by the earnest student. The ages were made, the ages were
adjusted, the existing economy did not arise merely as a matter of course. The contexts
of the two passages must be considered. In the first, the wondrous glory of the Son of
God shines forth; in the second, the faith of the overcomers, leading on to the author and
finisher of faith (12: 2), is prominent. In both, the final word is either, "sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on High," or, "is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God," and in both there is a reference to redemption, "purged our sins," and "endured a
cross."
It will be necessary to make the meaning of these passages as clear as possible in
order that subsequent consideration may not be rendered ineffective.
Before looking at the contexts, and gathering up the teaching of the verses quoted
above, we must endeavour to settle the meaning of one or two words.
Dia hou, "Through whom."--Some translators have rendered these words, "For
whom," and as it is of great importance to understand which of these two phrases is the
true one, we will give a little time to their study.
Dia, followed by the genitive case, signifies the efficient cause, through or by;
followed by the accusative, the final cause, for, on account of. Such is the grammatical
rule. It can be easily illustrated from the New Testament usage. With the genitive:--
Rom. 1: 5, "Through Whom we received grace"; 5: 1, "Peace . . . . . through our Lord
Jesus Christ"; 3: 24, "Through the redemption'; John 1: 3, "all things were made
through Him." With the accusative:--I Cor. 9: 23, "This I do for the gospel's sake;
Rom. 4: 23-25, "For His sake . . . . . but for us . . . . . on account of our offences . . . . .
on account of our justifying." These few instances will be sufficient for a general view.