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impending evil. In combination with ek, we have the following occurrences:
Rom. 7: 24, II Cor. 1: 10, II Tim. 3: 11, 4: 17 and II Pet. 2: 9. Here we have
deliverance from "the body of this death", deliverance from "so great a death", from
"persecutions and afflictions", from "the mouth of the lion", and from "temptations".
With apo the word is used in Matt. 6: 13, II Tim. 4: 18, Rom. 15: 31, I Thess. 1: 10,
and II Thess. 3: 2. In this category we have the prayer, "Deliver us from evil", the
confidence expressed that the Lord will deliver from "every evil work", Paul's prayer that
he might be "delivered from them that do not believe, in Judea", the assurance of
deliverance from "the wrath to come", and the prayer for deliverance from "unreasonable
and wicked men".
Cremer's note is abundantly confirmed by all these examples. Speaking of the
petition, "Deliver us from evil" (Matt. 6: 13), he states that rhoesthai never has reference
to any doing or behaviour of its object, but always to the suffering or injury coming from
without.
What, then, is the deliverance in view in Col. 1: 13?
"Who hath delivered us from the authority of darkness."
The thought of redemption from sin is not prominent here, but there is promised a
rescue from the dominion of Satan, and his power over mind and body. Just as Israel,
redeemed by the blood of the passover lamb, could speak of being "rescued" out of the
hand of the Egyptians when they stood upon the further side of the Red Sea, so each
member of the church which is His body can give thanks for a "rescue" from the
authority of a darkness greater than that of Egypt, and an oppression greater than that of
Pharaoh. The church can look forward to a "rescue" from groaning deeper than that of
Israel, the groaning of creation, awaiting the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
The authority of darkness is spoken of in Eph. 2: 1-3:--
". . . . . trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye walked according to the age of this
world, according to the prince of the authority of the air, the spirit now energizing in the
sons of disobedience, among whom also we all lived in times past in the desires of our
flesh, doing the wills of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of
wrath, even as those who were left."
This is the authority that once held us, but from which we have been delivered. It was
the authority of a mighty energizing spirit, dominating our manner of life, and
influencing our desires and our thoughts. Moreover, let us not pass lightly over the
concluding words--"even as others" or "even as those who were left." Though the
church of the one body was chosen in Christ before the overthrow of the world, this truth
does not in any way touch the essential organic oneness of all mankind with Adam.
Whatever the company to which we belong--Jew, Gentile or Church of God--"by
nature" we are all sons of Adam, needing the self-same redemption, needing the gift of
life, with no way out of this awful dominion but by the blessed hope of resurrection, or
change, "even as others".