 |  |
"The Both"; "The Twain"; "The Joint Body";
Who are they, and what do these words imply?
#1.
Introduction.
pp. 193 - 199
The article which we introduce with this brief note, is from the pen of an old friend
and fellow-believer, Mr. A. A. J. Woodley. His suggestive exposition of Eph. 2:
appears to us to be inevitable, if once we adopt the view which we have advocated in the
Berean Expositor, namely, that John's Gospel was not written for the Jew, but was
written in the light of the revelation of the mystery, and probably after Paul's course had
finished.
Neither Mr. Woodley nor ourselves find "The Mystery" in John's Gospel, but no one
can read the Lord's words recorded in John 18: 21: "That they may be one; as Thou,
Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us", and not recognize a
unity that rises to the heights usually associated with the Epistles to the Ephesians and
Colossians. We feel sure that our readers will appreciate Mr. Woodley's pioneer spirit,
and we hope to follow this introductory article with a series that will expand and further
confirm the note here struck (Editor).
"The assembly, which is His Body" (Eph. 1: 22, 23).
"For HE is our PEACE, Who hath made BOTH ONE . . . . ." (Eph. 2: 14).
". . . . . for to make (in order the HE might create) IN HIMSELF of TWAIN, ONE
NEW MAN, so making PEACE; and that HE might reconcile BOTH unto GOD in ONE
BODY by the cross . . . . ." or as Dr. Rotherham's translation reads: "That THE TWO He
might create IN HIMSELF into ONE MAN OF NEW MOULD . . . . ." (Eph. 2: 15, 16).
"For THORUGH HIM we BOTH have access by ONE SPIRIT unto the FATHER"
(Eph. 2: 18).
"Ye are . . . . . FELLOW-CITIZENS WITH THE SAINTS, and of the HOUSEHOLD
OF GOD" (Eph. 2: 19).
". . . . . if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which has been given
to me you-ward: How that by revelation HE made known to me the mystery . . . . .
THAT THE GENTILES SHOULD BE Joint-HEIRS, Joint-BODY, Joint-PARTAKERS
of His promise (the promise) IN CHRIST by the gospel" (Eph. 3: 2, 3, 6).
"ONE BODY, and ONE SPIRIT, even as ye were also called in ONE HOPE of your
calling, ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF
ALL, WHO IS OVER ALL, AND THROUGH ALL, AND IN ALL" (Eph. 4: 4, 5, 6).
"For the perfecting of the SAINTS (see Eph. 2: 19) for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying (upbuilding) of the BODY OF CHRIST" (Eph. 4: 12).
"For we are members of HIS BODY . . . . ." (Eph. 5: 30, 31, 32; "of His flesh and
His bones" not in Texts).
"Giving thanks unto the Father, that hath made you sufficient for your share IN THE
INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS IN THE LIGHT" (Col. 1: 12).