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#3.
Adoption.
pp. 106 - 112
In the two preceding articles has been demonstrated the fact that the Scriptures make
known three distinct spheres of blessing, namely, the earth, the New Jerusalem, and the
heavenly places of Eph. 1: 3. As yet we have said nothing concerning the controversial
question of the correct interpretation of the words translated "heavenly places" and "far
above all". Those are adjuncts to the teaching; not the foundation on which the teaching
rests. The reader is especially asked to note that we prove the fact of the three spheres of
blessing independently of any disputed translation, finding all we need to demonstrate the
truth of our position in either the A.V. or the R.V. This, we believe, renders that position
invulnerable.
We now approach a secondary means of proof, that does depend somewhat upon the
true translation of a Greek word. This may be rejected by some, but that will still leave
the main argument of articles #1 and #2 exactly as it was, and unchallenged.
In order to enable the reader to appreciate the line of argument we intend to follow, let
us use an illustration. Suppose we were to point out an elderly man and say, "There goes
a man who has three firstborn sons"; the reader might at first exclaim, "Impossible!" yet
on second thoughts, he might reply, "Yes, I see it is quite possible for the man to have
three firstborn sons, for he may have married three times, but he can only have three
firstborn sons provided that they are the firstborn of three distinct families". We hope to
prove that God has three distinct companies of the redeemed who have the dignity and
privilege of being His firstborn, and that these three firstborn sons are given an exalted
position in each of the three spheres of the earth, the New Jerusalem, and the Mystery.
The word which supplies this argument is translated in our version "adoption", and
our first duty will be to arrive at the scriptural meaning of this term. Except we perceive
the meaning of a scriptural term, not only will it be valueless but possibly harmful, that is
if we invest it with our own conception of its meaning. Sometimes etymology of a word
establishes its meaning; often it needs an understanding of its usage in Scripture, and,
sometimes, a knowledge of the way in which the word was used in secular writings
contemporary with the Scriptures concerned. This is very true of the word under
consideration, namely "adoption". The Greek word is huiothesia, and means, literally,
"to place a son". No modern writer has greater firsthand knowledge of this term than
Sir William Ramsay, and in order to acquaint ourselves with its usage in Galatia, we will
first of all quote from Sir William Ramsay's A Historical Commentary on St. Paul's
Epistle to the Galatians:
"The idea that they who follow the principle of faith are sons of Abraham, whatever
family they belong to by nature, would certainly be understood by the Galatians as
referring to the legal process called adoption, huiothesia."
"Adoption was a kind of embryo will; the adopted son became the owner of the
property, and the property could pass to a person that was naturally outside the family