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may see, if they will but take the trouble, that so far as we are concerned, we have
nothing in common with any teaching that puts the church of the one body outside the
realm of Gen. 1: 1. In 1917 (Volume VII, page 8) we wrote:--
"In the original of the New Testament, two words are employed, both translated
`heavenly' (ouranios and epouranios). The added word epi signifies upon or over,
and refers to the heavens that are above the firmament, and beyond the limitations of
the present creation (compare Gen. 1: with Psalms 148: 4, I Kings 8: 27, and
Heb. 7: 26).
As two words are used, both translated "heavenly", we are justified in attempting to
discriminate, and as epi is added to ouranios, and huperano supplies the idea, we adopted
the Latin equivalent of huper, and added super--coining the word "super-heavens" for
the special usage found in Eph. 1: 3, 20 and 2: 6.
On page 45 of the same Volume we have the following:--
"On many occasions the Scriptures speak of God `stretching out the heavens'.
Psa. 104: 2, `Who stretched out the heavens like a curtain'; also Isa. 40: 22; 42: 5;
45: 12; 51: 13; Jer. 10: 12; 51: 15; Zech. 12: 1 . . . . . When we grasp the significance of
the firmament, and the purpose that is carried out within its expanse, we may then see the
perfect fitness of the statements of Ephesians, where in the words `the heavenly places'
(epouranios, a word which literally means `upon the heavens'), we are taken beyond the
firmament . . . . . Ephesians always speaks of the blessings of the one body as being in the
epouranios, the sphere above the heavens. Peter, however, does not pierce the
firmament, the inheritance he speaks of is reserved `in the heavens', not in the sphere
above the heavens."
In such translations as "super-heavens", "far above all heavens", "made higher than
the heavens", it is evident that a sphere beyond the limitations of the heavens of Gen. 1: 8
is intended. That this was and is our meaning let the following quotation from
Volume XI (1921), page 76, bear witness:
"THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH.--To this period belong the
blessings of the mystery. The only calling or revelation that has pierced the present
temporary heaven and touched that which can be spoken of as eternal is that dispensation
of the grace of God which has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the
super-heavenlies far above all. This shows the unique character of the church of the one
body. It is connected both by time and place with that which begins before the present
heavens were made and goes on when the present heavens shall be no more.
The church of the mystery is the only link during this age between the time before sin
entered and the time when sin shall be no more. All other purposes are `under the
heavens'. This one alone places those who are blessed under its terms `above the
heavens'. If these things are so, it would be very surprising if the doctrine and practice of
this peculiar people were not different from all others."
In our pamphlet entitled "Far above all" occurs the following:--
"Of no other company of believers is it said that their sphere of blessing is `IN the
super-heavenlies'. The special sphere of blessing which belongs alone to the Church of
the One Body is mentioned five times in this epistle, and a study of these