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from purpose and intention. "Angels" are ministering spirits, but, by the very nature of
the word, "Principalities" hold precedence in rank, and if that difference be evident
between these heavenly powers, it follows that there must be the same difference between
the callings of the two epistles. The Hebrew believers are never said to be "far above"
angels, but by virtue of the revelation of Eph. 2: 6, the Ephesian believer is seated
potentially, "far above" even principalities.
We have now tested these two epistles and on three counts have shown that they differ
in essential features.
(1)
The epistle to the Hebrews lies outside the apostolic authority of Paul, whose name
does not therefore appear in it.
(2)
The authority of Paul was bounded by the word "Gentile"; a word that is
employed with dispensational purpose in Ephesians and could not be spared from
that epistle, but a word which is signally absent from Hebrews.
(3)
The heavenly host appears to be divided into two great groups:
a. Angels. These are the spiritual associates of the calling of the Hebrews, and
of the heavenly city.
b. Principalities. These are the spiritual associates of the calling of the
Ephesian believers, consequently the more we compare these two epistles
the more the evidence grows of the differences that exist between their
spheres and callings.
#4.
The use of O.T. Scripture and of Redemption.
pp. 200 - 205
The Scriptures come to us as a revelation from God, and dealing, as they do, with such
mighty themes as the Purpose of the Ages, the Mysteries of Sin and Salvation, to say
nothing of the deeper mysteries of the nature of the Godhead, it is to be expected there
will be many things in them hard to be understood; yet, on the other hand, if the
Scriptures be a "revelation" they are intended to "reveal" and therefore are intended to be
understood.
The enquiry before us, while involving height and depth and a love that passeth
knowledge, is, at basis, simple. We ask for evidence to prove that the callings of
Ephesians and of Hebrews are either identical or different, and our consideration of the
subject is from the following points of view: 1. Writer; 2. Reader; 3. Spiritual
Associates. If the calling of Hebrews is a perfecting of the calling instituted under the
Old Covenant, we shall expect to find a continuous appeal to O.T. Scriptures. If
Ephesians is the revelation of a calling that is a "secret", something never made known to
the believers of O.T. times, and entirely different from the calling made known in
Hebrews, we shall expect to find scanty reference to the O.T., especially in the doctrinal
section.