Other callings follow the same pattern, as indeed does the purpose of the ages. For

example, the book of Job falls into three parts:

(1)

Job, perfect but untried.

(2)

Job, tried and not perfect in the experimental sense.

(3)

Job, restored, tried and perfected.

Again, the promise made to Abraham in Gen. 15: falls into the same pattern:

(1)

Unconditional covenant. Deep sleep (12).

(2)

Interval of bondage. They shall serve them (13).

(3)

Covenant fulfilled. They shall come hither again (16).

So, Eph. 1: 3-14 exhibits a similar movement:

(1)

Unconditional will. Chosen, predestinated (4, 5).

(2)

Interval of bondage. Redemption, release (7).

(3)

Will accomplished. Inheritance sealed (11-14).

In our next article we must consider the inheritance of the eleventh verse.

The Authorized Version renders Eph. 1: 11 "In Whom also we have obtained an

inheritance", where the Revised Version reads:  "In Whom also we were made an

inheritance." There is a considerable difference, between the idea of "obtaining" an

inheritance, and of "being made" an inheritance. In the one the inheritance becomes

ours, in the other we ourselves become an inheritance. Cunnington translated the verse

"in Whom also we were made God's portion". Rotherham reads "we were taken as an

inheritance" and Moffatt "we have had our inheritance allotted to us". The Authorized

Version and Moffatt point in one direction, the others point in the opposite direction, and

in such changes as inheritance to portion, and to something allotted.

The word inheritance, kleronomia, is composed of kleros, a lot, and nemo, to

administer. Kleros is derived from klao to break (Matt. 26: 26) and so came to mean a

small stone, piece of wood, or earth, that was thrown into a vessel, or which was shaken

out of the vessel in the casting of lots.