 |  |
To
|
pneumati
|
tes
|
epagglias
|
to hagio.
With the
|
spirit
| of the
|
promise
|
with the holy.
While there are many instances in the N.T. where the presence of the article "the" with
the words translated Holy Spirit, indicates the Person, the Giver, and the absence of the
article with "Holy Spirit" indicates His gift; there is no mechanical rule possible, for the
article can be added or omitted for a number of reasons. This passage is a case in point.
Most readers know the valuable contribution to the subject of Dr. Bullinger in his book
"S or s, Spirit of spirit", and in Appendix 101 of "The Companion Bible" the findings
of this work are summarized. Pneuma hagion without the article is never used of The
Holy Spirit, the Giver, but only and always of His gift. It is not so universally true
however to say, that where the article "the" is added to Holy Spirit, or two articles are
employed as "The" Spirit, "the" holy, that the reference is only and always of the Giver,
Eph. 1: 13 being a case in point. The note in "The Companion Bible" reading:
"Although both articles occur (see App. 101 ii.14) yet it is clear from the `earnest'
(verse 14) it is the gift, and not the Giver."
The bulk of commentators read this verse as though it spoke of the Holy Spirit
Himself which had been promised, and refer back to Luke 24: 49, Acts 1: 4 and 2: 33.
The Holy Spirit promised by the Father, and fulfilled at Pentecost is not in view in
Eph. 1: 13. Here is not the Spirit that was promised, but the spirit that confirmed
something that had been promised. The Apostle himself suggests the true meaning of the
phrase here, by going on to speak of this "spirit" with which we are sealed as the
"earnest". There is waiting for us, in our own tongue a term that well expresses the
intention of the Apostle. It is the "promissory note". This is a written promise to pay a
given sum of money to a certain person on a specified date. The stamp duty is ad
valorum, that is according to the value of the subject matter. This use of the word "spirit"
as a pledge or earnest does not occur here for the first time. We meet it in Rom. 8:
and there are accompanying features in that chapter that illuminate Eph. 1: 13 while not
speaking of it. In Rom. 8: 15 and 16 we read of "the spirit of adoption", and that this
spirit bears witness with our spirit. The structure of Rom. 8: 15-17 is as follows:
Rom. 8: 15 - 17.
A | SONS. | a | Ye have received.
b | The sonship spirit.
a | We cry.
b | Abba, Father.
B | SPIRIT ITSELF bears witness with our spirit.
A | HEIRS. | a | We are the children of God.
b | And if children.
b | Then heirs.
a | Heirs of God.
This section denominated "the spirit of adoption" is balanced in the structure of the
chapter by verses 22-28 "Waiting for the Adoption". Rom. 8: 15 speaks of the spirit