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"My Cup Runneth Over"
No.3.
Love that exceeds Knowledge.
pp. 39, 40
Before turning to Eph. 3:, where we read of the Love of Christ that "passeth
knowledge", a word or two may be necessary to show the link that exists between this
love, and the great act of Redemption which this love exhibits. In previous articles we
were pondering the abounding grace manifested in Redemption "Wherein He hath
abounded toward us" (Eph. 1: 8), and the grace that "superabounds" (Rom. 5: 20).
The particle that indicates the superlative quality of this grace is found in the
following passages, and the translation given by the Authorized Version will be quite
sufficient to justify the translation of Rom. 5: 20 by "superabound".
"Exalted above measure" (II Cor. 12: 7).
"Groweth exceedingly" (II Thess. 1: 3).
"Go beyond" (I Thess. 4: 6).
"The glory that excelleth" (II Cor. 3: 10).
"A more excellent way" (I Cor. 12: 31).
"Running over" (Luke 6: 38).
We can therefore use the language of Psa. 23: and say "my cup runneth over" when
we speak of redeeming grace.
In the first of Ephesians the object of the apostle is not so much to magnify
redemption, which he has already done in Romans, but to lead on the mystery, which is
the distinctive theme of Ephesians. Readers of both the Authorized and the Revised
Versions may miss the apostle's argument unless they realize that the punctuation of
Eph. 1: 7-9 is of human origin and allow the sense of the passage full scope, the passage
as it stands in the A.V. reads:
"Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence" (1: 8).
The word "abounded" suggests the prodigality of an over-running cup, "wisdom and
prudence" suggest the care of stewardship for a priceless trust. If we will but ignore the
verses and the punctuation of the versions, we shall get the apostle's meaning and be able
to rejoice in the lavish outpouring of redeeming grace, together with the wise and prudent
unfolding of the mystery as we are able to bear it.
Redemption. "In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward
us" (1: 7, 8).
Mystery.
"In all wisdom and prudence having made known unto us the mystery
of His will according to His good pleasure, which He hath purposed in
Himself" (1: 8-9).