Let us pause before we proceed to the question of "Hope", "Riches" and "Power" to

acquaint ourselves with the meaning of this word "know", for there are two Greek words,

which between them supply the thought of knowing in the N.T., namely ginosko and

oida. The former when prefixed with epi provides us with the word "knowledge" in

Eph. 1: 17  or, as we have translated, "acknowledgment".  Oida, the word we are

considering, is associated with mental vision, and is so linked with this conception of

sight, that Dr. Young, in the Index of his Analytical Concordance, gives two cross

references. We look at oida, and we are referred to eidon, we consult eidon and we are

referred to horao, we refer to horao, and we find it is translated "see" eighty-six times,

and "behold, look, appear", etc., every rendering being referable to vision or sight. We

should not, perhaps, be quite correct to translate Eph. 1: 18 "that ye may see what is the

hope", but we should, I think, be nearer the truth if we rendered the passage "that ye may

perceive". Vision rather than knowledge is in the Apostle's mind. This too would

harmonize with the enlightenment of the eyes of the heart, and even find an echo in the

original meaning of revelation, namely "unveiling". We have already preferred to the

relation of eyes and heart in the prophecy of Isaiah which speaks of Israel's terrible

failure, and just as the willful closing of their eyes resulted in the hardness of their hearts,

so judicial blindness came as an awful sequel "If thou hadst known, even thou at least in

this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine

eyes" (Luke 19: 42). The Apostle who knew only too well the relation of eyes, heart and

rejection (Acts 28:) would pray the prayer for the Ephesian saints with an intensity of

meaning and a reality of concern.

The three things he desired that they should thus "perceive" must form the subject of

future studies. Let us examine ourselves afresh and see how we stand in relation to the

great necessity of "acknowledging" Him, knowing full well that vision will fail and

perception will be dim if that great clarifying attitude be not willingly and readily

maintained. If the Proverb says:

the epistle in effect says: