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"Will I cause thy multitude to fall" (Ezek. 32: 12).
"Thou shalt fall upon the mountain of Israel" (Ezek. 39: 4).
"He shall cast down many ten thousands" (Dan. 11: 12).
This is rather a formidable list, and the verification of each reference is no light task,
as in one or two passages there is no obvious Hebrew equivalent, yet we believe it is
impossible for any reader not to be impressed with the solidarity of its witness. Every
single reference is for the translation "overthrow", not one is for the translation found in
the A.V. of Eph. 1: 4.
This however is not all. If each reference be read in its context, the references will be
found to be those of battle, of siege, of destruction, of judgment, which tilt the beam of
the balances still further. If in addition we discover what Hebrew words have been
translated by kataballo in the LXX our evidence will be complete. These we will supply,
for the benefit of any who may not have the facilities to discover them.
Naphal.
"To cast down, to fall" (LXX, II Sam. 20: 15 and sixteen other references).
Charas.
"To crush" (LXX Job 12: 14; Ezek. 26: 4, 12).
Shachath.
"To mar, corrupt or destroy" (LXX Ezek. 26: 5).
Natash.
"To leave, spread out" (LXX Ezek. 29: 5; 31: 12).
Nathats.
"To break down" (LXX Ezek. 26: 9).
Parats.
"To break forth" (LXX Job 16: 14; Psa. 25: 29).
Taraph.
"To tear" (LXX Job 16: 9).
Satam.
"To hate" (LXX Job 16: 9).
Not a solitary Hebrew word that means to build, to lay a foundation, to erect, is here
but a variety of words everyone meaning destruction, is spoiling, or causing to fall. This
is "proof positive", no reasoning is necessary except the most elementary recognition of
fact when it is presented. From every point of view, the word katabole in Eph. 1: 4
should be translated "overthrow".
The Church of the One Body consequently is blessed with peculiar blessings, these
blessings are to be enjoyed in a peculiar sphere, and this Church is the only company
connected specifically with the "overthrow of the world". Proof that this "overthrow" is
referred to in Gen. 1: 2 will be found in the articles on Ephesians in Volume XXXVI of
The Berean Expositor. (EPHESIANS36, pp.61-65)
ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED (Eph. 1: 6)
When we think of the wonder of redeeming love, and can turn to such passages as
I Cor. 1: 30 or 3: 22, 23 where Christ is made unto the believer "wisdom and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" and where we read "ye are Christ's
and Christ is God's" we may well demur at the suggestion that to be "accepted in the
Beloved" is one of the unique blessings of the dispensation of the Mystery. Let us see for
ourselves. The words "made accepted" translated the Greek charitoo which occurs in but
one other place in the N.T. It is the salutation of the angel to Mary.
"Hail thou that art HIGHLY FAVOURED" (Luke 1: 28).