faith salvation" must be conceived of as a whole, the word faith forming a part of the

parcel, and it is this, this scheme of salvation which, while it excludes works, admits

faith, it is this, that is the gift of God.

A number of derivatives of the Greek root do are translated "gift" in the N.T., which

root is easily recognizable in the English words "donate", "donor".

Didomi, the verb "to give" occurs twelve times in Ephesians.

Doma, something given, a gift. Occurs in Eph. 4: 8 "And gave gifts unto men".

Dorea, a free gift, in Eph. 3: 7 and 4: 7 "the gift of grace" and "the gift of Christ".

Doron is a special form of the word, employed as an equivalent of the Hebrew

corban, and it is this word that is selected by the Apostle to speak of salvation as "the

gift of God". Doron occurs twenty-one times, and with the one exception of Eph. 2: 8 it

is used of gifts and offerings made by man either to God, or to their fellows. Doron is

used of the gifts brought by the wise men (Matt. 2: 11) and of the gift offered to God

(Matt. 5: 23, 24). It is "corban" (Mark 7: 11), and so on. The word corban comes from

the Hebrew qarab "to come near" and in a special sense, to bring an offering to the Lord.

We learn from Rabbinical sources that there were thirteen Corban chests in the temple,

formed like trumpets, each set apart for its own peculiar use. It was into one of the

Corban chests that the widow cast her mites. The LXX uses the word doron in

thirty-seven occurrences of the Hebrew qarab. In Leviticus for example (Lev. 1: 2, 3, 10,

14, 15, etc.). The fact that Eph. 2: 8 uses a word that means an "oblation" something

"offered" makes it all the more impossible that the passage should mean that "faith" is

the gift of God. In what sense can faith be conceived of as an oblation, an offering made

by God? We already know that the blessings of the church of the Mystery are peculiarly

"all spiritual", that the sphere of their enjoyment is peculiar "in heavenly places", that the

period of their choice is peculiar "before the overthrow of the world". These make

manifest the exceeding grace of God to which is added the "kindness" that is in store in

the ages to come.

What can we say however when we learn that in this calling it is God Who makes the

oblation, it is God, not the humble worshipper, Who brings the offering; it is God Who

comes out with both hands full of blessing, and pours them out at the feet of the worthless

and undone. Salvation by grace through faith is the gift, the oblation of God. Let us

close our lexicons, let us put aside for a moment our grammars, let us rather bow our

heads in worship as we say out of full hearts:

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."