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Israel, his contention was that Israel would disbelieve his claim and would say `The Lord
hath not appeared unto thee', his objection was accepted as valid and two great signs
were given, the one touching a serpent, the other leprosy, symbols of Satan and Sin
(Exod. 4: 1-7). It is not without significance that the words `hath appeared unto thee' are
almost the same as those used in Acts 26:, of the appearing of Christ to the Apostle
Paul. Coming nearer to the Apostle's time we have a greater example of this concession,
namely that provided by the Saviour Himself. In the ninth chapter of Matthew a man
sick of palsy is brought before the Lord, but instead of first healing him of his disease, the
Saviour forgave the man his sins. This cause great feeling among His hearers, who
considered any such a claim to be blasphemy. The Saviour admitted their contention so
far as to say:
"Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Arise, and walk?"
(Matt. 9: 5).
Well, obviously, it was easy to `say' thy sins be forgiven thee, for no physical change
would be evident, therefore, in order that the greater claim should be substantiated, the
healing of the sick man followed `That ye may know' (Matt. 9: 5-7). In like manner the
Apostle paused, after claiming to be the prisoner of the Lord for the Gentiles, and broke
the thread of his discourse, to explain and prove his claim:
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to
you-ward" (Eph. 3: 2).
As in Eph. 4: 21 `If so be that ye have heard Him', these words are conditional `For
surely you have heard' is the translation of Eph. 3: 2 by Moffatt. Eige `If indeed'. The
word only occurs five times in the N.T.:
"If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked" (II Cor. 5: 3).*
"Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain" (Gal. 3: 4).*
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph. 3: 2).
"If so be that ye have heard Him" (Eph. 4: 21).
"If ye continue in the faith" (Col. 1: 23).
[NOTE: * - The reader who uses Dr. Bullinger's Greek English Lexicon, should
correct these references, as the first reads II Cor. 5: 5 and the second Gal. 3: 14.]
In each of these passages the subject is taken for granted. The word `if' must not be
treated casually as of little importance. That master of language, Shakespeare, knew
better; "much virtue", he said, "in your `if'." The following Greek particles are
translated `if' in the N.T. and their distinctive meanings should be realized:
Ean "If haply." This implies a condition, which only experience can determine.
"If he come unto you, receive him" (Col. 4: 10).
Ei "If" putting the condition simply,
(a)
With the indicative it assumes the hypothesis as a fact.
"If ye be dead with Christ" (Col. 2: 20).
(b)
With the optative (the wishing) mood, it expresses mere assumption.
"If the will of God be so" (I Pet. 3: 17).
Eige "If at least"--what is spoken taken for granted (as above).