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That they are riches, yea exceeding riches both of grace and of glory, the two chapters
already studied bear testimony. There we have read of `riches of grace', `riches of glory'
and of `exceeding riches of grace' (Eph. 1: 7, 18; 2: 7). These riches are concerned with
redemption, with hope and inheritance and with the glory of the future ages. The Apostle
once more uses the word riches, but this time prefaced by an unusual word,
`unsearchable'. Moffatt translates the passage `the fathomless wealth of Christ', which
has the merit of bringing to the reader's mind something that is `past finding out',
something extending beyond the usual. Anexichniastos is a compound of a negative,
ex out and ichnos a footstep, not to be traced out, untraceable, leaving not a footmark
behind.
"Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and Thy footsteps (ichne) are
not known" (Psa. 77: 19).
This reference, if it does nothing else, shows that it is not only futile, but unbelieving
to search the O.T Scriptures for the teaching of the Mystery, seeing that God has
purposely avoided leaving a `trace'.
"God . . . . . which doeth great things and unsearchable" (Job 5: 9).
"Which doeth great things past finding out" (Job 9: 10).
The Hebrew word used in these passages of Job is cheqer. This word comes from root
meaning `to dig'. The word is found in Job 11: 7 where Zophar asks the question "Canst
thou by searching find out God?" A similar word ragal is used for `spying out' a land in
Judges 18: 2. What a blessing it is that no spies can return with an evil report
concerning our inheritance for our blessings are `unsearchable riches'. The mystery of
Christ, which was made known in other generations to the sons of men, were `searchable'
and this `searching' was among the qualities that so commended the Bereans
(Acts 17: 11), and which exercised the hearts of the prophets themselves (I Pet. 1: 10)
and was either commanded (search), or commended (ye search), by the Saviour Himself
(John 5: 39). These riches therefore belong to another category; they are unsearchable
riches. They come from the same treasury of truth, they belong to the same great purpose
of the ages as we shall see, but they have been kept in reserve until the defection of Israel
made the gap which these unsearchable riches were foreordained to fill. In other words
they are `the Mystery'. The phase `that I should preach' is balanced in the next verse by
the words `And to make all men see', "among the Gentiles" being echoed by "all men";
and the `unsearchable riches' being put in correspondence with the Mystery which had
been `hid in God'. These added items are too important merely to form an appendix to
the present article. They demand the fullest consideration, and accordingly we hope to
devote all the space available in our next issue to Eph. 3: 9-13.