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been given, we come back to this prayer and ask what is the purpose of this petition?
How does it fit in with the intention of the epistle as a whole? Can we relate it to the
expressed desires of the Apostle in connection with his peculiar ministry, and what is the
testimony of the Scriptures themselves to breadth, length, depth and height? Let us begin
with this inquiry, and consider the way in which these terms are employed elsewhere.
Platos the Greek word translated `breadth' occurs elsewhere only in Rev. 20: 9 and
21: 16. "The breadth of the earth", `the breadth of the Holy City'.
Mekos the Greek word translated `length' occurs elsewhere only in Rev. 21: 16,
where it is also used of the Holy City. This fact must surely be taken into consideration
when we seek an explanation of the Apostle's purpose.
Bathos `depth', occurs nine times in the N.T. It is used of the deepness of the soil for
seed sowing (Matt. 13: 5; Mark 4: 5); for the sea (Luke 5: 4); for the deep things of
God and of Satan (Rom. 11: 33; I Cor. 2: 10; Rev. 2: 24); for the depth of the poverty
of the Corinthians (II Cor. 8: 2) and for the reference Rom. 8: 39 "Nor height nor
depth" which were among the many things that, though formidable, could never separate
from the love of God.
Hupsos `height'. This word is used of the heavenly Jerusalem in Rev. 21: 16 and the
supreme glory of the Ascended Saviour in Eph. 4: 8. Elsewhere it is translated `on
high' (Luke 1: 78; 24: 49) and `exalted' (James 1: 9). What emerges from this
comparison is the fact that the Revelation uses three of these words to describe the
Holy City, the heavenly Jerusalem, omitting `the depth'. When we turn to the O.T., we
find the word breadth used:
(1)
For the breadth of the Ark (Gen. 6: 15).
(2)
For the breadth of the land of promise (Gen. 13: 17).
(3)
For the breadth of the furniture and building of the Tabernacle and Temple.
Length is also used for the Ark, for the land of promise, and for the furniture and
buildings of the Tabernacle and the Temple. Depth does not appear to have been used in
the O.T. either of the land or of the Tabernacle and Temple. Height is used of the Ark, of
the land, and again of the Tabernacle and Temple. In addition, depth and height are used
of God and His ways as contrasted with those of man. These we must consider
separately. What does emerge from this comparison of terms is the following fact:
(1)
The earthly inheritance promised to Abraham is defined by two measurements only
"The breadth and the length".
(2)
The heavenly city, the new Jerusalem, the heavenly side of Abraham's inheritance, is
defined by `breadth, length and height', three measurements.
(3)
The inheritance of the Mystery appears to have been in the Apostle's mind when he
spoke of `breadth, length, depth and height', four dimensions, and so something
`spiritual' and not associated or confined by the limitations of our present three
dimensional existence. Philosophers speak of `the fourth dimensions', but for all
practical purposes we live in a world of three dimensions: breadth, length, height.