The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary of the Books of the Bible: Volume 29 (of 32) / The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary of the Epistles of St. Paul the Apostle: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and I-II Thessalonians

by George Barlow

Transcriber’s Notes

• Page 1, Introduction, “Character” paragraph, add comma to “time they”; remove comma from “numbers, and”; apply Reverential Capitalisation (RC) to “the Gospel.”
• Page 2, same paragraph, change “v. 15” reference to “ch. v. 15”; apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Time of writing” paragraph, remove comma from “certainty, and.” “Purpose and analysis” paragraph, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Pages 2 and 3, table, change each reference to prefix “ch.”
• Page 5, Notes for chapter i., verse 1, apply RC to “Divine source” and “the Gospel.” Verse 6, change “cf.” to “cf. ch.” Verses 8 and 9, apply RC to “his Gospel.” Verse 12, apply RC to “the Gospel” and “his Gospel.” Verse 16, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Lesson “Apostolic Credentials,” point I, apply RC to “Divine authority.”
• Page 6, same lesson, point I, apply RC to “Divine character”; remove comma from “God, and”; apply RC to “Divine stamp,” “Divine element,” and “Divine authority.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine source” and “the Gospel.” Point III, apply RC to “are Divine” and “Divine love”; remove comma from “race, and”; add comma to “Oh, the.” Point IV, apply RC to “Gospel salvation”; add comma to “words we”; apply RC to “the whole Gospel” and “the Gospel”; remove comma from “nutshell, and”; apply RC to “Divinely provided” and “the Gospel.”
• Page 7, same lesson, point IV, apply RC to “Divinely revealed.” Application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “the Gospel.” “The Power” note, remove comma from “them, and.” “Grace and Peace” note, point I, remove comma from “man, but.”
• Page 8, “Unselfishness” note, apply RC to “Divine character.” “Christ our Sacrifice” note, point II, add comma to “Therefore all.”
• Page 9, lesson “The One Gospel,” point I, apply RC to “one true Gospel,” “one Gospel,” and “the Gospel”; remove comma from “methods, and.” Point II, apply RC to “one Gospel.” Point II. 1, apply RC to “true Gospel,” “one Gospel,” “true Gospel,” and “the Gospel.” Application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “infallible Gospel.” “Remonstrance” note, point II, remove comma from “part, and.” Point III, remove comma from “wax, and”; apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice).
• Page 10, same note, same paragraph, apply RC to “the Word.” Point IV, apply RC to “the Gospel” and “one Gospel.” Point V, apply RC to “the Gospel” (four times); remove comma from “word, and.” “Perversion” note, point I, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine purpose.” “Disappointed Hopes” note, apply RC to “the Gospel”; add comma to “sweetened and.” “Inviolable Unity” note, apply RC to “one Gospel.”
• Page 11, same note, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). “Inviolability of Christianity” note, point I, apply RC to “the Gospel” (thrice); remove comma from “eye, but”; and apply RC to “that Word.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine origin” and “Divine benediction.” Point IV, apply RC to “Divine truth.”
• Page 12, same note, point V, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Best Authority” note, add a missing sentence-ending period after “St. Peter”; add double quotes around the response “No.”
• Page 13, “True Gospel” note, point IV, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). Lesson “Superhuman Origin,” point I, apply RC to “the Gospel” (thrice). Point II, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice), “a Gospel,” and “Divine Master.” Point III, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice) and “Divine message” (across page break).
• Page 14, same lesson, same point, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice) and “Divine origin.” Application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “the Gospel,” “saving Gospel,” “the Gospel,” and “Divine gift.” “Fidelity” note, point I, add sentence-ending period after “they utter.” Point II, apply RC to “the Word.” Point III, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Servant of Christ” note, point I, apply RC to “the Gospel”; remove comma from “dishonourable, unless” apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice).
• The break between pages 14 and 15 is in the word “compelled”: com|pelled. In this and every subsequent case, the Transcriber moved the whole word to the earlier page.
• Page 15, same lesson, point III, remove comma from “us, but”; apply RC to “He saved us” and “of His Word.”
• The break between pages 15 and 16 is in the word “maintenance”: mainte|nance.
• Page 16, “The Gospel and the Call,” point I, apply RC to “the Gospel” and “the Word” (thrice). Point II, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point III, apply RC to “the Gospel,” “Divine authority,” and “the Word.” “Apostolic Assurance” note, apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 17, same note, apply RC to “the Gospel” (thrice).
• Page 18, lesson “Zealous Ritualist,” point III, remove comma from “heart, and”; apply RC to “the Word” and “God’s Word.” “Review of a Misspent Life,” apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 19, “True and False Zeal,” point III, apply RC to “the Word,” “the Gospel” (twice), “His Word,” and “the Word.” Lesson “Imperative Claims,” point I, apply RC to “Divinely destined” and remove comma from “future, or.” Poem, apply RC to “Divinity.” After poem, apply RC to “Divine element.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine revelation”; remove comma from “change, and”; apply RC to “universal Gospel” and “Divine commission.”
• Page 20, same lesson, point IV, apply RC to “the Gospel”; remove commas from “response, and” and “hearer, and.” Point V, apply RC to “first Gospel pioneers.” “Conversion” note, point II, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 21, same note, point IV, apply RC to “God’s Word.” “Conversion as Illustrated” note, point I 2, apply RC to “Divine grace” and “the Gospel” (twice). “Qualification” note, point II, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Divine Call” note, remove comma from “doubt, and.”
• Page 22, same note, change the scripture reference after “Jeremiah” from “i. 19” to “Jer. i. 19” to avoid any confusion. “Divine call” note, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Lesson “God Glorified,” point I, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice).
• Page 23, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point IV, apply RC to “Divine call” and “Divine work.” Application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Self-conscious Truth” note, apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 24, “Self-evidencing Proof” note, apply RC to “Divinely commissioned.” “God Glorified” note, apply RC to “if He continues.”
• Page 25, Notes for chapter ii., verse 2, apply RC to “the Gospel” and “Divine confirmation.” Verse 9, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Verse 13, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Verse 14, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 26, lesson “Confirmatory Proofs,” point I, apply RC to “Divinely directed” and “Divine call”; remove comma from “apostles, and”; apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). Point II, apply RC to “the Gospel” (five times) and “Divine commission.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine authority” and “the Gospel” (twice).
• Page 27, same lesson, point IV, apply RC to “Divine commission” and remove comma from “past, and.” Application (“Lessons”) apply RC to “Divine call.” “Truth its Own Evidence” note, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 28, same lesson, “False Brethren” note, point IV, remove comma from “bondage, and.” Point V, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point VII, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “A spy” note, remove comma from “borrowed, and.” “Fidelity” note, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). “Truth” note, remove comma from “sword, and.” “Recognition” note, point II, apply RC to “distinctly Divine.”
• The break between pages 28 and 29 is in the word “admitting”: ad|mitting.
• Page 29, same lesson, “Divine Blessing” note, apply RC to “the Word.” “Efficacy” note, point I, apply RC to “the Word.” Point II, apply RC to “the Word.” Point III, apply RC to “the Word.” Point IV, remove comma from “apostle, because.” Lesson “Christianity and Poverty,” point I 1, remove comma from “Christianity, but.”
• Page 30, same lesson, point II, apply RC to “Spirit of the Gospel.” “Remember the Poor” note, point I, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point II, apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 31, lesson “Fearless Defence,” point I, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 32, same lesson, same point, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point II, remove commas from “it, and” and “sin, but.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine character” and “Divine order” and change “brganic life” to “organic life.” “Astute Defender” note, point I, change “His power” to “his power,” referring to Paul.
• Page 33, same lesson, “Power of Example,” remove comma from “men, and.” “Erring Apostle” note, point I 1, remove comma from “law, but.” Point I 5, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point III 1, apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 34, same lesson, “Justification” note, point III, add comma to “Therefore it.” Point IV, final sentence, the Transcriber inserted a colon after “place.”
• Page 35, “Christian Dead to the Law” note, point III, apply RC to “the Gospel” (five times).
• Page 36, “Dead to the Law by the Law” note, point II, add sentence-ending period after “law of Moses.” Point III 1, remove comma from “God, and.” “Religious Life” note, point IV, apply RC to “the Divine.”
• Page 37, “Love of the Son” note, point I, apply RC to “the Divine.” Point II, add the hyphen to “self-denial.” “Life of Faith” note, point I 2, remove comma from “salvation, but.”
• Page 38, “Life of Faith” note, point I 6, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Self-abolished” note, remove comma from “this, and.”
• Page 39, Notes for chapter iii., verse 3, apply RC to “Divine order.” Verse 8, apply RC to “the Gospel” (thrice). Verse 17, apply RC to “Divine covenant.”
• The break between pages 39 and 40 is within an element that style indicates should not be broken, “transgressions.|—To.” In this and every subsequent case, the Transcriber moved the entire element to the earlier page.
• Page 40, lesson “Deceptive Glamour,” point I, remove comma from “colours, and”; add commas to “error their” and “diverted and.”
• Page 41, same lesson, point II 2, apply RC to “Divine order.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine method.” “Faithful Reproof” note, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 42, “Folly” note, point II, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point III, apply RC to “the Word” (thrice). “Attractiveness” note, apply RC to “His Word”; add “John xii. 32” reference.
• Page 43, same lesson, “Uses of Suffering” note, remove comma from “adoption, and.” “Miracles” note, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Lesson “Abrahamic Gospel,” in point I, apply RC to and remove comma from “the Gospel, and” and apply RC to “only Gospel.” Point III, remove comma from “blessing, but.”
• Page 44, same lesson, application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Righteousness through Faith” note, point I, apply RC to “Divine method”; point III, apply RC to “unchanging Gospel.” “Imitators of Abraham’s Faith” note, point III, apply RC to “the Word.” “All Nations” note, apply RC to “the Gospel” (thrice).
• Page 45, lesson “The Conflict,” point I, remove comma from “imperfection, and.” Point II, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice); remove comma from “law, and.” At the end of the paragraph, add double quotes around “No.”
• Page 46, same lesson, “The Inexorability” note, point I, remove comma from “requirements, but.” “Justified” note, add “Gen. i. 3” reference. “The Difference” note, point I, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). Each of points II and III, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point IV, apply RC to “the Gospel” and “His work.”
• Page 47, same lesson, same note, point V, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point VI, apply RC to “the Gospel” (four times). Lesson “Divine Covenant,” point I, remove comma from “binding, and”; apply RC to “Divine covenant” (thrice); apply RC to “the Divine Word” and “Divine character.”
• Page 48, same lesson, application (“Lessons”), point 2, apply RC to “Divine covenant.” “Promise a Covenant” note, point I, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice).
• Page 49, same lesson, same note, point II, apply RC to “His bare Word.” Point III, add comma to “therefore it.” “Divine and Human Covenants” note, each of points II and III, apply RC to “Divine covenant.” “Law and Promise” note, remove comma from “justification, and.”
• Page 50, lesson “Inferiority of the Law,” point III, apply RC to “the Gospel”; remove comma from “man, and.” Point IV, apply RC to “Divine image.”
• Page 51, same lesson, “No Trust” note, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Use of the Law” note, each of points I and II, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Unity” note, point 3, remove comma from “one, and.”
• Page 52, lesson “True Use of the Law,” point I, apply RC to “Divine method” (twice). Point IV, remove comma from “Christ, and.”
• On page 53, same lesson, “Great Prison” note, change “sabbathless” to “Sabbath-less”; remove comma from “fast, and”; add comma to “So when.”
• On page 54, same lesson, “Shut up unto the faith” note, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point II, remove comma from “is, and” and apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). Point III, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 55, same lesson, “Law our Schoolmaster” note, in point III 3, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice).
• Page 56, same lesson, “Law preparing” note, point I, capitalize “Day of Atonement.” Each of points II and III, capitalize “Ten Commandments.” Point III, apply RC to “Divine plan” and “Divine life.”
• Page 57, same lesson, “Law a Schoolmaster” note, application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “Christ’s Gospel.” Lesson “Dignity of Sonship,” point I, remove comma from “training, and”; point III, apply RC to “the Gospel”; remove comma from “provisions, and.”
• Page 58, same lesson, point IV, add comma to “Surely he.” “Baptism” note, point III 2, apply RC to “Divine life.”
• Page 59, same lesson, “God’s Children” note, point VI, apply RC to “Word of God.” “Profession” note, remove comma from “doing, or”; add comma to “Nevertheless we.”
• Page 60, same lesson, “Promise of Grace” note, apply RC to “whole Gospel” and “the Word”; add comma to “therefore, the”; apply RC to “the Gospel.” Notes for chapter iv., correct “V r. 1” to “Ver. 1.” Verse 6, tag “Abba’ as Chaldee (Hebrew) and set it in Italic; change “iii. 28” to “ch. iii. 28”; apply RC to “the Gospel”; and add the sentence-ending period to the second sentence.
• Page 61, each of the notes for verses 17 and 30, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Lesson “Nonage,” point I 2, remove comma from “blessings, and.” Point II 1, apply RC to “Divinely provided.”
• Page 62, same lesson, point II, apply RC to “Divine Son.” Point II 2, apply RC to “Divine law.” Point III 1, apply RC to “Divine glow” and remove comma from “God, and.” Point III 2, apply RC to “Divine adoption.” Application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Christ’s Mission” note, point I, apply RC to “Divine power.”
• Page 63, same lesson, same note, same point, remove comma from “trial, and.”
• Page 64, same lesson, “Adoption” note, point I, remove comma from “name, and.” Point II 1, change “iv. 6” to “ch. iv. 6.”
• Page 65, same lesson, “Evidences of Sonship” note, point II 1, apply RC to “the Word of God.” Point II 3, apply RC to “Divine manner.” “God’s Offspring” note, point 2, remove comma from “Father, and.”
• Page 66, lesson “Legalism a Relapse,” point II, remove comma from “religion, and.” Point III, remove comma from “nature, but.”
• Page 67, same lesson, “Dilemma” note, point I 2 (3), make “his god” and “thy god” lowercase, because the focus has been taken from God. “Ignorance” note, each of points 2 and 3, apply RC to “Divine worship.”
• Page 68, lesson “Pleadings,” point I 2, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). Point II 2, remove comma from “intellect, but.”
• Page 69, same lesson, “Christian Brotherhood” note, point I, remove comma from “men, or.” Point II 1, remove comma from “wilfully, and.”
• Page 71, same lesson, “Objects” note, point II, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). “Godly Zeal” note, point I 2, remove comma from “excitement, and.”
• Page 72, same lesson, same note, point I 5, remove comma from “man, but.” Point III 2, apply RC to “Divine designs.” “True” note, point I 1, apply RC to “Divine.” Point II 5, apply RC to “Divine approval.” “Christmas” note, apply RC to “Divine Agent.”
• Page 73, same lesson, “Doubt” note, point I 2, remove comma from “knowledge, and”; point I 4, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Lesson “History,” point I 2, apply RC to “the Gospel” and “Divine freedom.” In point II, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 74, same lesson, point III, apply RC to “the Gospel” (thrice) and add “1 Pet. i. 4” reference. Application (“Lessons”), apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice). “Jerusalem Above” note, point III 2, remove comma from “salvation, and.”
• Page 75, same lesson, “Jerusalem a Type” note, point III, correct “Messias” to “Messiah” and apply RC to “the Word.” “Believers” note, point II 4, add comma to “So believers” and “so it.” Point III 1, apply RC to “Divine love.”
• Page 76, same lesson, “Fate” note, point I, remove comma from “mocking, and.” Notes for chapter v., verse 2, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 77, lesson “Christian Liberty,” point I, correct “where.|with” to “wherewith.”
• Page 78, same lesson, in point II, capitalize “Negro” (twice). Point III, remove comma from “good, but.”
• Page 79, same lesson, “Bondage and Liberty” note, point V, remove comma from “adoption, and.” Point VI, remove comma from “memory, but.” Lesson “Christianity Superior,” point II, apply RC to “the Gospel”; remove comma from “aspect, and.”
• Page 80, same lesson, same point, apply RC to “the Gospel.” “Righteousness attained” note, apply RC to “Divine worship” and “the Word.”
• Page 81, same lesson, “Religion is Faith working” note, point II, apply RC to “the Word.” Lesson “Disturber,” point I, remove comma from “result, and.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine method” and “Divine calling.” Point III, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point IV 1, apply RC to “Divine judgment” and remove commas from “truth, but” and “himself, but.”
• Page 82, same lesson, point IV 2, add double quotes around “Would that the Judaising troubles would mutilate themselves”; remove comma from “exhausted, and.” “Like a Race” note, point I 4, remove commas from “on, and” and “them, but.”
• Page 83, same lesson, “Bad Companions” note, add comma to “course it.” “Disintegrating Force” note, point 1, remove comma from “God, and” and apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 84, same lesson, “Perversion” note, point II, add comma to “known and.”
• Page 85, same lesson, “Judgment” note, remove comma from “certainty, because.” Lesson “Love,” point I, remove comma from “win, and.”
• Page 86, same lesson, point III, remove comma from “quarrels, but.” Point IV, remove comma from “sphere, and” add double quotes around “Be a man . . . as you can”; remove comma from “can, but.” “Abuse” note, point I, add comma to “Thus all.”
• Page 87, same lesson, “Right Use” note, point II 1, apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 88, same lesson, “Positiveness” note, point III, add comma to “suppression but” apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 89, same lesson, “Walking in the Spirit” note, point I, apply RC to “Divine nature.” Each of points I 5 (1) and II 1 (2), apply RC to “the Word.” “The Strife” note, point I, change “imprison Him” to “imprison him” referring to sin. Point II, apply RC to “in Him.”
• Page 90, same lesson, “Leading of the Spirit” note, apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 91, lesson “Works,” point II 1, apply Italic formatting to “fornication” in the second sentence for consistency. Point II 2, apply Italic formatting to “idolatry” for consistency; remove comma from “lust, and”; apply RC to “the Divine.” Point III, add “and rises again” because man religious leaders have died, only One has risen again. Use lowercase for “him whose own career it describes” as referring to a saved person.
• Page 92, same lesson, “Biblical Account” note, remove comma from “Testament, and”; capitalize “Adam’s Fall”; remove comma from “Testament, and.” Lesson “Fruit,” point I 1, add comma to “place love” and apply RC to “Diviner meaning.”
• Page 93, same lesson, point I 3, remove commas from “activity, and” and “discipline, and.”
• Page 94, same lesson, “Fruit” note, point I 1 (2), apply RC to “the Word.”
• The break between pages 94 and 95 is in the word “according”: accord|ing.
• Page 95, “Powers” note, add comma to “Christianity we.” Point I, remove comma from “miserable, and.” Point IV, apply RC to “Divine love” and “the Divine.”
• Page 96, “Power of Meekness” note, remove comma from “peace, and.” “Grace of Gentleness” note, point I, apply RC to “the Divine.”
• Page 97, same lesson, same note, point III, apply RC to “Divine greatness.” “Life and Walk” note, point II 2, remove comma from “life, and.” Point III, apply RC to “the Word.” “Walking in the Spirit” note, each of points I and III, apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 98, notes for chapter vi., verse 7, remove comma from “men, but.”
• Page 100, lesson “Mutual Sympathy,” point II, add double quotes around “If ye will . . . law of love.” In point III. 2, remove comma from “theirs, but” add double quotes around “What do others fail to do” and “What am I . . . expects from me.”
• Page 101, same lesson, point IV, remove comma from “you, and.”
• Page 103, same lesson, “Bear One Another’s Burdens” note, in point 4, remove comma from “turned, and”; apply RC to “dim Gospel.”
• Page 104, same lesson, “Bearing One Another” note, add comma to “so in.”
• Page 106, same lesson, “Every Man” note, point I, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Lesson “Moral Sowing,” point I, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point II, apply RC to “Divine law.”
• Page 107, same lesson, point III, remove comma from “disappointment, and.” “Pastors and People” note, point VI, apply RC to “the Gospel” (twice).
• Page 108, same lesson, same note, same point, apply RC to “the Gospel” (two additional times). “Ministerial Maintenance” note, point 3, remove comma from “preach, and” and apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 109, same lesson, “Double Harvest” note, point II 1, apply RC to “the Gospel.” Point II 2, apply RC to “Divine appointment” and add comma to “end they.” Change second point “II” to point “III.”
• Page 110, “Sowing and Reaping” note, point II 3, apply RC to “Divine approval.”
• Page 111, same note, point III 3, apply RC to “Divine plaudit.”
• Page 112, same lesson, “Reap if we faint not” note, point I 3 (2), apply RC to “the Word.”
• Page 113, same lesson, “Doing Good” note, point II, apply RC to “Divine stanbard.” Point IV, remove comma from “calling, and.”
• Page 115, lesson “Apostolic Exposure,” “Christianity and Persecution” note, point III, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 116, lesson “Glorying,” point II, add comma to “Thus I.” Point III, apply RC to “the Gospel.” The original third sentence is “The faith of the cross claims to have produced not a new style of ritual, a new system of government, but new men.” The Transcriber inserted the word “not” after the first comma for clarity.
• Page 117, same lesson, point IV, add comma to “So as” and add “1 Pet. i. 4” reference. “Christ Crucified” note, point IV, remove comma from “punishments, and.”
• Page 118, same lesson, “Glorying in the Cross” note, point III 1, apply RC to “Divine character.” Point III 5, apply RC to “the Gospel.”
• Page 119, same lesson, “True Religion” note, point II 2, apply RC to “Divine work.” “New Creature” note, add comma to “therefore the.” Lesson “Dignified,” point I, the Transcriber removed an opening double quotes from “Peace is followed by mercy” because there was neither a closing quotation mark nor an obvious indication where a quotation ended.
• Page 120, same lesson, point II, apply RC to “His Gospel.” Application (“Lessons”), point 2, apply RC to “Divine blessing.” “True Israel” note, point III, apply RC to “Divine benedictions.”

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THE

EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.

INTRODUCTION.

Readers to whom the epistle was sent.—In the two most ancient copies of the Scriptures which we possess—dating from the fourth century of our era—the words in our A.V. (ch. i. 1), “at Ephesus,” are missing; and Basil the Great, who lived in the fourth century, says he had seen copies which, “ancient” even at that early date, spoke of the readers as “those who are, and the faithful in Christ Jesus.” When it is observed, however, that Basil still says in that passage the apostle is “writing to the Ephesians,” in all honesty we must admit another interpretation of his words to be possible.

Add to these early witnesses that Ephesus is not named in the text the further fact that, though St. Paul had lived and laboured between two and three years in Ephesus, there is absolutely no mention of any name of those with whom he had been associated, and what on the assumption of the Ephesian destination of the epistle is stranger still, no reference to the work, unless we may be allowed to regard the “sealing with the Holy Spirit of promise” as a reminiscence of Acts xix. 1–7.

We must not make too much, however, of this absence of personal greetings. Tychicus can do, vivâ voce, all that needs to be done in that way. St. Paul had been “received as an angel of God, or even as Christ Jesus,” by Galatians, not one of whom is mentioned in the letter sent to the Galatians.

Certain expressions in the body of the letter are strange if the Ephesian Christians were the first readers of it. In ch. i. 15 the apostle says, “After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus.” One asks, “Did not the faith which ‘cometh by hearing’ result from Paul’s preaching in Ephesus? Then how can he speak of hearing of it?” It may be answered, “Does not Paul say to Philemon, ‘Thou owest unto me thine own self’ (ver. 19), and yet says (ver. 5) that, hearing of his love and faith, he thanks God?” Moreover, has any one quite demonstrated the impossibility of this faith being the continuity of that which began with the abjuration of magic in a costly offering of fifty thousand pieces of silver? (Acts xix. 17–20). “Faith” may take the form of fidelity as easily as of credence.