No.3. Love that exceeds Knowledge.


Before turning to Eph. iii., where we read of the Love of Christ that “passeth knowledge”, a word or two may be necessary to show the link that exists between this love, and the great act of Redemption which this love exhibits. In previous articles we were pondering the abounding grace manifested in Redemption “Wherein He hath abounded toward us” (Eph. i. 8), and the grace that “superabounds” (Rom. v. 20).

The particle that indicates the superlative quality of this grace is found in the following passages, and the translation given by the Authorized Version will be quite sufficient to justify the translation of Rom. v. 20 by “superabound”.

“Exalted above measure” (II Cor. xii. 7).
“Groweth exceedingly” (II Thess. i. 3).
“Go beyond” (I Thess. iv. 6).
“The glory that excelleth” (II Cor. iii. 10).
“A more excellent way” (I Cor. xii. 31).
“Running over” (Luke vi. 38).

We can therefore use the language of Psa. xxiii. and say “my cup runneth over” when we speak of redeeming grace.

In the first of Ephesians the object of the apostle is not so much to magnify redemption, which he has already done in Romans, but to lead on the mystery, which is the distinctive theme of Ephesians. Readers of both the Authorized and the Revised Versions may miss the apostle’s argument unless they realize that the punctuation of Eph. i. 7-9 is of human origin and allow the sense of the passage full scope, the passage as it stands in the A.V. reads:

“Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence” (i. 8).

The word “abounded” suggests the prodigality of an over-running cup, “wisdom and prudence” suggest the care of stewardship for a priceless trust. If we will but ignore the verses and the punctuation of the versions, we shall get the apostle’s meaning and be able to rejoice in the lavish outpouring of redeeming grace, together with the wise and prudent unfolding of the mystery as we are able to bear it.

Redemption. “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us” (i. 7, 8).
Mystery. “In all wisdom and prudence having made known unto us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He hath purposed in Himself” (i. 8-9).

Here the subject is complete and one feature is intentionally compared with the other. This evident correspondence may be set out thus:

A | Redemption. | a The forgiveness of sins.
                             b According to riches of grace.
     B | He abounded.
          C | Us.
     B | Wisdom and prudence.
A | Mystery. |        a The mystery of His will.
                            b According to His good pleasure.
          C | Himself.

Teaching may necessitate “here a little and there a little, line upon line and precept upon precept”, but redeeming grace overflows and knows no reservation; “My cup runneth over”.

(From The Berean Expositor volume 37, page 122).

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