72 EPHESIANS,

which consists in wisdom. It is true the word spirit is sometimes used in periphrases expressive of mental acts or states. As in 1 Cor. 4, 21, “spirit of meek- ness ;” and 2 Cor. 4, 13, “The same spirit of faith,” i. e. the same confidence. But in the present case the former interpretation is to be preferred. 1. Because the Holy Spirit is so constantly recognized as the source of all right knowledge; and 2. Because the analogy of Seripture is in favour of this view of the passage. In such passages as the following the word spirit evidently is to be understood of the Holy Spirit. John 15, 26, “Spirit of truth;” Rom. 8, 15, “ Spirit of adoption ;” comp. Gal. 4, 6, “God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, erying, Abba, Fa- ther.” 1 Thess. 1,6, “ Joy of the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15, 30, “ Love of the Spirit.” Gal. 5, 5, “ We by the Spirit wait,” &c. The Holy Spirit is the author of that wisdom of which the apostle speaks so fully in 1 Cor. 2, 6-10; and which he describes, first negatively as not of this world, and then affirmatively, as the hidden wisdom of God, which he had revealed, by the Spirit, for our glory. It is the whole system of divine truth, which constitutes the Gospel. Those who have this wisdom are the wise. There is a twofold revelation of this wisdom, the one outward, by inspiration, or through inspired men; the other inward, by spiritual illumination. Of both these the apostle speaks in 1 Cor. 2, 10-16, and both are here brought into view. Comp. Phil. 3,15. By ἀποκάλυψις, revelation, therefore, in this passage is not to be understood, the