AGE

The words chronois aioniois, in Romans 16:25 are in the dative case. This case is used to denote `a space of

time', `for', as in Acts 13:20 and John 2:20. (The A.V. use of the word `since' is without precedent; this demands

the preposition apo, or its equivalent). In the space of time known as the age-times, a truth had been `kept secret'.

As the word musterion and its derivations express the idea of something `secret' and as the word translated `kept

secret' in the original of Romans 16:25 is sigao `to keep silence' (see 1 Cor. 14:28,34), the translation of the A.V. is

misleading. The word does not indicate that the truth in view was never made known at all, or at any time, but that

in the space of time known as the age-times, it was `hushed', that period ending with the revelation found in the

epistle to the Romans, and referring, not to `The Mystery' of Ephesians, but to the inner portion of Romans, namely

Romans 5:12 to 8:39, where instead of the law of Moses, and personal transgressions, being the dominant theme,

Moses retires into the background, and Sinai is exchanged for `the law of sin and death', Adam takes the place of

Moses, and the ruin of the creature is stressed rather than personal transgressions, `sin' rather than `sins'.

Since the call of Abraham, and during the period of Israel's discipline this inner teaching of Romans remained

unemphasized, but with the commission of the apostle, the hour struck for its proclamation. A comparison of

Romans 1:1-7 with Romans 16:25-27 will reveal some things in common, and some that differ.

The structure of the epistle to the Romans is exceedingly complex, as we can well believe of so mighty an

epistle. Simplified to the extreme it appears somewhat like this:

A Rom. 1:1 to 5:11.

Sins, rather than sin.

Law of Sinai.

Abraham, Israel, Jew and Gentile.

Sin, rather than sins.

B Rom. 5:12 to 8:39.

Adam, not Abraham.

(inner)

Law of sin and death.

A Rom. 9:1 to 16:24.

Dispensational and Practical problems.

Abraham, Israel, Jew and Gentile.

B Rom. 16:25-27.

The mystery that had been `hushed'.

(inner)

epistles of Paul.

The conclusion to which an examination of the word aion leads, is that eternity is never in view, but that the

word is employed to cover the period of time since Genesis 1:2 and reaching up to the day when God will be all in

all, when the Ages will have reached both their goal and their end.

The reader would find considerable help, if the notes on `age' given in the appendix of Rotherham's Emphasized

New Testament were consulted; Weymouth's Translation of the New Testament in Modern Speech, and Appendix

129 and 151 of The Companion Bible.

For further notes, see the article entitled TIME5.

ALIEN, Greek allotrios and apallotrioo. Allotrios is found fourteen times in the New Testament and is translated in

the A.V. as follows: alien 1, another man's 6, of others 1, strange 2, stranger 4.

Apallotrioo, be alienated 1, alien 1, alienated 1. The Greek word allotrios is one of a large family, the root of

which is alla `change', and it is of great importance to remember that alienation and reconciliation, the two poles of

experience, are both derived from the same root. Reconciliation being either katallasso, apokatallasso, dialassomai

and katallage; allogenes being translated `stranger' (see RECONCILIATION4). The word that has a direct bearing

upon dispensational truth is apallotrioo which occurs as follows:

Eph. 2:12.

Being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

Eph. 4:18.

Being alienated from the life of God.