QUES. 22.-Please explain the meaning of Eph. 4:8? Is there good reason to substitute what is given in the margin for what we have in the text?

ANS.-There is no philological reason to put as substitute for the text what has been put in the margin. The Text gives the true rendering of the original Greek. Heb. 2:14,15 speaks of what is more briefly said in Eph. 4:8. Satan had held even the true children of God in bondage and fear until, by the atonement upon the cross and His resurrection out of the grave, our precious Saviour triumphed over all the powers of the enemy and set His people free-free from all fear of judgment and condemnation. He who held us in captivity is himself led captive by our Lord, who from on high bestows various gifts for the edification, nourishment and comfort of His people (vers. 11-13). Eph. 4:8 and Col. 2:15 pictorially set forth our Lord's ascension to heaven as when a Roman conqueror returned in triumph with the conquered foe in chains, led as a captive in the triumphal train of the conqueror.

Mr. Wm. Kelly has written a treatise on " Christ preaching to the spirits in prison" ($1.40), expounding this oft misunderstood passage in 1 Pet. 3:19, 20, and this also in Ephesians.

QUES. 23.-Will you please state in Help and Food the teaching of Scripture as to women wearing their hair cut short?

ANS.-The apostle in 1 Cor. 11:3 instructs the saints concerning the headships to whom honor and obedience are due. He says:"The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." These relationships are important to remember as we present ourselves before God and the observing angels (vers. 4-6,11). A woman having no head-covering dishonors her head-1:e., man. It is disowning her subjection, of which a head-covering is the sign. By cutting off her hair, woman dishonors herself (ver. 6); she casts off her God-given ornament-makes herself mannish.

Questions without signature and address are not answered in Help and Food. The writer's name is not for publication, but as certification if needed. Then some questions are better answered personally, rather than publicly.-[ED.