Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation - in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

In whom, having believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit ... (English Revised Version).

In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit ... (KJV).

This very interesting discrepancy between the English Revised Version (1885) and the KJV reveals the error in the English Revised Version (1885). It is not a mere case of choice of words. The two versions teach different things, and there is no way both of them can be correct. The KJV rendition shows that the sealing of the Holy Spirit of promise took place in those "in Christ" at some point in time "after" they had become believers in Christ; but the English Revised Version muddles the meaning, leaving the possible interpretation that the "sealing" took place coincidentally and at the same time of their believing. In the general sense, of course, if "believing" is understood as the whole complex of actions involved in conversion (faith, repentance, confession, and baptism), no error is implied; however, "believing" or "faith" as used in the limited, technical sense of the theological jargon current today, is alleged to be something apart from being baptized into Christ. That this is a false view is evident since both versions reveal the sealed persons to be those "in Christ"; and since no one was ever "in Christ" except by being baptized into him, the true meaning shines through despite all efforts to hide it.

Bruce made a big point out of the fact that the participle "having believed" here is identical with the same words in Acts 19:2, where the English Revised Version rendition is "when ye believed."[26] But, of course, the ERV missed it in both places; and the device of proving one false rendition by a second false rendition cannot prove Bruce's notion that the sealing and believing were "coincident in time." Those believing in Acts 19:2 had not only failed to be sealed with the Holy Spirit at the time they became believers, they never were sealed until they were Scripturally baptized! (Acts 19:5).

Moreover, it is exceedingly significant that in the case of the Holy Saviour himself, the Spirit did not descend and remain upon him until after he was baptized. Why, then, should it be thought strange that the blessed Holy Spirit of promise in view here is exactly that mentioned by Peter on Pentecost, the promise that belongs to all of those in all times whom God shall call unto himself? - why should it be thought strange that that girl of the Holy Spirit was promised only to believers who would repent and be baptized?

It is amazing how commentators cite a dozen other New Testament passages searching for the "Holy Spirit of promise," all of them apparently never having heard of Acts 2:38,39! It is a positive certainty that if the "promise of the Holy Spirit" in that passage does not connect with Paul's reference to the "Spirit of promise" here, then nothing in the New Testament does!