"ACCESS"

A very interesting word in the New Testament Greek language is the word 'prosagoge'. It occurs just three times in all the N.T.: Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18 and 3:12.

It is translated 'access' in all these writings of Paul in the Authorized Version. Other versions might use 'introduction', 'approach', 'way of entrance', or a similar word of expression.

The verb form from which it comes appears five times: Matthew 18:24; Luke 9:41; Acts 16:20 and 27:27; 1 Peter 3:18.

The word basically means 'to bring toward' and is used in an ordinary physical sense in the first four of the above references to the verb, but the last is used in reference to Christ bringing us to God. 

The three noun references and the one verb reference then refer to the work of Christ. Kittle says of the noun, "We must always keep in view the fact that...we are dealing concretely with what takes place in Christ.
It is an access which is simply Christ Himself who in John 10 is called the door."

This makes it extremely interesting to ascertain the picture that lies behind the word. The verb is used in the Septuagint of bringing sacrificial victims to God (Leviticus 3:12; 4;4; 8:14).

Therefore, it is a word used of bringing something especially dedicated to God and His service.

It is also used in the Old Testament of bringing chosen men into the presence of God that they may be ordained as priests for His worship and service (Exodus 29:4).

In secular Greek the verb is regularly used in introducing a speaker to an assembly or to the presence of some higher authority. A special usage was of introducing a person into the presence of a king.

William Barclay concludes a discussion of the word by saying,

"Every single use of these words lights up the work that Jesus does for men. Jesus is the person who introduces us into the royal presence of God. With Him alone we can enter into that presence without fear; He is God's introducer. When He introduces us into that presence He introduces us to the supreme authority of our lives...into the presence of the holiest and most sacred of all...that through Him we may dedicate our lives as a sacrifice of service."



When we analyze the three usages of the noun translated "access" we can see that in reference to Romans 5:2 by obedient faith we are introduced into the grace of salvation in which we stand. 

In Ephesians 2:18 we are introduced into The Father's presence that we may offer prayer boldly to Him. In Ephesians 3:12 we are introduced into heaven itself by faith in Him and faithfulness in living.

May you bless God as you learn His ways and serve Him in all you do...