seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
This is the link to the commentary I use.
How that by revelation: Paul wanted them to know, “I’m not making this up. This isn’t my invention. God gave me the revelation and I am only His messenger of this truth.” It cost Paul a lot to hold on to this mystery, so he probably would not have made it up himself.
It is indeed amazing that God would take a Hebrew of the Hebrews, a Pharisee, and a persecutor of the church to be the main minister of the mystery, the mystery of the work of the gospel in bringing Jew and Gentile together into one new body.
However, it seems that God used Paul to declare specifically how Jews and Gentiles would be joined together in one body of Christ. This was something hinted at through others, but only specifically detailed through Paul’s revelation. Paul trusted that his readers would understand what God revealed to him.
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body: This describes the mystery itself — that believing Jews and believing Gentiles are joined together into one body of Christ, into one Church, and no longer separated before God as such.
Fellowship of the mystery: We should carefully consider what this phrase means. It demonstrates that these are not only facts to know but also a life to live, united in Jesus with other believers, without any separation such as existed between Jew and Gentile.
The commentary gets more long winded than Paul ever could be... and that's saying a mouthful. I would encourage all to read it though. It is indeed quite instructional.It seems to me these letters of Paul's are anything but kind and healing. I don't think Jesus would write about Himself nearly as much as Paul does.
Wasn't Paul a halfbreed? Wasn't Paul part Greco Roman and part Hebrew? His dad was a conquering Greco Roman [Gentile] and his mom was Hebrew [Jewish]. He was part of the Sanhedrin that sent Jesus to the Cross. Then he claimed that Jesus knocked him down and blinded him. He was with a few men, on a quest to imprison Christians, when this assault allegedly took place. Being a Christian was a Capital Offense. Paul was hunting Christians, with his troops, when this "miracle" occurred. No one else saw or heard anything. Now Paul wants to talk about the unification of the church.
The only way I can buy Paul's story about the assault would be if an angry Jesus knocked Paul down and told him to "STOP". I think Jesus might have been angry enough about Paul rounding up Christians that He might have raged against him. I still don't buy it was a call to preach.
Paul claims his sermons are all about the mysteries of God that were explained to him... apparently one on one. Most of what he says could be said in one sentence... but he drones on and on and on about how important he is... after all, Jesus chose him to knock down and blind.... give me a break!
Paul says he's just part of the plan to bring all humans who would Believe into one fellowship. This I Believe to be true. Think about it, could there be a better example of a big mouthed halfbreed sinner, who dared sentence Jesus to the Cross, being called to join the Christians? If Jesus could forgive Paul.... Jesus can handle all my afflictions with no problem at all.
I don't believe that Paul got knocked down by Jesus. There are no witnesses. I don't believe Paul had a revelation about the dispensation of humans. I do believe in the concept of dispensation though. I do believe that Jews and Gentiles can be one family under God. Just as Ishmael and Isaac were from one father, Jews and Gentiles still have one Father.
It's in the plan.... We are all humans. Some of us might be ugly mutts, and some might be award winning canines, we're all humans and we can all be Christians. It's up to us.
It's our choice.
