False Teachings;

[Dispy]

Some one wrote:
"The mystery begins with a promise from God to Abraham (Genesis 12:3), when he was told that all nations of the world would be blessed through his seed. HOW this would be done and WHEN would this be accomplished became a great mystery."

THE TRUTH.
It began long before Abram, and there wasn't even an "Abraham" mentioned prior to Genesis 12:3. Abram's name wasn't changed to Abraham until Genesis 17:5. AFTER Abram's name was changed to Abraham, he was required to be circumcised (vs. 11), and he became a "Jew in the flesh".

Paul's writings about the mystery had nothing to do with Genesis 12:3. Paul speaks of the blinding (temporary setting aside) of Israel in Romans 11:7-24, and calls it a mystery in vs. 25.

Paul in Romans 15:25, speaks of "his gospel" as the one that established us today. "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery WHICH WAS KEPT SECRET SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN,"

Paul explains in 1 Cor. 2:7-8 as to why the purpose of the cross had to be kept a secret (mystery), even before creation.

Paul reveals another mystery in 1 Cor. 15:51-53. It has to do with the rapture of the Church, the Body of Christ.

Paul tells of of "..the mystery of His will, according to his good pleasure when he hat purposed in himself: That in the dispensation dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are on heaven, and which are on earth;..."

One should read Ephesians 3:2-10 for more of the mystery revealed to Paul, "...which in other ages was not made know unto the sons of men...

Look what Pau says in Colossians 1:25-26. "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is given to me for you to fulfill (make full/complete) the word of God: the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:"

I do believe the mystery that Paul speaks of is what God kept secret since creation, and didn't start with Abram.

Someone wrote:
"AFTER Christ died on the cross, He was given ALL authority in heaven and on earth – Matthew 28:18-20. By virtue of Deity all other authority was supplanted by that which was given to the Christ – ALL authority! At this time[/i] and with this authority Christ commanded His disciples to go into all the world, preach the gospel to every ethnicity (not just the Jews), (water) baptize them, and [/i]teach[/i] the world to observe all things whatsoever Christ had commanded. Most recognize this passage as the “Great Commission”. The greatness of the commission is fully realized when you realize “the Authority” behind it!

THE TRUGH:
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHICH WHAT SO EVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

From the Book Common Questions About the Grace Message, by Joel Finck.

Question 13) Aren’t we supposed to be carrying out the Great Commission?

To answer the question, let’s take a mental stroll through the Bible. From the fall of Adam and Eve until this present day, God has always sought the salvation of mankind. He has always provided some way for man to approach Him on His terms. Throughout the ages, God has even gone the extra step of commissioning certain individuals or groups to carry His message to the people of the earth so that they clearly understand just what God expects of them. Before the flood, Noah was commissioned as a preacher of righteousness. For 120 years, as he was building that ark, he proclaimed God’s righteousness to an increasingly sinful and wicked world.

After the flood, the world soon turned away from God once again. Mankind showed its rebellion against God by building a tower and a city to make a name for themselves. To this day we know the name of that tower - the Tower of Babel, the city of Babylon. At this point, God commissioned someone else to become a separate nation through whom He could reach these unbelieving Gentile nations. That person was Abram, soon to become Abraham. This nation, which eventually was known as the nation of Israel, inherited the commission to be a light to the other nations, to lead them to the true and living God. Here is how it was supposed to work: God promised the people of Israel that if they would obey His covenant, then He would be their God and they would be His people. As the nations round about Israel looked at the blessing of God falling upon this one nation, they would ask why they were so blessed? Then they would come and inquire, and Israel would point them to their God and say, “We’re blessed because we serve the living and true God.”

Let us give an Old Testament passage to illustrate how this was supposed to operate. This was God’s order for bringing the nations of the earth to Himself through Israel. We sometimes call this the Kingdom program or the prophetic program. We call it the prophetic program because it was revealed in the prophets. It was spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21). Isaiah 60:1-3, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” Who is He talking about? In this context, He is referring to Zion. Zion is another name for Jerusalem, the capital city of the nation of Israel, in biblical times. In verse 3 we read, “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” God’s intention and plan was to bring Israel as a light to the nations and to lift her up on high so that the nations would see that light and so that kings would seek out the glory of God through Israel. This was how it was supposed to work. But unfortunately, many times, it did not work that way. Israel, as the centuries rolled on, failed to be the light that God wanted her to be. Israel, herself, slipped into apostasy. She slipped away from the truth of God’s word and God’s revelation to her. This was the condition that Christ found her in when He came to the earth as a babe in the manger. As our Lord ministered on the earth, His first commission to His apostles was not for them to go out unto all the world. In order for the world to be saved according to that kingdom or prophetic program through the nation of Israel, first Israel had to rise up as a great light. Israel herself was in great darkness when Christ came.

Notice how He first commissioned His apostles. Matthew 10:1-4: “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbeaus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”

Verse 5, “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, ‘Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.’” We should ask the question, why not? Did not God love the Gentile nations at this time? Did not Christ desire to see them saved? Of course He did. But He was operating according to knowledge and understanding that God would bring His light to the nations through Israel. If Israel herself was lost, she first needed to come to the Lord, then Israel could be a light to the nations. This is why He says in verse 6, “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” In Matthew 15 we see that this commission applied even to our Lord. Matthew 15:21 says, “Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts.” Notice that the Holy Spirit inspires the writer to show us this is a Gentile woman; a woman of Canaan. Why is that so important? Because of what the Lord is about to say. She comes with a request in verse 22: “She cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Does that sound like our loving, caring Lord? He does not even talk to her. Why does He do this?

Verse 25, ”Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” This is going from bad to worse it seems. The Lord knew His commission, didn’t He? He knew he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He knew that the nations could not be blessed until the children were filled. What children? The children of Israel. Let the children first be filled. But notice her faith in verse 27, “And she said, Truth, Lord.” Her answer shows that she understood the program under which she lived. She understood she did not have a claim on God’s blessings directly. She understood she did not have access to the glorious blessings that God promised to Israel. But then notice her statement of faith, “Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” She is saying in effect, Lord I don’t expect the direct blessing that you have promised to your children of Israel. I do not expect that. I just want a few leftovers. I just want a few crumbs. The Lord at that point saw her great faith and so He blessed her. Verse 28, “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

You see that principle being well established that the nations are not to be blessed under this kingdom and prophetic program until Israel is first blessed. Once Israel was straightened out, then and only then, was the message to go out to the nations. Christ made this perfectly clear when He commissioned the twelve apostles. Luke 24:46, “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Here is that same principle. Let the children first be filled. Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnessesm unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” When Israel was filled, then the message could go on to the nations. The only problem was that Israel rejected the kingdom offer. This was a problem from our point of view. But was it a problem for God? Of course not. God had in His mind a plan by which He could reach the nations in spite of the stubbornness of Israel. He had a plan whereby the nations could hear His word and they would not have to come through Israel’s rising. Remember Isaiah 60:3 where God says the nations would come to the light of Israel’s rising. Now consider a contrast to that in Romans 11:11. Here the Apostle Paul draws a contrast between how God reaches the nations today as opposed to how the prophets spoke of Israel’s rising. Under the prophetic program, the kingdom program, the nations were to be reached through Israel’s rising. But in Romans 11:11 we read, “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? [Referring to Israel] God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.” Do you see the difference? In Isaiah, the nations are to come through Israel’s rising. In Romans, the nations are blessed through Israel’s fall. How can that be? And how does that tie into the Great Commission?

God revealed his plan to reach the nations in spite of Israel through the Apostle Paul. God determined that if Israel would not go to the nations, He would temporarily by-pass that nation and go directly to the Gentiles. He chose a messenger by the name of Saul of Tarsus to become the great apostle of the Gentiles. When He did so, He temporarily suspended the Great Commission which was given to the Twelve. This leads to the next questions:

14) Where in Scripture do we ever find the Great Commission that was given to the Twelve being suspended? (Snip)

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!

 

[Dispy]

PART 2
Someone Wrote:
"Luke 24:47 and Acts 1:8 substantiate that the gospel was to spread into all of the world beginning in Jerusalem. There was NO prerequisite of hierarchy or ethnicity for this “repentance and remission of sins” to be taken worldwide. (This must be “read into” this passage.)

Further confirmation of the worldwide nature of the gospel is found in Acts 2:39 where Peter announces that the “promise” (of salvation) is to “those afar off… as many as the Lord shall call unto him.” The Gentiles were always a part of God’s plan of salvation – the “other sheep” as mentioned in John 10:16. You can not bless all the nations of the world without blessing the Gentiles also. As such this fulfills God’s promise to Abraham to “bless all nations”.

Acceptance of God’s salvation is an individual matter. The promise is to YOU, and your children, and to THOSE afar off (Acts 2:39). [COLORSave yourselves[/COLOR]… – Acts 2:40. Those that “received” his word were baptized and “added to” the saved – Acts 2:41. This isn’t a “national” matter - it is an individual[/i] matter for Jew and Gentile alike. God’s “elect” today are his “holy priesthood” – His “holy nation” – 1 Peter 2:5-9.

THE TRUTH
Luke 24:47 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached among all nation, beginning at Jerusalem."

Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth."

Yup, The so called "great commission" was to becarried out by starting at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47), and then as stated in the order of Acts 1:8. However, Well I showed previously that it cannot be carried out today.
Acts 2:39 "For the promise is unto you and to you children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

The author above, who quoted this verse, took this verse completely out of context. Peter was referring to Daniel 9:7 which says: "O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Judah, and to the inhabitances of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hath driven them because they have trangressed against thee."

Isaiah 42:6-7 (speaking of Israel) "I the Lord have called thee (Israel) in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep theee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light unto the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."

So you see, the socalled "great commission" it to be carried out by all of Israel, and it will be fulfilled, after the rapture of the Chruch, the Body of Christ.

John 10:16 "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

The only peoples in scripture that are referred to as "sheep" area the children of Israel. Jesus is portraied at "the Good Shepherd. Members of the Body of Christ are NEVER referred to as sheep.

At the time Jesus ministered upon the earth, Israel was divided into two camps. The 2 southern tribes resided in Judah, and the ten northern tribes resided in Samaria.

Jesus in Matthew 10:5 said: "Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritians (where the 10 northern tribes resided) enter ye not:"

The other sheep in John 10 are the sheep that Jesus is referring to. As we have seen in the order of the so called "great commission" it was first to Jerusalem, where the leaders sat in Moses' seat resided, then to Judea, where Jesus and the 12 primarily, preached, then to Samaria wherea the 10 "break-away" tribes resided. Once those three areas believed, then Israel, as a nation, were in a position to be "that nation of priests" that would go throughout the world with "the gospel of the kingdom."

However, Israel, as a nation, rejected their King and His kingdom, which made the so called "great commission" being unable to carry out.

Acts 2:40 "And with many other words did he testify and exhort saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation."

This "untoward generation that Peter is speaking of is the unbelievers in Israel.

Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand."

At Pentecost, the 12 were preaching under the so called "great commission", and were very successful with those Jews at Jerusalem. Israel, at this time was not in a temmporarily blinded (set aside) condition. Peter was not speaking to members of the Church, the Body of Christ, Jew and Gentile on equal footing, without distinction, and not under the Law. He was still speaking to "ye men of Israel" as Acts 3:12 says.

In Acts 2, Peter is only addressing Jews and proselytes. Gentiles are still considered "outside the gate" because there was still "a middle wall of partition" between the Jew and Gentile. Therefore, to find the Church, the Body of Christ, Jew and Gentile on equal footing, without distinction, and not under the Law, that would have to be read into it.

If one can read future revelation to Paul, who wasn't even saved until at least 7 years after Pentecost, into Acts 2, by the same logic, that one would no doubt read the Laws of Moses (613 of them) into the Garden of Eden.

1 Peter 2:5-9 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Peter 1:1 "Peter, and apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout pontus, Galatia, Cappadocis, Asia, and Birtynia,"

Peter is writeing to the Jews that were scattered by Saul presecution of the Jewish Christians. These are the same ones that James, Cephas (Peter) and John, agreed with Paul and Barnabas, in Gal. 2:9, that they would stay with. Peter is not addressing members of "the Body of Christ," but to those that were saved under the preaching of "the gospel of the kingdom," and have an earthly kingdom to look forward to.

The "ye", in verse five above, are the ones mentioned in 1 Peter 1:1. Only believing Israelites were evere promised to be "a nation of priest," and a "holy priesthood." Members of the Body of Christ are never said to be"a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a pecuilar people..." This only applies to the children of Israel.

The author of the above aught to be ashamed of himself for trying to rob from Israel and claim for himself.

God Bless.
Live Well, Laugh Often and Love the Lord!

 

[Apollos1]

Romans 16:25: Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,
26 but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith…” ASV

It is believed that the first reference to the coming of Christ (and therefore salvation for all men) is found in Genesis 3:15. Perhaps “someone” should have said that the mystery “began” here. I do not deny that the mystery had been kept “silent” through times eternal, but at some point the “mystery” came to be known to man - that is, man came to know and understand that God was going to provide salvation to man, but man did not know HOW God would accomplish this or WHEN. This salvation remained a mystery until the HS revealed to the Apostles beginning in Acts 2.

(I guess quibbling about when the mystery technically "began" is a big deal if you have little else to offer in your post.)

And to be more accurate, I will be discussing the mystery of the gospel, ei. salvation below.

A mystery is something that is hidden or not made known.
Example: A birthday present. You have the present - but you wonder what is inside it?

A secret is something that is not made known – something no one knows.
Example: The contents of your birthday present is the secret.

Paul for one preached the revelation of the “mystery”. The mystery Paul speaks of was known of since OT days, but the revelation of that mystery was not known until the HS began to reveal it to the Apostles and prophets – Ephesians 3:5, cf. Acts 2:4ff.

Paul at Romans 16:26 says that the “mystery” that he preached was:
1.) now “manifested” (revealed) - - - AND
2.) by “the scriptures of the prophets” (OT scriptures) IS MADE KNOWN to all nations for faithful obedience!

The O.T. prophets spoke and foretold things in reference to the MYSTERY without knowing/telling us what they meant – as “God commanded” them.
PAUL tells us this in verse 26 !!!

The plan of salvation was a mystery – that is, “HOW” was God going to save all men?
The revelation of that mystery was a secret – now revealed & “made known” by preaching and OT scriptures. The “how” is now manifested.

We now understand what the prophets were saying in regards to salvation because the mystery they spoke of is now revealed.
Paul has already collaborated this earlier in the book of Romans @ 1:1-2 …

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures…”

Can it be made any plainer than Paul’s words here ?? The gospel he preached was promised by the prophets!

Peter does a very good job summarizing the essence of what the mystery was in 1Peter 1:10-12…

10 “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

The OT prophets foretold of God’s grace and Christ’s D/B/R, but they did not fully understand it, nor did the prophets know that Christ would die on the cross. They only knew bits and pieces, and as the passage says – these things were NOT revealed unto them. But they ministered these things unto us, which are reported via the gospel. This means the prophets were telling things pertaining to the gospel – yet did not understand them – these things were a mystery! Therefore the GOSPEL was the mystery – the glad tidings of man’s salvation.

Starting hundreds of years before, the prophets foretold of the grace of God and the sufferings of the Christ, “the gospel” ! Now that God has revealed that which had been hidden, the “scriptures of the prophets” also make the mystery known unto all nations for obedience unto faith, because we now understand what the prophets were telling us.
Cf. Romans 16:25-26!

Now WHY is all of this important? There was always ONE plan and always only ONE gospel for all men!

 

[Dispy]

Some people go to great length to prove that do not properly interpret Scripturel. For example the proper way to interpret Romans 16:25-26 is as follows:

(From A Commentary Of ROMANS. Chapters 9-16, Volume 2, by Dr. Ernest R. Campbell, founder and president of Canyon View Bible College.) (Footnotes and words that were written in the Greek language, have been deleted. () will indicate where the word written in the Greek Language were deleted.)

25. "To the one who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept silent in times eternal, "

It is most amazing that the so-called Majority Greek Text, in spite of all the evidence, does not include verses 25-27! All the recent versions, which we have examined, recognize these verses as a genuine part of the original manuscript. They emphasize the distinct Gospel which Paul proclaimed, which he calls "my gospel" in the second chapter (ν. 16).

These verses are couched in the form of a prayer. Paul is addressing God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ (ν. 27). His desire is that God might establish them in accordance with the truth revealed in the Gospel committed unto him, which truth has been manifested in the current prophetic writings, i.e., particularly through his writings and those of others associated with him (Eph. 3:5).

Paul opens this closing prayer with the words: "To the one who is able to establish you." First, keep in mind that all prayer is always addressed to God the Father. He alone is "able" (), has the ability, and the power to establishbelievers. The consistent testimony of the New Testament is that God the Father, in the process of establishing believers, transmits this ability and power through His Holy Spirit, i.e., via God the Holy Spirit.

What does Paul mean by the phrase "establish you"? The Greek infinitive translated "establish" () means that Paul is committing them to one who is able to make them stand fast, be steadfast and unmovable in their spiritual relationship with Himself. In the light of those who were teaching that which was contrary to the Gospel of Grace (νν. 17-18) there was certinly a real need for POaul to emphasize prayer that they might be made solid and firm in the Truth (1:11; 2 Thess. 2:17; 3:3).

Since it is very important that one be established in the right truth, Paul specifies, Ι want you established "according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ." This means that their steadfastness and solidness must be "according to" (), in keeping with, and conforming to the Gospel which Paul preached. He uses the pronoun "my" () three times to depict his relation to the Gospel (2:16; 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:8). He uses the pronoun "our" () three times (2 Cor. 4:3; 1 Thess. 1:5; 2 Thess. 2:14). Also, three times he speaks of the gospel preached "by me" (); (1 Cor. 15:1; Gal. 1:11; 2:2).

Having told them that they are to be established according to his gospel, Paul adds, "and the preaching of Jesus Christ." The conjunction translated "and" () may also be translated even; i.e., they are to be established in his gospel, even the preaching of Jesus Christ . In this case the phrase "the preaching of Jesus Christ" would have adjectival significance. The preaching of Jesus Christ defines and explains [i/] what Paul’s "my gospel" really is - concentration on the Person of Jesus Christ.

We recognize that Jesus Christ may be preached as set forth in Old Testament prophecy, or as presented in the Synoptic Gospels, but Paul says that he is preaching Him "according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept silent in times eternal." In contrast to the manner in which Jesus Christ was proclaimed in the Old Testament and the Synoptic Gospels, as God incarnate in the form of human flesh, Paul says that Now, according to his gospel, "we know no one according to the flesh; even if we have known Christ according to the flesh, but Now we no longer know" Him (2 Cor. 5:16).

Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in the heavenlies in resurrection-body form (8:34; Col. 3:1). In this position He is the Spiritual Head of the spiritual organism, the Church, which is designated as His Body (Eph. 1:22-23). In other words, the Jesus Christ Paul was preaching gives to Him a new role in God's present manner of bringing men into a relationship with Himself.

If Paul is not following the truth in the Old Testament and in the Synoptic Gospels, what is he following? His answer is: my Gospel is "according to the revelation of the mystery." The Greek noun translated "mystery" () means that which is hidden, concealed or secret. The Greek word rendered "revelation" () speaks of an uncovering, revealing and disclosing of something which has been concealed. In the light of these definitions, the phrase the "revelation of the mystery" speaks of truth which has been hidden and concealed and now is in a revealed and disclosed state.

Paul says that this truth "has been kept silent in times eternal." The Greek verb translated "has been kept silent" is a perfect, passive participle. As such it means that God has kept silent, quiet and said nothing about the Mystery. Now long had God kept it a Secret? Paul’s answer is: "in times eternal," literally, in times/ages. Multiply or add these two words, anyway you interpret them, God had kept the Mystery Truth hidden during the past eternities.

26. "but has been manifested now through the prophetic writings, according to a commandment of the eternal God, having been made known unto obedience of the faith unto all the Gentiles,"

Now that the Mystery has been exposed, and consists of revealed Truth for this present time, Paul explains the agency through which God had manifested it. First, he says that it "has been manifested" (), brought to light, openly displayed, and made obvious "Now" (), i.e., at the time when Paul was writing. The implication is that prior to Paul it was eternally hidden, but Now God has broken His silence: He has manifested it as the passive voice indicates. It is not a matter of Paul discovering it, but it rests totally on the fact that God brought it to light at that point of time in history.

The method God chose through which to make the hidden mystery known was the "prophetic writings" (). Note, the noun translated writings may also be rendered scriptures. The Greek word translated "prophetic" is an adjective. It tells us what kind of writings Paul is speaking about in this verse. They are writings which have been written by prophets or that are prophetic in nature.

Many, in translating this verse, get what Paul is saying here mixed up with the Old Testament prophets. Now can the Old Testament prophets be brought into the picture here when Paul has made it plain that what he is talking about had been kept silent? To attribute what Paul says here to Old Testament prophets is a contradiction (cf. Eph. 3:5; Col. 1:26).

The phrase "prophetic writings" (), as used by Paul in this verse, obviously refers to what Paul and those associated with him were writing. Since Paul is the only one who specifically claims that the Mystery was revealed unto him, he was the basic disseminator of this Church Truth unto the apostles and prophets working together with him. The main emphasis of this verse is not on the one to whom the Mystery was revealed, but on how it was manifested, displayed and made known among men.

In the light of what John writes in his Gospel and epistles and what Peter writes in his epistles, and the alignment of the same with Mystery Truth, we are forced to conclude that what they wrote, particularly in their epistles, would fall into the category of the "prophetic writings." We recognize that the Gospel of John was written in the light of the Mystery Truth, by the Holy Spirit through John, and that it contains many truths which are common to both the Messianic Kingdom and the Church. Truths in this Gospel which are in accordance with what Paul has written in his epistles, and which are in accordance with the principle of progressive revelation, are applicable to this present Church age. This means that in the final analysis these writings must be evaluated in the light of the post- Acts Pauline Epistles.

Furthermore, Paul affirms that this Mystery Truth was manifested through the "prophetic writings" according to a "commandment" (), arrangement[ i], and charge of the eternal God. Since Paul was the key one to whom the Mystery was revealed (1 Cor. 2:7-10; Gal. 1:12; Eph. 3:2-9; 1 Tim. 1:11-14; et α1.), it appears that what he says in First Corinthians 9:17 corroborates the truth in this verse, namely, that he has had a dispensation entrusted unto him. In other words, Paul did not choose his prophetic position in the Church, but the eternal God arranged him for it and charged him with it (1 Tim. 1:12-16).

One of the best examples of how the Mystery Truth revealed unto Paul was dispersed via others is seen in his relation with Timothy. According to Second Timothy 1:13-14 the sound words which Timothy had heard from Paul, referred to as a "deposit" (), are to be guarded by him through the Holy Spirit; i.e., he is not to allow them to be perverted (1 Tim. 6:20). Also Paul gives Timothy the following instructions: "What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit these things to faithful men, who shall be qualified to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2; cf. Phil. 4:9).

Finally, we observe that the manifestation of the Mystery through the prophetic writings was made known "unto the obedience of the faith unto all the Gentiles." The Truth of the Mystery, as it relates to the Gentiles obeying the Gospel, closely identifies Paul as the writer of the prophetic writings (cf. 1:5; 15:18). Also, Ephesians 3:5-6 is dealing with the same subject, for we see the Spirit of God disseminating the same Mystery Truth which had been revealed to Paul and then via the apostles and prophets associated with him. Part of the Truth of the Mystery is that God is sovereignly saving Gentiles as well as Jews in this present Church age. Paul speaks of the total Truth of the Mystery as the "manifold" () and exceedingly variegated[i/] wisdom of God. It is all the Truth which God has given to the church.

 

[Apollos1]

I have finished reading the piece above by Campbell and I sit in amazement! How can one person be so wrong so many times? Is his “Dr.” in Wrongology from some online degree mill ? For the sake of brevity (that piece was 3 pages) I have decided to answer the major points in the narrative as opposed to direct quoting…
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The article has a theological agenda. The author is clear in his intent…
He shall interpret all scriptures to prove what he believes and to affirm his presumptions - not for what the verses say.

Romans 16:25-27 is our passage.

The gospel that Paul preached is “my gospel” also. Isn’t it yours also? This gospel is distinct, but not distinct just to Paul. ALL of the Apostles and holy prophets of God had it revealed to them – Ephesians 3:5. The revelation to Paul came late in the revelation “cycle” (Acts 9) to have anyone claim for him any exclusivity. And while the gospel was “committed” to Paul, it was not “committed” to Paul only!

I have asked on many occasions who the “WE” are in 1 Corinthians 2. Check out verses 6, 7, 12, 12, 13, and 16. Paul mentions “we” six times. The “we” that were speaking God’s wisdom and mystery, that received God’s Spirit, who were taught by the Spirit, and who had the mind of Christ! Who are the “WE” that had received the things pertaining to the MYSTERY via the SPIRIT OF GOD – other than Paul only ???
(Pssst – Paul is talking about the Apostles. In this one chapter Paul claims for himself and the Apostles revelation of the mystery via the HS !!!)

How NOW brown cow… Paul uses the word “NOW” (Greek word is “nun”) in Romans 16:26, and in Ephesians 3:5, as well as Colossians 1:26, to tell us revelation of the mystery was taking place during that present time, but not at one specific point in time. This is well within the definition and the use of the word. Dispensationalists such as Campbell want to claim “now” means “at the time when Paul was writing” (which is only partially correct) and assert “the implication is that prior to Paul [the mystery] was eternally hidden…”. This claim is absurd being but another “Paul only” grab. The revelation was coming through the Apostles, prophets, and the saints.

The revelation of the mystery began in Acts 2 with the HS coming upon the Apostles to “guide them into all truth” – see passages given above. (ALL means all of it, not just part of it!) The truth spread into all the world (Acts 1:8, 8:4) saving the souls of men. Peter first was chosen to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10, 15:7) and this was followed by men of Cyprus and Cyrene preaching to the Gentiles (Acts 11:19-21). Paul came later. Paul’s writings came even later.

In fact, the book of Romans wasn’t penned until about 59AD. Would Campbell or Dispy want to claim that “now” in Romans 16:26 meant 59AD – “at the time when Paul was writing” ??? Hmmm? That would certainly put a “kink” in their theological “hose” wouldn’t it! It would mean that the revelation of “the mystery” did not begin until almost 30 years after Pentecost in Acts 2 and over 25 years after Paul’s conversion in Acts 9 !! LOL!
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By stating that the verses are “couched in prayer” is incorrect. There is no prayer found here, but rather recognition and praise “to the One” that has made “obedience of faith” known unto all nations. Campbell’s “sermonizing” got out of hand twice on this point.

“…and by the scriptures of the prophets” – the author claims this verse a reference to “current prophetic writings” to include the writings of Paul.
First, what context would the author use to prove such? And what “scriptures” of what “prophets” would he say Paul is making reference to in this verse?
-Can this author show even ONE time where Paul makes reference to his OWN writings as “scripture”?
-Can the author provide even ONE NT reference where “writings” of NT prophets are called “the scriptures” ? Can he provide what are/were their so-called writings within the CONTEXT of this verse?

And what of the CONTEXT of Paul’s remark? The author has probably never taken into account that EVERY reference in the book of Romans in relation to prophets and “scriptures” is a reference to OT prophets and scriptures!
Romans 1:2 – [the gospel] which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures…
See Romans 3:21, 4:3, 9:17, 10:11, 11:2-4. See the most defining verse Paul writes as…
Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.

Yet this author expects us to believe that suddenly, without context, that Paul was writing in reference to some unknown “writings” of some unknown NT prophets at 16:25? LOL!

But why would this author take such a ridiculous position? It is because he desperately wants to include Paul’s own writings in the “scriptures” that have “made known” the gospel/the mystery AND to exclude any possible reference to the OT scriptures having spoken anything in reference to the gospel (ei. the mystery), the preaching of Jesus Christ (the “person”), and “obedience unto faith”. But in this one verse, Paul is saying that the OT scriptures also at this time make these things known unto all nations! This is yet another “Paul only” grab!
--- --- --- --- ---

The author states it is very important that one be established in the “right truth”…! Is this as opposed to the “wrong truth” ?? LOL! When someone needs to make a distinction where there is no difference, silly phrases like this will be used.
“All truth” was delivered starting on Pentecost in Acts 2. (cf. John 14:26, 16:13, Lk 24:49, Acts 1:5,8). Paul had no exclusive on truth! Truth is not for “Paul only”.

“AND the preaching of Jesus Christ…” I checked 12 major translations. NONE of them render the word “and” as “even”. If the word “and” was interpreted as “even”, it would not support his presumed “adjectival significance”, which he said would be a “concentration” by Paul on the person of Christ. The author is attempting to support a “Paul only” bias by attempting to show that Paul only spoke of the “person” of Christ according to the revelation of the mystery, which is, according to the author, “IN CONTRAST” to how the OT and the Synoptic Gospels spoke of Christ… that being in terms of Christ being only incarnate - “human flesh”. But this just ain’t so!

1 Peter 1:9-12 shows clearly that the OT prophets searched diligently to learn more about when and how salvation by faith, the grace of God, and the sufferings of Christ would be accomplished by God - things that are the basic tenants of the “gospel”. But this author doesn’t want you to think that these things were spoken of before Paul came along, because his theology is built upon “Paul only” !

Further, the Synoptic Gospels present the information that Christ would suffer and die and be raised again the third day. That His blood would be shed for the remission of sins was known. To attempt to claim that the OT and/or the Synoptics do not present the “person” of Christ is hollow and baseless. The author then takes 1 Corinthians 5:16 totally out of context with a pointless application.
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Jesus Christ is now seated at the “right hand” of God. David prophesied this event at Psalms 110:1 (cf. Matt. 22:44). Peter preached this reality first in Acts 2:34 the very day when the “manner of bringing men into a relationship with Himself” had started. Christ is head of the church – He is “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords” ! And here at the “right hand” Christ will reign until all enemies have been defeated – 1 Corinthians 15:24-25.

“This [preceeding paragraph] means that in the final analysis these writings must be evaluated in the light of the post- Acts Pauline Epistles.” The best explanation of this paragraph is – whenever the author reads something outside of the Pauline epistles that he can not harmonize with his theology, Paul’s writings get pre-eminence.

“…according to the commandment of the eternal God…” The author adulterates the word “commandment”. The word means injunction or decree, commandment. It is not an “arrangement” in this verse – what the (OT) prophets wrote in scripture was God’s DECREE. The author then “begs the question” by asserting Paul as the “key one” to whom the mystery was revealed because none of the passages provided prove what he asserts. 1 Corinthians 9:17 tells us that Paul, even had he been unwilling to preach the gospel, still had had a “stewardship” “entrusted” to him to preach. But this verse does not imply some special “arrangement” that “Paul only” had or a special gospel that “Paul only” knew!

I makes me angry to see someone exploit any passage of scripture for the advancement of their private theology, and even more so for a beautiful passage as Romans 16:25-26! When properly exegeted, this passage destroys “dispensationalism” on many facets!

Paul’s gospel is “my” gospel also – it wasn’t “Paul’s only” !. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and was raised. (These glad tidings were a part of the mystery of God.)

The mystery was not revealed through times eternal. Please note, it was the REVELATION (of the mystery) that had been kept silent, but now that revelation is “manifested” (it has been revealed) AND by the “scriptures of the prophets” (as commanded by God) that revelation “is made known”. (We can now understand what the OT prophecies were talking about.) This revelation is for all nations (Jew and Gentile) that they should come to be faithfully obedience to God.

Man’s salvation is what the mystery was always about. This has “now” been revealed! They are “glad tidings” indeed !!!

 

[kmolson]

Hi Apollos:

I have not as yet read what Dispy posted above, and have only read what you have posted up to where you said quote, “(Pssst – Paul is talking about the Apostles. In this one chapter Paul claims for himself and the Apostles revelation of the mystery via the HS !!!)”.
Not meaning to be rude, but my suggestion would be that before you launch your next critique on mid acts dispensationalism that you take a month or two to learn what it is that we actually believe. As it is you’re as one that beateth the air.

The Pauline Bootcamp: Session IV



The Pauline Apostleship

This session is dedicated to establishing the Pauline apostleship as the Divinely appointed human means to reveal, confirm, and write down this unprecedented, and unprecedentedly glorious, gospel to the Body of Christ. The following questions need to be considered:

1. Who are the men comprising the Body apostleship, and is it appropriate to call them "Pauline"?
2. How relates the Body apostleship to the Petrine apostleship (i.e. the Twelve)—are they the same, do they overlap, or are they different?
3. When did the Pauline apostleship end?

This session documents that the Body apostleship comprises Paul and certain men chosen to serve with him in the ministry and gospel given to Paul by the Lord Christ, that it is absolutely disjoint from the Petrine apostleship, and that it ended with Paul's death. These claims have consequences reinforcing previous sessions:

1. The gospel of salvation for the Body is that declared by the Pauline apostleship, namely that Christ is the non-ceremonial, non-ethnic, non-earthly, third-heavenly, exalted, glorious Head of the Body, that such Headship is His Lordship today, and the Body is the fullness of that Headship.
2. To obey Christ today means obeying Him in accordance with the example which Christ established in the ministry of Paul and his fellow apostles.
3. It is disobedience and rebellion to follow as the apostolic example either the earthly ministry of Christ or the ministry of the Petrine apostleship (the Twelve).
4. One who is unresponsive to Paul's gospel in his spirit is not saved.

An outline of this session is as follows:
§1. Composition of the Body Apostleship
§§1.1. Apostolic Office of Paul
§§1.2. Apostolic Office: Timothy, Silas, Sosthenes, Titus, Epaphroditus, Tychicus, Erastus, Epaphras
§§1.3. Mystery of Body Committed to Pauline Apostles
§2. Relationship of Paul to Other Pauline Apostles
§§2.1. Christ Spoke to Paul Face-to-Face
§§2.2. Christ Spoke to Other Pauline Apostles by His Spirit
§§2.3. Pauline Apostles Jointly Share Paul's Apostolic Office
§§2.4. Comparison of Paul and Pauline Apostleship with Moses and Mosaic Prophetship
§3. Disjointness from the Petrine Apostleship
§§3.1. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Contents
§§3.2. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Calls to Salvation
§§3.3. Fundamental Distinction of Means of Learning the Body Mystery
§§3.4. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Initiations
§4. Obligation of Body to Follow Example of Pauline Apostleship Only
§§4.1. Necessity of Body to Follow Pauline Template
§§4.2. Necessity of Body to Avoid Petrine Template
§1. Composition of the Body Apostleship. In this section we establish who the Pauline apostleship is, and that it is the apostleship of the Body of Christ.
It is necessary to have some vocabulary in mind:
(1) Meaning of the Greek apostolos, transliterated "apostle": another commissioned to go as one's personal legate, i.e. with one's personal, supernatural authority. Christ is spoken of as the Father's Apostle (Heb. 3:1).
(2) Meaning of the Greek apostello, transliterated "apostelize": to commission another to go as one's personal legate, i.e. with one's personal supernatural authority. Christ is spoken of as having been apostelized by the Father (e.g. John 6:57—there are many more).
(3) Meaning of the Greek pempo: to send someone on a mission. In the context of being sent by an apostle as part of that apostle's apostolic commission, it is equivalent to apostelize—see examples below. But for now, consider the definitive reference by Christ Himself in John 13:16—"the apostle is not greater than the one who pempoed him".
(4) WARNING, WARNING, WARNING: the translations have dealt with apostolos and apostello inconsistently and irresponsibly. The sober and vigilant saint (I Thess. 5:8) MUST have his/her study aids at the ready in these matters. The translators, as will all of us, give an account before God for their handling of the holy words (Deut. 4:2). Apostolos is sometimes mistranslated "messenger", a word more properly associated with "angel" or angelos.
(5) PLEASE NOTE: when we claim below that someone is an apostle or is apostelized, it is because the Holy Spirit Himself so stated in the holy words of the Greek Scriptures, regardless of what man says, in the text cited. The reader can verify with the aids (Ne. 8:8, Ps. 1:2; 119:97–104, Acts 17:11).
§§1.1. Apostolic Office of Paul: Paul.
(1) Paul is both an apostle of Christ (Rom. 1:1, I Cor. 1:1, II Cor. 1:1, Gal. 1:1, Eph. 1:1, Col. 1:1, I Tim. 1:1, II Tim. 1:1, Tit. 1:1) and one apostelized by Christ (I Cor. 1:17)
(2) Paul's apostleship is apart from the Twelve (see also §3 below).
(Gal. 1:1–12; 2:1–10, I Cor. 15:5–9)
§§1.2. Apostolic Office of Paul: Timothy, Silvanus, Sosthenes, Titus, Epaphroditus, Tychicus, Erastus, Epaphras, brother, brethren.
(1) Timothy is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Apostelized by Paul: Acts 19:22.
(b) Pempoed by Paul: I Cor. 4:17 (follow Paul), Philip. 2:19, 23, I Thess. 3:2,5.
(c) Apostle with Paul: I Thess. 1:1 compared with I Thess. 2:6.
(2) Silas/Silvanus is a Pauline apostle: I Thess. 1:1 compared with I Thess. 2:6.
(3) Sosthenes is is a Pauline apostle: I Cor. 1:1 compared with I Cor. 4:9; 9:5.
(4) Titus is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Apostelized by Paul: II Cor. 12:17,18 (sun-apostello, jointly-apostelized).
(b) Pempoed by Paul: I Cor. 9:3 in context with II Cor. 8:23.
(c) Apostle with Paul: II Cor. 8:23.
(5) Epaphroditus is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Pempoed by Paul: Philip. 2:25.
(b) Apostle with Paul: Philip. 2:25.
(6) Tychicus is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Apostelized by Paul: II Tim. 4:12.
(b) Pempoed by Paul: Eph. 6:21–22; Col. 4:7.
(7) Erastus is a Pauline apostle: apostelized by Paul: Acts 19:22.
(8) Epaphras is a Pauline apostle: joint-minister with Paul to Colossian assembly: Col. 1:7. Note the following terms are used of these apostles: joint-minister (Timothy in Philip. 1:1, Tychicus in Eph. 6:21–21) and joint-laborer (Timothy in I Thess. 3:2).
§§1.3. Mystery of Body Committed to Pauline Apostles
(1) Mystery committed to Paul and his ministry.
(a) Mystery committed to Paul: Rom. 11:11,25; 16:25, 1Co 2:7; 15:5, Eph 1:9; 3:3–10; 5:32; 6:19, Col. 1:23–27; 2:2; 4:3.
(b) Mystery is Paul's gospel: Rom. 16:25, Eph. 1:9,13; 3:3–10; 6:19, Col. 1:23–26, I Tim. 3:9,16.
(2) Mystery committed to the Pauline apostleship.
(a) This follows from citations in §§1.2–1.3 above.
(b) Many Pauline epistles were jointly written with the Pauline apostleship. See list in §§2.3 below.
(c) The Pauline gospel stated to be the gospel of the Pauline apostleship.
(i) The gospel of Paul and Sosthenes: I Cor. 2:7 (Mystery is the Pauline gospel).
(ii) The gospel of Paul and Timothy: II Cor. 4:3–4; 10:14–16, Philip. 2:22.
(iii) The gospel of Paul and Silvanus and Timothy: I Thess. 1:5; 2:4,8–9; 3:2; II Thess. 2:14.
§2. Relationship of Paul to the Other Pauline Apostles. As a further confirmation that all the Pauline apostles shed one apostolic office, namely Paul's office, it is instructive to examine Paul's relationship to the other apostles of his apostleship. It will emerge that Paul has a position relative to his apostleship similar to that which Moses has relative to the Mosaic prophethood.
§§2.1. Christ Spoke to Paul Face-to-Face and by His Spirit.
(1) Damascus road: Acts 9:1–9; 22:6–11.
(2) Face-to-face tutoring within the Third Heaven: II Cor. 12:1–7.
(3) By His Spirit: see §§2.2 below.
§§2.2. Christ Spoke to Other Pauline Apostles by His Spirit.
(1) Timothy: I Thess. 1:5, I Tim. 1:18; 4:14–16; 6:11, II Tim. 1:6,13–15.
(2) Silvanus: I Thess. 1:5
(3) Sosthenes: I Cor. 2:6–16.
(4) Pauline apostleship generally, referred to via hendiadys as the truly prophetic apostles: Eph. 2:20; 3:5.
(5) Pauline gospel needed more than one human witness: II Cor. 13:1.
(6) Same Principle for prophets in local assembly confirming Pauline revelation by the Spirit: I Cor. 14:37.
To be continued.

 

[kmolson]

Continued.

§§2.3. Pauline Apostles Jointly Share Paul's Apostolic Office. This is proven by the foregoing, that they shared in the writing of the Mystery, and that Paul alone of this apostleship speaks in the first person singular. Note that these are the only jointly-authored books of the NT, and the only jointly-authored and authored-named books of all Scripture.
(1) I Corinthians: Paul and Sosthenes
(2) II Corinthians: Paul and Timothy
(3) Galatians: Paul and the brethren with him
(4) Philippians: Paul and Timothy
(5) Colossians: Paul and Timothy
(6) I Thessalonians: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy
(7) II Thessalonians: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy
§§2.4. Comparison of Paul and Pauline Apostleship with Moses and Mosaic Prophethood.
(1) The Logos spoke with Moses face-to-face on the Mount and within Shekhinah: Ex. 33:11, Num. 12:6–8.
(2) The Spirit spoke with the other prophets: Num. 12:6–8.
§3. Disjointness from the Petrine Apostleship.
§§3.1. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Contents. See [DS7] for more documentation.

1. One Body of Paul's gospel vis-a-vis many bodies of Twelve's gospel: Matt. 8:8,14/Luke7:1–11, Matt. 15:26–28, Acts 2:14,39(Deut.2:39); 3:21–25, Gal. 2:7–8, I Pet. 1:1; 2:9–12, James 1:1, Rev. 21:12–14, etc. Peter's gospel and ministry comprise the circumcision gospel in which Elect Israel has a distinguished position vis-a-vis the Elect Gentiles. Bu there is neither Jew nor Gentile in Paul's gospel (Eph. 2:11–16, etc).
2. One Spirit of Paul's gospel vis-a-vis many spirits of Twelve's gospel: Acts 1:10–11; 2:1–3; 5:19–20; 8:26–39, 10:3–7;12:7–12,20, Heb. 2:2, II Pet. 2:10–11, I John 4:1–3, Jude 8, Rev. 1:1; 21:12, etc. Peter's gospel and ministry are under the supervision of the angels as spirits. But the Body has only the Holy Spirit since it will govern the holy angels (I Cor. 6:2–3; 12:4, Eph. 4:4).
3. One Hope of Paul's gospel vis-a-vis many hopes of Twelve's gospel: Matt. 5:5; 15:26–28; 19:28, Luke 22:30, Acts 1:6–7, I Pet. 1:10; 2:9–12, Rev. 21:10–14,24–26. Peter's gospel and ministry concern the eternal hopes of Israel plus the 70 nations, and Peter's hope is to chair the Sanhedrin of Israel's future earthly empire. Paul's hope is to sit in the Third Heaven with Christ (II Cor. 12:1–4, Eph. 1:20; 2:6) over angels.
4. One Lord of Paul's gospel vis-a-vis many lords of Twelve's gospel: Acts 10:3–4, Rev. 7:14 (kurios); cf. Ps. 136:3, Dan. 10:16,17,19; 12:8, Zech. 6:4; see (1) above; and contrast with I Cor. 8:5, Eph. 4:5. Peter's gospel and ministry are under the supervision of the angels as lords. But the Body has only the Son since it will govern the holy angels (I Cor. 6:2–3; 8:5; 12:5, Eph. 4:5).
5. One Faith of Paul's gospel vis-a-vis many faiths of Twelve's gospel: on one hand the Jewish faith and practice—Matt. 5:17–48; 8:4; 26:17–25, John 7:2,10–39, Acts 2:46; 3:1; 5:12,20,21,25,42; 21:23–24, etc, and on the hand the Gentile faith and practice—Matt. 15:26–28; 25:31–46, Luke 7:1–11, Acts 10:2; 15:9. Peter's gospel and ministry address many faiths—Israel plus the 70 nations. This is because Peter's gospel is the culmination and fulfillment of the prophets (Acts 2:16; 3:19–26, I Pet. 1:9–10; 2:9–12, etc) proclaimed since the world began, while Paul's gospel is the Mystery kept secret since the world began (Rom. 16:25, Gal. 1:11–12, Eph. 3:1–9, Tit. 1:2 (Greek text), etc).
6. One Baptism of Paul's gospel vis-a-vis many baptisms of Twelve's gospel: all the ceremonial baptisms of the Law—Matt. 2:22, Heb. 6:1–2; 10:22, baptism of repentance signifying the inward baptism—Matt. 3:13; 21:25–27; 28:19–20, Mark 1:1,3, Luke 3:3; 7:29–30, John 4:1–2, Acts 2:38, Heb. 6:1–2; 10:22, I Pet. 3:21, etc, charismatic baptisms—John 20:23, Acts 2:4,38, etc. So Peter's gospel and ministry are soaked in many baptisms in keeping with being the Israel's future priesthood (Ex. 19:5–6, Lev. 8:6, I Pet. 2:9). But Paul's gospel is dry with only one baptism—that by the Spirit into the Body of Christ at regeneration (Rom. 6:1–5 (Greek text), I Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:27, Eph. 4:5, Tit. 3:5). Paul was absolutely-not apostelized to baptize (I Cor. 1:17, Greek text, strong negative ou), i.e. Paul temporarily kept ceremonies, holidays, baptism, sacrifices, and circumcision ONLY to honor Peter's gospel; but each of these things was absolutely-not part of Paul's gospel—see Gal. 4:8–11; 5:2, Col. 2:8–23 (esp. 11–18). Since Peter and the Twelve are not here today, it can safely be said that those who do any of things out of their being of beings (their human spirit) are not saved.
7. One Father-God of Paul's gospel vis-a-vis many gods of Twelve's gospel: John 10:34–36 (translations are awful here, see Greek text and analysis in [DS7]), and cf. Ps. 8:5 [gods]; 82:1,6; 97:7,9;138:1, Dan. 11:36, etc. Peter's gospel and ministry are under the supervision of the angels as gods. But the Body has only the Father-God since it will govern the holy angels (I Cor. 6:2–3; 8:5; 12:6, Eph. 4:6).

§§3.2. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Calls to Salvation.
(1) Peter's gospel call: repent and be water-baptized (Acts 2:38) to publicly confess Jesus of Nazareth as the Messianic deliverer of Israel and the Nations (Matt. 16:16, Luke 1:68–79, Acts 2:36; 3:12–36) in acordance with the prophets (Acts 3:19–26, I Pet. 1:10,25). This is also implied by the foregoing. In Peter's gospel, the Lordship of Christ means Messiahship over Israel and the Nations.
(2) Paul's gospel call: repent, privately and non-ceremonially address Jesus of Nazareth as "Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21, Rom. 10:6–13) in the sense of non-earthly, non-ceremonial, non-ethnic Head of the Body in accordance with the Mystery hidden from the prophets (Rom. 10:12;16:25, Eph. 3:1–6, etc), and believe in the heart that God raised him from the dead (Rom. 10:9). This is also implied by the foregoing. In Paul's gospel, the Lordship of Christ means Headship over the Body of Christ.
§§3.3. Fundamental Distinction of Means of Learning the Body Mystery.
(1) Peter and Twelve learned the Body Mystery through Paul (and Titus): Gal. 2:1–7, i.e. "en Paulo".
(2) Paul learned the Body Mystery both from Christ and by the Spirit: see §§2.1–§§2.2 above
(3) Pauline apostleship learned the Body Mystery by the Spirit: see §§2.1–§§2.2 above, esp. Eph. 3:5, en pneumati.
(4) God is not inefficient; ergo, the two apostleships are disjoint.
§§3.4. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Initiations.
(1) Peter's gospel began with John the Baptist: Mark 1:1–4.
(a) The content of Peter's gospel is that of John's.
(b) Mark's gospel is essentially Peter's account of matters.
(2) Paul's gospel began with Paul's ministry: Philip. 4:15.
(3) These gospels cannot be the same.
§4. Obligation of Body to Follow Example of Pauline Apostleship Only.
§§4.1. Necessity of Body to Follow the Pauline Template.
(1) Paul's gospel sets the example for us to follow.
(a) Rom. 2:16—all living today will be judged by Paul's gospel.
(b) Rom. 16:17–20—Body is to separate from those teaching contrary to Paul.
(c) I Cor. 11:1—follow Paul as he follows Christ.
(d) Gal. 1:6–12—anyone teaching the Body contrary to Paul's gospel is accursed.
(e) Phil. 3:17—bluntly put, follow Paul's and Timothy's example.
(f) Phil. 4:9—bluntly put, do what Paul says to do.
(g) I Thess. 1:6—we are to follow Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
(h) I Thess. 2:13—receive the word of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy as the word of God.
(i) I Thess. 4:1—walk in accordance with the instruction of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
(j) II Thess. 2:14–15—hold fast the gospel and traditions of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
(k) II Thess. 3:6–9—follow the example of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
(l) II Thess. 3:14—separate from those not obeying the instruction of Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy.
(2) Body is NOT to follow the example of Christ's earthly ministry: Rom. 15:8—Christ in His earthly ministry was a minister to Elect Israel to confirm her position over the Elect Gentiles.
§§4.2. Necessity of Body to Avoid the Petrine Template
(1) Petrine template set by the prophets and Christ in His earthly ministry: I Pet. 2:21—Peter's gospel requires that the very actions of Christ on earth be traced as a template (see Greek text).
(2) From (1) and §4 above, the Petrine template is for the earthly kingdom of Israel only. Also Acts 3:19–26 cf. I Pet. 1:9–10–25.
(3) Anyone who would proclaim or require that the Body follow Peter's gospel is accursed (Gal. 1:6–12).


Ken.

 

[Dispy]

Ken:
EXCELLENT outline/lesson plan.

In reference to your 4.1 above, some people have problems with Paul using the pronoun "we".

 

[marke]

Hi Apollos:

I have not as yet read what Dispy posted above, and have only read what you have posted up to where you said quote, “(Pssst – Paul is talking about the Apostles. In this one chapter Paul claims for himself and the Apostles revelation of the mystery via the HS !!!)”.
Not meaning to be rude, but my suggestion would be that before you launch your next critique on mid acts dispensationalism that you take a month or two to learn what it is that we actually believe. As it is you’re as one that beateth the air.

The Pauline Bootcamp: Session IV



The Pauline Apostleship

This session is dedicated to establishing the Pauline apostleship as the Divinely appointed human means to reveal, confirm, and write down this unprecedented, and unprecedentedly glorious, gospel to the Body of Christ. The following questions need to be considered:

1. Who are the men comprising the Body apostleship, and is it appropriate to call them "Pauline"?
2. How relates the Body apostleship to the Petrine apostleship (i.e. the Twelve)—are they the same, do they overlap, or are they different?
3. When did the Pauline apostleship end?

This session documents that the Body apostleship comprises Paul and certain men chosen to serve with him in the ministry and gospel given to Paul by the Lord Christ, that it is absolutely disjoint from the Petrine apostleship, and that it ended with Paul's death. These claims have consequences reinforcing previous sessions:

1. The gospel of salvation for the Body is that declared by the Pauline apostleship, namely that Christ is the non-ceremonial, non-ethnic, non-earthly, third-heavenly, exalted, glorious Head of the Body, that such Headship is His Lordship today, and the Body is the fullness of that Headship.
2. To obey Christ today means obeying Him in accordance with the example which Christ established in the ministry of Paul and his fellow apostles.
3. It is disobedience and rebellion to follow as the apostolic example either the earthly ministry of Christ or the ministry of the Petrine apostleship (the Twelve).
4. One who is unresponsive to Paul's gospel in his spirit is not saved.

An outline of this session is as follows:
§1. Composition of the Body Apostleship
§§1.1. Apostolic Office of Paul
§§1.2. Apostolic Office: Timothy, Silas, Sosthenes, Titus, Epaphroditus, Tychicus, Erastus, Epaphras
§§1.3. Mystery of Body Committed to Pauline Apostles
§2. Relationship of Paul to Other Pauline Apostles
§§2.1. Christ Spoke to Paul Face-to-Face
§§2.2. Christ Spoke to Other Pauline Apostles by His Spirit
§§2.3. Pauline Apostles Jointly Share Paul's Apostolic Office
§§2.4. Comparison of Paul and Pauline Apostleship with Moses and Mosaic Prophetship
§3. Disjointness from the Petrine Apostleship
§§3.1. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Contents
§§3.2. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Calls to Salvation
§§3.3. Fundamental Distinction of Means of Learning the Body Mystery
§§3.4. Fundamental Distinction of Respective Gospel Initiations
§4. Obligation of Body to Follow Example of Pauline Apostleship Only
§§4.1. Necessity of Body to Follow Pauline Template
§§4.2. Necessity of Body to Avoid Petrine Template
§1. Composition of the Body Apostleship. In this section we establish who the Pauline apostleship is, and that it is the apostleship of the Body of Christ.
It is necessary to have some vocabulary in mind:
(1) Meaning of the Greek apostolos, transliterated "apostle": another commissioned to go as one's personal legate, i.e. with one's personal, supernatural authority. Christ is spoken of as the Father's Apostle (Heb. 3:1).
(2) Meaning of the Greek apostello, transliterated "apostelize": to commission another to go as one's personal legate, i.e. with one's personal supernatural authority. Christ is spoken of as having been apostelized by the Father (e.g. John 6:57—there are many more).
(3) Meaning of the Greek pempo: to send someone on a mission. In the context of being sent by an apostle as part of that apostle's apostolic commission, it is equivalent to apostelize—see examples below. But for now, consider the definitive reference by Christ Himself in John 13:16—"the apostle is not greater than the one who pempoed him".
(4) WARNING, WARNING, WARNING: the translations have dealt with apostolos and apostello inconsistently and irresponsibly. The sober and vigilant saint (I Thess. 5:8) MUST have his/her study aids at the ready in these matters. The translators, as will all of us, give an account before God for their handling of the holy words (Deut. 4:2). Apostolos is sometimes mistranslated "messenger", a word more properly associated with "angel" or angelos.
(5) PLEASE NOTE: when we claim below that someone is an apostle or is apostelized, it is because the Holy Spirit Himself so stated in the holy words of the Greek Scriptures, regardless of what man says, in the text cited. The reader can verify with the aids (Ne. 8:8, Ps. 1:2; 119:97–104, Acts 17:11).
§§1.1. Apostolic Office of Paul: Paul.
(1) Paul is both an apostle of Christ (Rom. 1:1, I Cor. 1:1, II Cor. 1:1, Gal. 1:1, Eph. 1:1, Col. 1:1, I Tim. 1:1, II Tim. 1:1, Tit. 1:1) and one apostelized by Christ (I Cor. 1:17)
(2) Paul's apostleship is apart from the Twelve (see also §3 below).
(Gal. 1:1–12; 2:1–10, I Cor. 15:5–9)
§§1.2. Apostolic Office of Paul: Timothy, Silvanus, Sosthenes, Titus, Epaphroditus, Tychicus, Erastus, Epaphras, brother, brethren.
(1) Timothy is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Apostelized by Paul: Acts 19:22.
(b) Pempoed by Paul: I Cor. 4:17 (follow Paul), Philip. 2:19, 23, I Thess. 3:2,5.
(c) Apostle with Paul: I Thess. 1:1 compared with I Thess. 2:6.
(2) Silas/Silvanus is a Pauline apostle: I Thess. 1:1 compared with I Thess. 2:6.
(3) Sosthenes is is a Pauline apostle: I Cor. 1:1 compared with I Cor. 4:9; 9:5.
(4) Titus is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Apostelized by Paul: II Cor. 12:17,18 (sun-apostello, jointly-apostelized).
(b) Pempoed by Paul: I Cor. 9:3 in context with II Cor. 8:23.
(c) Apostle with Paul: II Cor. 8:23.
(5) Epaphroditus is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Pempoed by Paul: Philip. 2:25.
(b) Apostle with Paul: Philip. 2:25.
(6) Tychicus is a Pauline apostle.
(a) Apostelized by Paul: II Tim. 4:12.
(b) Pempoed by Paul: Eph. 6:21–22; Col. 4:7.
(7) Erastus is a Pauline apostle: apostelized by Paul: Acts 19:22.
(8) Epaphras is a Pauline apostle: joint-minister with Paul to Colossian assembly: Col. 1:7. Note the following terms are used of these apostles: joint-minister (Timothy in Philip. 1:1, Tychicus in Eph. 6:21–21) and joint-laborer (Timothy in I Thess. 3:2).
§§1.3. Mystery of Body Committed to Pauline Apostles
(1) Mystery committed to Paul and his ministry.
(a) Mystery committed to Paul: Rom. 11:11,25; 16:25, 1Co 2:7; 15:5, Eph 1:9; 3:3–10; 5:32; 6:19, Col. 1:23–27; 2:2; 4:3.
(b) Mystery is Paul's gospel: Rom. 16:25, Eph. 1:9,13; 3:3–10; 6:19, Col. 1:23–26, I Tim. 3:9,16.
(2) Mystery committed to the Pauline apostleship.
(a) This follows from citations in §§1.2–1.3 above.
(b) Many Pauline epistles were jointly written with the Pauline apostleship. See list in §§2.3 below.
(c) The Pauline gospel stated to be the gospel of the Pauline apostleship.
(i) The gospel of Paul and Sosthenes: I Cor. 2:7 (Mystery is the Pauline gospel).
(ii) The gospel of Paul and Timothy: II Cor. 4:3–4; 10:14–16, Philip. 2:22.
(iii) The gospel of Paul and Silvanus and Timothy: I Thess. 1:5; 2:4,8–9; 3:2; II Thess. 2:14.
§2. Relationship of Paul to the Other Pauline Apostles. As a further confirmation that all the Pauline apostles shed one apostolic office, namely Paul's office, it is instructive to examine Paul's relationship to the other apostles of his apostleship. It will emerge that Paul has a position relative to his apostleship similar to that which Moses has relative to the Mosaic prophethood.
§§2.1. Christ Spoke to Paul Face-to-Face and by His Spirit.
(1) Damascus road: Acts 9:1–9; 22:6–11.
(2) Face-to-face tutoring within the Third Heaven: II Cor. 12:1–7.
(3) By His Spirit: see §§2.2 below.
§§2.2. Christ Spoke to Other Pauline Apostles by His Spirit.
(1) Timothy: I Thess. 1:5, I Tim. 1:18; 4:14–16; 6:11, II Tim. 1:6,13–15.
(2) Silvanus: I Thess. 1:5
(3) Sosthenes: I Cor. 2:6–16.
(4) Pauline apostleship generally, referred to via hendiadys as the truly prophetic apostles: Eph. 2:20; 3:5.
(5) Pauline gospel needed more than one human witness: II Cor. 13:1.
(6) Same Principle for prophets in local assembly confirming Pauline revelation by the Spirit: I Cor. 14:37.
To be continued.

So Paul is the Christ?

Seems that is what you are saying. Why not throw out the rest of the NT and follow just the teachings of Paul.

Personally, I'm going to follow the teachings of my Lord Jesus, the Christ and if you want to follow the nonsense of the writings of a man, you can explain that to your maker at the time of judgement.

Seems your limited time here on earth would be better spent exploring the Word of God contained in the New Testament rather than words of a man who made up dispensationalism to justify his own opinion and lead many astray.

I'm really concerned by the things I read in this forum. My Bible doesn't speak to any of this. Jesus says "I AM THE WAY" and even Paul says "Jesus is the way". Why are people here making Paul the messenger of God instead of Jesus who is the Christ? That's wrong teaching according to my Bible.

Perhaps a review of II Peter 3:16 + is in order. Let me help...

2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

[Apollos1]

Ken -

As you did unto Dispy's "cut&paste", so do I unto your "cut&paste"... I have not read it. I don't intend to do much more than "scan" over it.

If you have something to say in direct response to what I had to say in reference to Campbell's piece above and his abhorrent treatment of Romans 16:25-25 - fine.

If not, I certainly don't intend to spend the time (again) responding to your errant and volumous "cut&paste". Engage in some direct exchange here using your mind, or, as I have suggested before, sit quietly on the side lines.

Perhaps you would like to go to 1 Corinthians 1 & 2 and engage in a "We" discussion, and just who the "We" is.

Wanna go there?

 

[Apollos1]

Dispy -

After I ripped Campbell's piece apart, I am surprised that you have not chosen to defend what you posted.

And what about that remark to Ken...

'...some people have problems with Paul using the pronoun "we".'

What's that about? Is there some discension there in the dispy camp?

 

[Dispy]

Dispy -

After I ripped Campbell's piece apart, I am surprised that you have not chosen to defend what you posted.

And what about that remark to Ken...

'...some people have problems with Paul using the pronoun "we".'

What's that about? Is there some discension there in the dispy camp?

For those who have a need to know, there is no discension in the MAD camp.