THE MYSTERY OF EPHESIANS: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.....For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.......This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Gentiles "fellowheirs", Acts 26:17-20
Gentiles "of the same body" 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 2:27-28
Gentiles "partakers of his promise in Christ" Galatians 3:7-29
Gentiles "members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" 1 Corinthians 6:15-20
"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,"
Also note that Paul says that the mystery of the gospel (Eph. 3:1-9) is why he is in bonds in the prison epistles.
Ephesians 6:
[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
[20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
[20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Paul was put in bonds in Acts 22, how could he be in bonds for a mystery that was not yet revealed to him as the Acts 28 position suggests?
Here is a good picture of the Acts 28 position. --Eli "Hoss" Caldwell
Hi, Hoss! The illustration is hilarious although misguided. Have you considered the possibility that the reason Paul was in bonds could change just as the dispensational distinctives also changed. Paul could have been set free when Israel was set aside at Acts 28, but God found it expedient to let him remain a captive but for a new and unprophesied purpose.
ReplyDeleteDeborah
Hi Mrs. Collins!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked my illustration LOL. I don't believe the reason someone could be in bonds could changes just because they get knew knowledge of something. Paul says making known the mystery of the gospel is the reason he is an ambassador in bonds.
"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, **For which I am an ambassador in bonds***: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
But that was my side point, my good ones were in the outline of how Paul was preaching the mystery. I proved that Paul was preaching the mystery. Run the references I gave and you will see that he was preaching "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel". Then the plain statement that he made in Romans 16:25-26 that he was preaching the mystery.
What the Acts 28 position has to do is say, "Well it ain't the same body of Christ, it ain't the same mystery, etc.". Which makes me wonder, was it even the same "Paul" preaching this? LOL!
Have a good weekend! --bro. Hoss