21
We therefore place the symbol of hope - the anchor, with its pendant epistles as links in a chain, in such a way
that it shall coincide with the whole of the Acts of the Apostles, including its opening and closing references to `the
hope of Israel'.
`The one hope' of the mystery finds no exposition in these early epistles of Paul. It was essential that `the
mystery' itself should be revealed before its hope could be expressed.
A.- As our time is fast running out, and as I now see quite clearly the general disposition of these earlier epistles,
I should be glad of some guidance towards the understanding of the later epistles. Of course I fully appreciate the
fact that in our present enquiry we can only deal with the subject in outline.
B.- The structure of the seven epistles written after Acts 28 is as follows :
A EPHESIANS
Dispensation (3:2 and 9 R.V.) Mystery (3:3).
`Seated
The church which is His body (1:22,23)
together'.
The fulness (1:23; 4:10). Christ the Head (1:22).
Principalities and powers (1:21).
B PHILIPPIANS a Bishops and Deacons (1:1).
b Try the things that differ (1:10 margin).
`The Prize'.
Strive (1:27). Press toward the mark (3:14).
Prize (3:14). Depart (1:23).
Offered (2:17).
C PHILEMON
The truth of the mystery in practice.
`Above a
Servant'.
A COLOSSIANS Dispensation (1:25). Mystery (1:26).
`Complete
The Church which is His body (1:24).
in Him'.
Fulness (1:19). Christ the Head (2:19).
Principalities and powers (1:16; 2:10).
B 1&2
a Bishops and Deacons (1 Tim. 3; Tit. 1).
b Rightly dividing the Word of truth
TIMOTHY
AND TITUS
(2 Tim. 2:15).
). Course finished
(2 Tim. 4:7).
Crown (2 Tim. 4:8). Depart (2 Tim. 4:6).
Offered (2 Tim. 4:6).
I think, with this outline as your guide, you will begin to realize the distinctive nature of the dispensation of the
mystery, and at some future time we may be able to study these magnificent epistles together.
There is one other theme that awaits our consideration and that is the claim that Acts 28:28 is the dispensational
boundary which divides the earlier ministry of Paul from the later. This later ministry is associated with the church
of the one body which came into being at that time. In the thirteenth chapter of the Acts we find the end of the
dispensation foreshadowed.
THE MIRACLE OF JUDGEMENT (Acts 13:6-12).
Here a Jew, who sought to turn a Gentile from the faith, is stricken with blindness. The Gentile believes, and he
bears the same name as that of the Apostle. What took place at Paphos but foreshadowed the blindness that was
later to fall upon all Israel.
THE PROPHETIC WARNING (Acts 13:40,41).