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CHAPTER 1
THE PRISON EPISTLES
United, yet divided.
It is assumed in these pages that the reader is acquainted with the teaching of the Scriptures set forth in the
booklet entitled United, Yet Divided, A Key to Holy Scripture. In that booklet the dispensational boundary of the
Church of the Mystery was seen to be, not Acts 2, but Acts 28. In other words, the `Church' DID NOT BEGIN AT
PENTECOST.
The prison ministry.
The peculiar ministry of the apostle Paul, `for you Gentiles', does not commence until Israel AS A NATION is set
aside. It is with the object of opening up, as God enables, the distinctive teaching of those epistles of Paul written
from prison after Acts 28 that the following pages are written.
The prison epistles.
The prison epistles are five, namely, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and 2 Timothy. In each of
these epistles Paul either refers to his bonds or calls himself a prisoner. In the remainder of his epistles he writes as
a freeman, promising to visit churches, and speaking of his future plans for missionary enterprise. These five prison
epistles are complete in themselves, but the historic facts of the Gospels are necessarily assumed, and the great
doctrinal basis of Romans is fundamental.
The change which is observed in the prison epistles is not so much one of doctrine, as of destiny. The election
there is not so much unto salvation, as to position. A new realm is opened, a new calling is announced, a church
with a new constitution is formed. It is this which is the subject of the `Mystery', and the Church of the One Body
occupies the `Dispensation of the Mystery' (Eph. 3:9 R.V.).
It will be found that the epistle to the Ephesians lays the foundation of this new revelation. Doctrine,
dispensation and practice are there most fully taught. Philippians follows with its added teaching of the prize which
is attached to this high calling. Colossians supplements Ephesians, and should be studied with it as an inspired
commentary. 2 Timothy applies the teaching of Philippians to these closing days when fellowship has well-nigh
ceased and the fight is solitary and the course lonely.
Perhaps some readers will find the following arrangement of the Epistles helpful as a means of visualizing this
interrelationship:
The Epistles of the Mystery.
A Ephesians -
Speaks of Christ as Head.
Speaks of Church as Body.
Speaks of Principalities and Powers.
Speaks of Heavenly Places.
Speaks of Dispensation of Mystery.
Speaks of Christ's Fulness.
B Philippians -
Speaks of Striving for a Prize.
Speaks of Suffering.
Does not speak of any of the items
mentioned
above in Ephesians.
C Philemon -
From Slavery to Equality.
A Colossians -
Speaks of every item mentioned above in Ephesians.
Timothy -
Speaks of Striving for a Crown.