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CHAPTER 4
THE DISPENSATION OF THE MYSTERY
Paul's dispensation.
The peculiar position of the Gentiles in the Church of the One Body is the subject, not of inference, but of
revelation. The position is so unique that a dispensation is allotted to it, called `The Dispensation of the grace of
God to you-ward' (Eph. 3:2), and `The Dispensation of the Mystery' (3:9 R.V.). This dispensation was committed
to one chosen vessel, the apostle Paul:
`Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which since the
ages has been hidden by God' (Eph. 3:8,9 Author's translation).
Two mysteries, linked yet distinct, are spoken of in this third chapter:
a Received by revelation.
(1) THE mystery
b By Paul alone.
c Made known by Paul to all.
(2) The mystery of CHRIST a A progressive revelation.
b Known now more fully than before.
c Known by apostles and prophets and not by Paul alone.
When Paul expounded the fuller teaching which he had of the mystery of Christ, he preached `the unsearchable
riches of Christ', His present exaltation above principalities to the right hand of God, and His present Headship over
all things to the Church which is His Body.
When Paul expounded the new revelation of the Mystery, he enlightened all men as to its constitution. This
centred upon the threefold equality which we have noticed already, and was the subject of a mystery which till then
was unknown. Colossians 1:25 supplements Ephesians 3 by saying that the dispensation received by Paul `for you'
`FILLED UP the Word of God'.
At the setting aside of Israel a crisis was reached. The people did not repent. Christ did not return. The
kingdom was not restored to Israel. The restitution of all things was postponed. The interval is occupied by the
ministry of `the mystery'. When that ministry has accomplished its purpose, God will resume His dealings where
He left off. Israel will again come into prominence together with the city of Jerusalem. The present dispensation
will then have ceased, and the Church which is His Body will have been completed.
CHAPTER 5
THE PRACTICE OF THE TRUTH
Doctrine and practice.
The epistle to the Ephesians is divided into two sections, the first being the doctrinal portion and a revelation
from God, the second being the practical out-working of the revelation given.
The student of Scripture will know that the epistles of Paul abound in quotations from the Old Testament. It is in
striking contrast with his earlier epistles that we notice the absence of quotation in the prison epistles. No direct
quotation from the Old Testament is found in Ephesians until 4:8. It is obvious, therefore, that a system of teaching
and a dispensational position so unique as that of the One Body must of necessity be accompanied by a practice that
will differ in many essentials from that which was enjoined upon believers under other dispensations.