1. Prisoner for you (huper humon).

T

Dispensation of grace of God.

a

2. Dispensation given.

Revelation of Mystery.

b  2.

To me.

b  2.

To you-ward.

a  3. Mystery revealed.

U

d

4.

Mystery of Christ.

e  5.

Apostles and prophets (plural).

and two

f  5,6.  The Mystery

g  In Spirit.

h1

h2

h3

g  In Christ.

e  7.

Paul alone (singular).

d

8.  Unsearchable riches of Christ.

T

a

9. Dispensation hidden since the ages.

of Mystery.

b  9.  By God Who created

through Christ.

Making known

c  10.  Knowledge through the

wisdom of God.

a  11.  Purpose of the ages.

b  11.  Which He made in Christ.

C  12.  Access through faith

of Christ.

S

Afflictions for you (huper humon).

The next pair of correspondences relate to the dispensations.  In the

first passage it is called `The dispensation of the grace of God' with which we

can compare Acts 20:24, where Paul speaks of this future ministry as testifying

the gospel of the grace of God.  The corresponding member in Ephesians 3, speaks

of `the dispensation (R.V.) of the mystery'.  In the former passage this Mystery

(secret) is said to have been made known to Paul by revelation, and in the

latter passage we read of his desire `to enlighten all' (photisai pantas in the

Received Text) as to what is the dispensation of the Mystery.  The central

member verses 4-8 is occupied with two mysteries, not one.  There is the Mystery

of Christ, shared by the apostles and prophets of the New Testament times, with

those who were taught of God in earliest days, and there is the Mystery itself,

which Paul shared with no man.

The Mystery of Christ has been unfolded in the Scriptures since the primal

promise of Genesis 3:15 was made to our first parents; the Mystery of the

present dispensation is called in the balancing member `unsearchable', no trace