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No.3 finds "A" bewildered by the many apparent differences which he has discovered by
reading the gospels and the epistles. The solution is found in "rightly dividing"
the Word of truth.
No.4 gives some examples of right division, showing that Scripture is addressed to Jew,
Gentile or Church. Among other examples the epistles of Paul are instanced as
needing to be rightly divided.
No.5 & 6 deal with the distinctive ministry of the apostle Paul, and shows that he was
not one of "the twelve", but set apart as the apostle to the Gentiles.
A.--Will you help me to understand what you mean by the "Two-fold ministry of Paul?"
B.--Yes, most willingly, for the due appreciation of Paul's later ministry is an entrance
into great blessing. You are already acquainted with the conversion and commission of
Paul as given in Acts 9:, and so we will pass on to the critical moment in his ministry as
given in Acts 20: 17-38. Paul addresses the elders of the Church at Ephesus in a stranger
way:--
"Ye know, from the first day that I come into Asia, after what manner I have been
with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears,
and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, and how I kept back
nothing that was profitable unto you" (20: 18-20).
"Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (20: 26, 27).
A.--It sounds very much like a farewell sermon.
B.--That is exactly what it is, for the apostle says:--
"And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the
Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more" (20: 25).
A.--What had happened to make the apostle so confident about this?
B.--Listen:--
"And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that shall befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that
bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I
have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (20: 22-24).
A.--Does Paul mean that the bonds and afflictions were an essential part of the ministry
he desired to finish?
B.--Yes. The passage before us points in that direction, and other passages confirm it.
Turn to Acts 26: where the apostle makes his statement before Agrippa. After
speaking of the appearance of the Lord to him on the road to Damascus Paul says that the
Lord answered him:--