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(1) The dispensation of the mystery, given to Paul as the Lord's prisoner, and made
known to him by revelation, concerns a church, whose special constitution and character
is that it is "The body of Christ". While references to a "body" may be found in
I Cor. 12: (see "The Apostle of the Reconciliation", pages 154-157), or Rom. 12: in
close association with spiritual gifts, it is evident that here we have a new company in
harmony with the new commission and stewardship now introduced.
(2) Further, this revelation of the mystery "fills up" the Word of God. While the
same words can mean "to fulfil", as with some of the O.T. prophecies (for example,
Matt. 1: 22), a slightly different shade of meaning attaches to the word in the Prison
Epistles. Pleroo occurs exactly 14 times in this set of epistles, as follows:--
"The fullness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1: 23).
"That ye may be filled unto all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3: 19).
"That He might fill all things" (Eph. 4: 10).
"Be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5: 18).
"Being filled with the fruits of righteousness" (Phil. 1: 11).
"Fulfil ye my joy" (Phil. 2: 2).
"I am full" (Phil. 4: 8).
"My God shall supply all your need" (Phil. 4: 19).
"That ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will" (Col. 1: 9).
"To fill up the Word of God" (Col. 1: 25).
"Ye are complete in Him" (Col. 2: 10).
"Complete in all the will of God" (Col. 4: 12).
"The ministry . . . . . fulfil it" (Col. 4: 17).
"That I may be filled with joy" (II Tim. 1: 4).
It is at once evident that the idea expressed by this word is in most cases that of
completion, filling up to the complete measure. That is what the revelation of the
mystery does in regard to the rest of Scripture.
The revelation of the remaining part of the purpose of the ages with which the rest of
Scripture is concerned, is in itself complete, for it has in view two spheres only, and with
these it deals thoroughly. It reveals a sphere of blessing in the earth, and another sphere
of blessing in the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city. The revelation of the mystery
crowns the whole by making known a yet higher sphere of blessing, even in the
heavenlies, or at the right hand of God. As Eph. 1: 10 indicates, by this ministry the
highest pinnacle of heavenly glory is united with the very ends of the earth.
(3) This mystery is said to have been hidden either by God, or in God, since, or away
from, the ages and the generations, but it is now made manifest to His saints. "Ages"
contain an element of time, "generations" contain an indication of character; both are
maintained in the words "now" and "saints". The contrast is important enough to justify
a restatement:--
"HIDDEN"
over against
"MANIFEST".
"AGES"
over against
"NOW".
"GENERATIONS"
over against
"SAINTS".