 |  |
The word "Gentile", which is of great importance in the revelation of the mystery,
occurs eight times in the prison epistles (the same number of occurrences as of the word
"riches"). The passages concerned will repay study:--
"In times past Gentiles in the flesh" (Eph. 2: 11).
"The prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles" (Eph. 3: 1).
"That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs" (Eph. 3: 6).
"That I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3: 8).
"That ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles" (Eph. 4: 17).
"The riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles" (Col. 1: 27).
"I am appointed . . . . . a teacher of the Gentiles" (II Tim. 1: 11).
"And . . . . . all the Gentiles might hear" (II Tim. 4: 17).
The five references in Ephesians are complete in themselves as may be seen below:--
A | 2: 11. The past life. "In the flesh." "Aliens."
B | 3: 1. The prisoner . . . . . the mystery.
C | 3: 6. The mystery itself. "Fellow."
B | 3: 8. The preacher. The unsearchable riches.
A | 4: 17. The past walk. "In the vanity of the mind." "Alienated."
We can now bring together the opening and closing members of this section:--
A | Col. 1: 23. The HOPE of the gospel.
a | Heard . . . . . Preached.
b | Every creature under heaven.
A | Col. 1: 27, 28. The HOPE of the glory.
a | Riches of glory.
b | Among Gentiles.
b | Among you.
a | Hope of glory.
We may perhaps, add that the expressions, "Every creature under heaven" of verse 23,
and "All the world" of verse 6, must be interpreted in the light of verse 27.
Before we pursue our studies into Col. 1: 28, it will be helpful to consider the
corresponding member in the fourth chapter:--
D | 4: 2-11. The mystery manifested by Paul.
The position of this member in the structure of the epistle as a whole may be seen by
referring to Volume XX, page 57.