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#2.
A group of epistles that manifest the mystery.
pp. 97 - 99
The reader who is looking for help in the understanding of the mystery is directed to a
series of articles entitled "The Mystery. Its meaning, message and ministry", which
appeared in Volume 18: We do not propose retraversing the ground there covered,
although naturally some of the features of that series will come before us for further
consideration. In the present series the subject is the manifestation of the mystery, rather
than the mystery itself, and it is assumed that the reader is already acquainted with:--
(1)
The twofold character of the Acts (see Vol. XVIII, p. 33).
(2)
Paul's twofold ministry, especially his prison ministry (Vol. XVIII, p. 49).
(3)
Acts 28: as the dispensational boundary (Vol. XVIII, p. 72).
The prison epistles themselves are the one great means of manifesting the mystery to
us to-day. We are independent of the opinions and interpretations of men, for in these
prison epistles we find all that has been revealed on the subject and, consequently, just so
far as we comprehend their teaching, so far, and no further, shall we comprehend the
mystery itself.
We must not assume that all readers are sure which of Paul's epistles may be
denominated "prison epistles". For their sakes, therefore, we give below the names of
these epistles, together with the internal evidence they contain that they are of prison
origin.
There are five epistles written from prison after the setting aside of Israel, and we have
but to read them to discover the fact for ourselves.
EPHESIANS IS A PRISON EPISTLE.
"For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" (3: 1).
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you" (4: 1).
"The mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds" (6: 19, 20).
PHILIPPIANS IS A PRISON EPISTLE.
"Both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel" (1: 7).
"My bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace" (1: 13).
"Many of the brethren . . . . . waxing confident by my bonds" (1: 14).
"Supposing to add affliction to my bonds" (1: 16).
"All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Cæsar's household" (4: 22).
COLOSSIANS IS A PRISON EPISTLE.
"The mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds" (4: 3).
"Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you" (4: 10).
"Remember my bonds" (4: 18).