 |  |
In the Epistles to the Church, Christ is never called the "Shepherd" although He is so
named both in Hebrews and I Peter. The members of the Church which is the Body of
Christ, are never called "Sheep" although this title is found in those parts of the N.T.
devoted to callings other than that of the mystery.
It would take us too far from our present theme to deal with "the other sheep" of
John 10: 16, we note it here in order that it may be evident that the passage has not been
overlooked, but refer the reader to other issues of this series that deal with the wider
ministry of the Gospel according to John.
Before Acts 28:
After Acts 28:
I & II Thess., Cor., Gal., Rom.
Eph.,
Phil., Col., I & II Tim., Titus.
"Jew"
25 times.
once
-
"Israel"
14 x
twice
-
"Israelite"
3 x
-
-
"Abraham"
19 x
-
-
"Moses"
9 x
-
-
"To Baptize"
12 x
-
-
"Baptism" (Baptisma)
once
twice
-
"Lord's Supper"
once
-
-
"The Loaf" in connection with
the Lord's Supper
7 times
-
-
"The Cup" in connection with
the Lord's Supper
7 x
-
-
"Gifts" charisma (meaning
"Gifts of the Spirit")
9
x
-
twice
"Miracles"
4
x
-
-
"Tongues"
22
x
-
-
"Interpret"
7
x
-
-
"Healing"
3
x
-
-
"Prophesying"
13
x
-
-
"Prophesy" (as gifts)
4
x
-
twice
"To circumcise"
8
x
once
-
Circumcision"
23
x
6 times
-
In another pamphlet, we examine the subject of the "One Body", and find that in
I Cor. 12:, it was explained as being "Partial", in contrast with the "Fullness" of
Eph. 1: 23.
Let us examine this subject a little closer, and we shall see that many of the essential
elements of the "One Body" are to be found scattered in these earlier Epistles.
It will be remembered that the Unity of the Spirit, which has to be kept "in love" is
defined in Eph. 4: as consisting of One Body, One Spirit, One Hope of our calling,
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, and One God and Father.
In this wonderful sevenfold unity the Three Persons in the Godhead have their place.
In I Cor. 12: 4-6 in connection with the diversities, administrations and operations of the
gifts, which formed the basis of the ecclesiastical "body" (I Cor. 12: 12-27), we read that
it is the same SPIRIT, the same LORD, and the same GOD, Who worketh all in all.