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the verb memuemai (I am instructed--literally I am `initiated'); and in Eph. 1: 13
sphragizesthai (`sealed') is perhaps an image derived from the same source. So too the
Ephesians are addressed as Paulou summustai `fellow initiates of Paul' in Ignatius'
Epistle, and the Christian teacher is thus regarded as a hierophantes who initiates his
disciples into the rites" (Bp. Lightfoot).
It becomes very clear that no knowledge of the mysteries was obtainable apart from
initiation, and this fact must be borne in mind when we approach the mysteries of
Scripture. No mere instruction, or quoting of verses of scripture, nor even the most lucid
presentation of Dispensational Truth will ever "convince" any one apart from the
gracious enlightening that God alone can give.
"It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is
not given . . . . . many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which
ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not
heard them" (Matt. 13: 11, 17).
"Who hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 13: 9).
The recognition of this great fact of initiation would save the believer many hours of
fruitless anxiety on the part of others. The truth of the mystery is not to be made known
by the organizing of campaigns, it will never be a subject of popular appeal, our attitude
must be a readiness at all times to help and guide wherever we see a desire to know and
follow on, being assured that none will come to see the mystery apart from the Lord's
own illuminating, we ourselves can at best be but the earthen vessels that He stoops to
use in this most wondrous work. Out of the twenty-seven occurrences of the word
"mystery", the Apostle Paul uses twenty, the remaining seven being divided between the
first three Gospels and the Revelation. The word mystery is found in Ephesians as
follows:
Mystery in Ephesians.
A | 1: 9. The Mystery of His Will--which he purposed.
B | 3: 3. THE MYSTERY--pre-eminently so.
C | 3: 4. The Mystery of Christ--not made known as now.
A | 3: 9. The Dispensation of the Mystery (R.V.)--which He purposed.
B | 5: 32. THE GREAT MYSTERY.
C | 6: 19. The Mystery of the Gospel--made known.
The Mystery of His Will, the passage immediately before us, is "unto" or as its goal
(eis) a dispensation of the fullness of the seasons wherein Christ shall head up
(anakephalomai) all things, this is in correspondence with the dispensation of the mystery
which deals with the Church, the Body, and Christ the Head, concerning which the word
"fullness" is used of both (Eph. 1: 23; Col. 2: 9). This first occurrence of the term
mystery focuses our attention, not so much on consequences and calling, but on "The
Will" that is thereby being carried into effect, and so much has been built upon the
conception of the "Will" of God that is harmful because erroneous that we believe every
reader will approve of the departure we are making to enable them to benefit by the
writings of another student of the word on this momentous question.