 |  |
Those who believe the thirteenth chapter of Acts constitutes the dispensational
dividing line instead of Acts 28:, draw attention to:
(1)
A mystery before the world (I Cor. 2: 7).
(2)
"One Body" (I Cor. 12: 12, 27).
(3)
The seal and earnest (II Cor. 1: 22), and these are supposed to establish their claim.
They are similarities, but do not establish identity. Let us "open the book". When
we adopt this salutary principle of never conducting an argument with a closed Bible,
we observe that while we have "seal" and "earnest" before and after Acts 28:,
II Cor. 1: 21 is a four-fold not a two-fold confirmation. "Establishing" and "anointing"
are there also. This establishing was, said the Apostle of "us with you", the Greek word
establish being bebaio. This same word is found in I Cor. 1: 6 "even as the testimony
was confirmed in you" and adds "so that you come behind in no gift". With this we
should read Heb. 2: 3, 4 "confirmed unto us by them that heard Him, God also bearing
them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the
Holy Ghost". This word "anointing" (chrio) is to be read in the light of I John 2: 27:
"But the anointing (chrisma) which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing (chrisma) teacheth you of all
things . . . . ."
Here we have confirmation or establishing together with anointing, which things are
absent from Ephesians, even as all such "spiritual gifts" are absent from the dispensation
of the Mystery.
We turn next to I Cor. 12: This chapter is concerned with "spiritual gifts" as
verse one informs us, their variety yet their unity, and these gifts include miracles and
supernatural knowledge, gifts not in the possession of the Church of the Mystery.
I Cor. 12: first of all distinguishes between spiritual gifts that emanate from evil sources
and those spiritual gifts which come from the Lord. Looking at the second part we
observe that it is subdivided into three groups:
(1)
There are diversities of gifts, but the same SPIRIT.
(2)
There are differences of administrations, but the same LORD.
(3)
There are diversities of operations, but the same GOD (12: 4-6).
Here we notice that while there are differences, there is also an all-pervading unity. In
verses 7-11 the diversity of gifts (No.1 above) is considered at length. First the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit withal. Secondly, this manifestation is a
"diversity in unity":
"To one . . .
is given . . .
the word of wisdom . . . by the Spirit.
To another . . .
is given . . .
the word of knowledge . . . by the same Spirit.
To another . . .
is given . . .
faith . . . by the same Spirit.
To another . . .
is given . . .
the gifts of healing . . . by the one Spirit. (Vaticanus)
To another . . .
is given . . .
the working of miracles.
To another . . .
is given . . .
prophecy.
To another . . .
is given . . .
the discerning of spirits.