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(1)
Paul speaks of himself as the prisoner of Christ Jesus for us Gentiles.
(2)
He speaks of a special dispensation of grace that was given him to us-ward.
(3)
This involved the making known to him by revelation the Mystery (secret).
Having given some attention to the need to speak of the ages rather than that which
lies beyond our grasp, namely eternity, which unlike the ages, can have no beginning or
no end, a state that the human mind cannot grasp and with which the Scriptures are not
concerned, we turn to the actual references in the great Prison Epistles that speak of
Purpose, Promise and Performance. It is obvious that God had a wondrous purpose when
He chose the members of the Church which is the Body of Christ, before the foundation
(or overthrow) of the world, but the actual word `purpose' first occurs in a verbal form in
Eph. 1: 9, and in the substantive in verse 11:
"In all wisdom and prudence having made known unto us the mystery of His will,
according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself, That in the
dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ,
both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him: In Whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who
worketh all things after the counsel of His own will."
What words are here! Before we dare to submit these verses to our poor inspection,
should we not, in figure, "take off our shoes from off our feet"? The place whereon we
stand is indeed "holy ground".
Let us consider the wording of Eph. 1: 8. As the verse stands in the A.V., it seems to
contain a contradiction. How can anyone "abound" or "over-flow" with "prudence"?
How can anyone "abound", when the original means to overflow as well as be discreet,
frugal, economical and provident at the same time? The contradiction exists only in the
punctuation of the English translation,
(1)
Redemption. This is made to abound with prodigal riches.
(2)
Instruction. This is given little by little as we are able to bear it.
Let us read the passage once again, but put a full stop in the middle of verse 8, thus:
"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of His grace wherein He hath ABOUNDED toward us.
In all WISDOM and PRUDENCE having made known unto us the mystery of His
will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself.
This mystery, good pleasure and purpose, had a special dispensation in view:
"With a view to (eis R.V. `unto') a dispensation of the fullness of times He might
gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on
earth; even in Him."
The word "dispensation", following the Revised Text, is used by the Apostle Paul
four times: