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Here are the seven phrases taken from chapters 1 and 2:
1:3
all spiritual blessings
1:3
in heavenly places
1:4
chosen in Him before the foundation (overthrow)of the word
2:6
made us sit together in heavenly places
2:15
to make of the twain one new man
2:19
no longer foreigners
2:22
a habitation of God
We might add two references to the headship of Christ:
1:10
He might gather together in one all things in Christ
1:20-23 Gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church
There are two mysteries (secrets) mentioned in chapter 3, and the brackets in the text
of the Authorised Version appear in a different position in Moffatt's translation, whereas
in the Revised Version the brackets are omitted. Moffatt therefore reads "how the divine
secret was disclosed to me by a revelation...namely, that in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are
co-heirs..." The interviewing verses are thus related to the mystery of Christ, which was
not disclosed to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed.
The Mystery (sometimes referred to as "the great secret" to distinguish it from other
secrets) concerns our position as members of the Church which is His Body. When we
think of our own bodies, some members are more important than others, but in the Body
of Christ, all members are regarded as equal. The prefix sun is compounded with three
Greek words in verse 6, which the Revised Version translates:
fellow heirs
fellow-members of the Body
fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel
It is difficult to make a good English translation to reflect the meaning of the prefix
sun. One suggestion is to use the word "joint", and so we have joint-heirs, a joint-body,
and joint-partakers.
Paul always felt unworthy of the great honour of making know the Secret, for the had
persecuted the church during the early part of the "Acts" period. What a tremendous
message it is! The Secret concerns wonderful blessing in heaven's holiest of all. But Paul
acknowledged that he received the gift of the grace of God, by the effectual working of
His power. His task was to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable (untraceable
riches of Christ. But what a great responsibility to make all men see what is the
fellowship (dispensation R.V.) of the Mystery (Secret) which from the beginning of the
world (R.V. "which from all ages") hath been hid in God...
The amazing fact disclosed in verse 10 is that the principalities and powers in
heavenly places are observing the church and learning "the manifold wisdom of God",
according to the eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord.