NoOne
Gone but not forgotten.
The Apostle Paul wrote about one-half of the Books of what are generally called the “New Testament Scriptures.” It is generally believed that he wrote about one-half of his messages before the close of the “Acts” period and about one-half of them after the close of the “Acts” period. It is significant in Paul’s ministry, during the “Acts” period (oral and written), that he referred to the Old Testament Scriptures, or used “Israelitish” terms, more than 250 times, whereas, in his last seven Epistles he did not use 20 such references or terms. Many times during the “Acts” period we find the words “miracles”, “signs”, “visions”, “tongues”, etc.; but in his “Post-Acts” Epistles, generally called `Paul’s Prison Epistles”, no mention is made of these supernatural demonstrations. A comparison of the gifts of I Corinthians 12:8 to 11, with the gifts of Ephesians 4:11, should prove interesting and instructive; also a comparison of Acts 19:11 with I Timothy 5:23 and II Timothy 4:20.
In Paul’s Prison Epistles we find very frequently these words, “faith”, “hope” and “love”. Therefore we should find I Corinthians 13:8 and 13:13 very interesting and instructive. In these verses we learn that certain “sign gifts” were to pass away and faith, hope and love were to abide. The sign gifts and miracles found in Paul’s Pre-prison Epistles are not found in his Prison Epistles.
In Acts 28:25 to 28 we have the Divine Record of the Divine judgment upon Israel (the nation); but the armies of Matthew 22:7 did not besiege Jerusalem until several years after Paul pronounced the judgment of 28:25 to 28. All during the “Acts” period Israel’s temple stood in Jerusalem. During that period Israel was preserved and protected by the Covenant-keeping God, and Father; because of the prayer of Christ on the cross, Luke 23:34. During the 37 years from Calvary to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus (about 70 A.D.) Israel had access to the temple, enjoying the favor of the Roman government for more than 30 years of that time, and they continued their “Judaism” in temple worship under the leadership of their high priest. Acts 20:16; Acts 23:3 to 7.
During that period, up to Acts 28, Paul became a Jew to the Jews (under the Law), and God’s order was “to the Jew first”. I Corinthians 9:20 to 24; Romans 1:16; Acts 13:46; Acts 3:21.
Paul, in his ministry, called himself the apostle, or teacher, or preacher, or minister, or the Lord’s prisoner. “to the Gentiles”, more than a dozen times. He mentioned himself in the first– person pronoun more than 1300 times. He was neither deluded, presumptuous nor egotistical. He had many revelations from the Lord. II Corinthians 12:1 to 12. He had a special deposit from the Lord. II Timothy 1:12 (Greek—“my deposit”). Christ sent him to preach riches to the Gentiles never hinted at in the Old Testament Scriptures (“unsearchable”—“not to be tracked”). Ephesians 3:8. He had committed unto him, “the Dispensation of the Grace of God, “the Dispensation of the Mystery” for the Gentiles. Ephesians 3:9. In his Prison Epistles “the Mystery” is mentioned twelve times.
Paul did not receive his “uncircumcision” gospel from Peter and the Eleven (apostles before him, Galatians 1:17). Neither did they give him any authority to go to the Gentiles. Christ gave him that authority. Unlike the Eleven, in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20, Christ sent Paul, not to baptize. I Corinthians 1:17. Neither did Paul in his Prison Epistles tell any one to obey or preach the message of Mark 16:15 to 18.
In Acts 9:1 to 15, we have the record of Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion. Then what followed? He straightway preached Christ (Messiah) in the synagogue. Acts 9:20. Now, note carefully what he called this: “preached the faith which he once destroyed.” Galatians 1:23. Remember, Saul never persecuted Gentile Christians. He was turned to Christ before the door of salvation was opened to the Gentiles. Acts 14:27. Saul never preached to Gentiles in his “Grace of God” gospel what Christ preached to him, “Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins.” Acts 22:16. Paul went to Arabia; and after three years went up to Jerusalem, where he spent about two weeks with Peter and James the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:17 to 24.
Fourteen years after, by revelation, Paul went again to Jerusalem and told them of a revelation he had received from the risen Christ, “the gospel of the uncircumcision”. Galatians 2:7. Note, the Twelve learned it from Paul and not from Christ. Let us not confuse the faith which Saul, the persecutor, destroyed, with the gospel of the uncircumcision about which he, nor the Twelve, knew nothing when he was persecuting the Church of God. Neither let us confuse the “gospel of the uncircumcision, foreseen in Abram’s call (Galatians 3:8) with the ministry of reconciliation. II Corinthians 5:16 to 21.
Now let us refer again to our subject, “When-How-Why and Where Did Paul Receive What?” and Search the Scriptures. But let us note this order:
Ephesians 3:8 and 9:“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the DISPENSATION ‘OF THE MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:11 and 12:“But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.”
Galatians 2:7:“BUT CONTRARIWISE, when they saw that the GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION WAS COMMITTED UNTO ME, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.”
l Corinthians 9:16 and 17: “For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, A DISPENSATION OF THE GOSPEL IS COMMITTED UNTO ME.”
Colossians 1:25 and 26:“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the DISPENSATION OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, to fulfill the Word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.”
I Timothy 1:11:“According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was COMMITTED TO MY TRUST.”
Romans 15:16:“That I SHOULD BE THE MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE GENTILES, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
II Timothy 1:9 to 12:“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel: WHEREUNTO I AM APPOINTED A PREACHER, AND AN APOSTLE, AND A TEACHER OF THE GENTILES. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep (my deposit)” (original).
In Paul’s Prison Epistles we find very frequently these words, “faith”, “hope” and “love”. Therefore we should find I Corinthians 13:8 and 13:13 very interesting and instructive. In these verses we learn that certain “sign gifts” were to pass away and faith, hope and love were to abide. The sign gifts and miracles found in Paul’s Pre-prison Epistles are not found in his Prison Epistles.
In Acts 28:25 to 28 we have the Divine Record of the Divine judgment upon Israel (the nation); but the armies of Matthew 22:7 did not besiege Jerusalem until several years after Paul pronounced the judgment of 28:25 to 28. All during the “Acts” period Israel’s temple stood in Jerusalem. During that period Israel was preserved and protected by the Covenant-keeping God, and Father; because of the prayer of Christ on the cross, Luke 23:34. During the 37 years from Calvary to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus (about 70 A.D.) Israel had access to the temple, enjoying the favor of the Roman government for more than 30 years of that time, and they continued their “Judaism” in temple worship under the leadership of their high priest. Acts 20:16; Acts 23:3 to 7.
During that period, up to Acts 28, Paul became a Jew to the Jews (under the Law), and God’s order was “to the Jew first”. I Corinthians 9:20 to 24; Romans 1:16; Acts 13:46; Acts 3:21.
Paul, in his ministry, called himself the apostle, or teacher, or preacher, or minister, or the Lord’s prisoner. “to the Gentiles”, more than a dozen times. He mentioned himself in the first– person pronoun more than 1300 times. He was neither deluded, presumptuous nor egotistical. He had many revelations from the Lord. II Corinthians 12:1 to 12. He had a special deposit from the Lord. II Timothy 1:12 (Greek—“my deposit”). Christ sent him to preach riches to the Gentiles never hinted at in the Old Testament Scriptures (“unsearchable”—“not to be tracked”). Ephesians 3:8. He had committed unto him, “the Dispensation of the Grace of God, “the Dispensation of the Mystery” for the Gentiles. Ephesians 3:9. In his Prison Epistles “the Mystery” is mentioned twelve times.
Paul did not receive his “uncircumcision” gospel from Peter and the Eleven (apostles before him, Galatians 1:17). Neither did they give him any authority to go to the Gentiles. Christ gave him that authority. Unlike the Eleven, in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 and 20, Christ sent Paul, not to baptize. I Corinthians 1:17. Neither did Paul in his Prison Epistles tell any one to obey or preach the message of Mark 16:15 to 18.
In Acts 9:1 to 15, we have the record of Paul’s (Saul’s) conversion. Then what followed? He straightway preached Christ (Messiah) in the synagogue. Acts 9:20. Now, note carefully what he called this: “preached the faith which he once destroyed.” Galatians 1:23. Remember, Saul never persecuted Gentile Christians. He was turned to Christ before the door of salvation was opened to the Gentiles. Acts 14:27. Saul never preached to Gentiles in his “Grace of God” gospel what Christ preached to him, “Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins.” Acts 22:16. Paul went to Arabia; and after three years went up to Jerusalem, where he spent about two weeks with Peter and James the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:17 to 24.
Fourteen years after, by revelation, Paul went again to Jerusalem and told them of a revelation he had received from the risen Christ, “the gospel of the uncircumcision”. Galatians 2:7. Note, the Twelve learned it from Paul and not from Christ. Let us not confuse the faith which Saul, the persecutor, destroyed, with the gospel of the uncircumcision about which he, nor the Twelve, knew nothing when he was persecuting the Church of God. Neither let us confuse the “gospel of the uncircumcision, foreseen in Abram’s call (Galatians 3:8) with the ministry of reconciliation. II Corinthians 5:16 to 21.
Now let us refer again to our subject, “When-How-Why and Where Did Paul Receive What?” and Search the Scriptures. But let us note this order:
- The Faith Paul once destroyed.
- The Gospel of the Uncircumcision.
- The Dispensation of God.
- The Ministry of Reconciliation.
- The Dispensation of the Grace of God.
- The Eternal Purpose of God in Christ.
- The Dispensation of the Mystery.
Ephesians 3:8 and 9:“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the DISPENSATION ‘OF THE MYSTERY, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:11 and 12:“But I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.”
Galatians 2:7:“BUT CONTRARIWISE, when they saw that the GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION WAS COMMITTED UNTO ME, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter.”
l Corinthians 9:16 and 17: “For though I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, A DISPENSATION OF THE GOSPEL IS COMMITTED UNTO ME.”
Colossians 1:25 and 26:“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the DISPENSATION OF GOD WHICH IS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, to fulfill the Word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.”
I Timothy 1:11:“According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was COMMITTED TO MY TRUST.”
Romans 15:16:“That I SHOULD BE THE MINISTER OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE GENTILES, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”
II Timothy 1:9 to 12:“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel: WHEREUNTO I AM APPOINTED A PREACHER, AND AN APOSTLE, AND A TEACHER OF THE GENTILES. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep (my deposit)” (original).