The Church of the Mystery (Paul's Prison Ministry)
(Class Notes)
What is the Subject of this
GreatMystery(I Timothy 3:15)?
The subject of this
greatmystery is NOT Christ
The Lord's flesh VEILED rather than revealed His Deity
(Hebrews 10:19-20 cf.Isaiah 53:2)
just as the covering of animal skins over the Tabernacle CONCEALED the beauty of its contents (Exodus 26:14;Exodus 36:19)
The subject of this
greatmystery is the Church
The CONTEXT of this great mystery (I Timothy 3:16)
is a chapter which deals with the qualifications of LEADERSHIP in the Church:
As a leader in the Church, Paul exhorts Timothy how to
conduct himself in the Church, which is the "pillar and support of the truth" (I Timothy 3:14-15)
for it is God Who is at work in the Church (I Timothy 3:16)
The GLORY of God is revealed physically through the earthly
TRIBULATION of His people to demonstrate the POWER of His RESURRECTION life (II Corinthians 4:6-11 cf.II Corinthians 12:7-10)
Justified in Spirit
The Church's SPIRITUAL blessings (Ephesians 1:3)
are RIGHTLY experienced "in spirit" (Ephesians 2:22) and appreciated by believers possessing an "enlightened spirit" (Ephesians 1:17-18)
Paul preached the "UNSEARCHABLE" ("UNTRACEABLE")
riches of Christ among the Gentiles(Ephesians 3:8) concerning the MYSTERY that God would reveal His glory through them
(Colossians 1:24-27)
According to PROPHECY, it was NO SECRET that God would
reveal His glory through Israel(Isaiah 46:13;Isaiah 60:1-3)
Believed in (the) World
The gospel concerning the "grace of God that bringeth
salvation" (Titus 2:11) is "spoken throughout the WHOLE world" (Romans 1:8)
and "bringeth forth fruit" (Colossians 1:6) in those who have placed their "faith in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:4)
Taken up in Glory
The Church will be received up into heaven and each of
Its members will be given a GLORIFIED body by Its Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20-21)