Paul’s Ministry, vv. 1-12
A. A Prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles, see Acts 22.
B. A Special Stewardship/Dispensation–>the Mystery of Christ, vv. 2-7
1. Seven Dispensations
a. Dispensation of Innocence
b. Dispensation of Conscience
c. Dispensation of Government
d. Dispensation of Promise
e. Dispensation of Law
f. Dispensation of Grace
g. Dispensation of the Reign of Christ
2. God offered a kingdom to Israel
a. God promised to establish their kingdom when they received the Messiah, and then through Israel God would convert the Gentiles.
b. God offered the kingdom through John the Baptist, but they killed him.
c. God offered the kingdom through Christ’s ministry, but they had Him killed.
d. God offered the kingdom through the apostles and Stephen (Acts 2-7), but they rejected it and killed Stephen.
e. With the death of Stephen, the offers of the kingdom ceased temporarily.
f. The Gospel went out to the Samaritans and the Gentiles.
3. The Church, the Mystery of Christ–>that believing Gentiles and Jews are one body in Christ, the Church.
C. Paul’s Privilege to Preach the “unsearchable riches of Christ” to the Gentiles, v. 8
1. “Unsearchable” literally means “untraceable.” You cannot find this mystery of the one body in the OT. It was a mystery hidden in Christ.
2. The purpose of the Church is to reveal the wisdom of God to angelic beings, v. 10.
Special NOTE: Satan knows the Scriptures; by keeping His program for the church hidden, God prevented Satan from hindering the plan. Satan took Christ to the cross, and by so doing sealed his own doom!
–Warren Wiersbe
Paul’s Prayer, vv. 13-21
A. Paul prays for God’s family in heaven and earth, for that is where His family is; none are “under the earth,” v. 15.
B. Paul prays they be strengthened so Christ “feels at home,” vv. 16-17.
C. Paul prays that they “comprehend” (literally, apprehend, lay hold of) these wonderful blessings and grasp them for themselves.
D. Paul’s benediction, vv. 20-21.
1. God works in us.
2. God works through us.
3. God is glorified in us.