I once thought that Paul, while in Acts 28:28-31 probably wrote (and in this possible order) Ephesians (FIRST) Phil. Col, 1.Tim, Titus, Philemon, 2 Tim.
I never was dogmatic. I have learned that this is not consistent with the truths of the dispensational frontier…
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Why did Paul say “as I wrote AFORE in few words”? WHERE was that? Where did Paul write this AFORE? Well, if it is the dispensation of the grace of God-then we can back it up to Acts 28. We know that much. But, because Paul said that he wrote about the revelation of the mystery afore in FEW WORDS, that would CONCLUSIVELY PROVE that he MUST have written some other epistles before then…OR ELSE, he would be lying to say “as I wrote afore”. He either wrote it afore, or he didn’t.
I will say that this has I.Tim., Titus, and Philippians in mind and that Paul wrote NOTHING during his 2 years in his first roman imprisonment (Acts 28:28-31). I propose that Paul was released from prison after Acts 28 and THEN he writes I. Tim. and Titus to tell how to organize the saints for this new dispensation which was started THROUGH the dispensational frontier. I propose that Phillip. Was the FIRST prison epistle written in Paul second imprisonment, but it does not have the revelation of the mystery in view, just the dispensational principles for us-in part.(in few words). The actual HEART of this dispensation is found in 2 Tim., Eph., Col., and Philemon. MAKE NO MISUNDERSTANDING…I BELIEVE THAT PAUL’S LATTER WRITING’S REPRESENT THIS DISPENSATION ALTHOUGH WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE WERE CHANGES MADE ALONG THE WAY…SIGNS DROPPED OFF, ETC. ETC ETC.
You know, one thing that I noticed as I was studying this out was that in Paul's Early Writings he expected to LIVE to see Christ, but some time after Acts 28 is when it changes. For 28ers this is old news...but in Titus when Paul speaks of the blessed hope of the Lord's appearing he does not say if he expects to be dead or alive for it.
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Same with I. Tim.6.
1 Timothy 6:14-15 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
But once Phill. comes around, i noticed that that seems to be when Paul begins to call it into question:
Philippians 1:20-25 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
I noticed that at least for a season Paul was confident that he would do what he could for them although he would count it a joy to die through service to them:
Philippians 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
But once we get into his prison epistles, he is sure of his death. (even though he never seems to say one way or another in Eph. or Col.). I did notice that he STOPS telling people to FOLLOW HIM after Philippians. It seems logical to do that, if you know when you are writing Eph, Col, 2 Tim, and Philemon that you will likely die soon. He tells people WHAT to follow AND to follow God, but never "Paul". In 2 Tim he is sure of death:
2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
The term “at hand” is a Hebrew idiom meaning “sure” or “certain” and “near”. Paul was a Hebrew, he THOUGHT as a Hebrew and when he wrote, he WROTE as a Hebrew. We Englishmen read it and mess it all up. To US “at hand” means in the near future, which it doesn’t. Notice this:
Isaiah 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
So, has the day of the Lord been at hand for 3000 years???? Or would it just mean “certain”? I agree with the latter. The Jewish prophets would often look at a future event as if it were already fulfilled.
To summarize...it is logical to conclude that although Acts 28:28-31 IS the dispensational frontier that Paul did not write anything during that imprisonment, although the ONE NEW MAN was created. Instead, Paul is released from prison after Acts has concluded and then writes 1 Tim, and Titus...in these books, for the FIRST TIME Paul goes over qualifications for a bishop and deacons. The fact that he waits so long points to the fact that even though there were church leaders (elders) during the acts period, something new must have happened so that a fresh set of “qualifications” must now be given. This makes sense with an understanding of the dispensational frontier. In 1st Tim and Titus, Paul is NEVER CALLED a prisoner. In fact, if you look at what mystery Paul preaches he is preaching Christ's earthly ministry and how it relates to Gentiles for the church OF GOD (the VISIBLE, CORPORATE church-not "the church, which is his body").
As I have stated, we are not FORETOLD in prophecy, but we will be a part of prophetic interactions…especially in the ages to come.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Christ did not have to be SENT to Gentiles in order for Gentiles to hear of him and be preached to. Even in John 4 we see Christ with the woman of Samaria. Once she believes on Christ, she tells other Samaritans of him. Christ was preached unto the Gentiles although he was SENT to the lost sheep. Nothing has been violated. This mystery would have gone through Matt. up to today in it’s APPLICATION. We trace the SOURCE of OUR KINGDOM to what Christ did as the risen seed of David.
The church of God was the Acts body…just an organization.
1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
No division-PERFECTLY JOINED…like a BODY.
I know that some would argue that the term “body of Christ” is not found in the prophets, but then again, neither is the term “Jesus Christ”. Since THAT is SO, why would be possibly expect “the body of Christ”??? BUT, if the TEACHING IS THERE, then it does not matter that the TERM is not there. Hey, the term BAPTISM is not found in the Old Testament either, but it happened.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
No division-PERFECTLY JOINED…like a BODY.
1 Corinthians 12:27-28 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
I believe that God REVAMPED the church of God after Acts 28 with a new set of truth for a new dispensation that we are presently in, but that did NOT come in all at once. NOT even for PAUL.
1 Timothy 3:15-16 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
1 Timothy 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
2 Timothy 2:8-9 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
NOTE: NOT JUST that Christ DIED as the seed of David…but that our identification is with the RISEN SEED OF DAVID. Think about it.
Romans 1:1-4 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Paul had some new stuff for THIS dispensation with the dispensational frontier, but additional knowledge was on its way that was not mentioned in prophecy. He is learning that WE will be the head-even over Israel “somehow”. In Paul's second imprisonment, which occurred after Acts and then afterwards writing I. Tim and Titus, he now is able to WRITE to those that ARE bishops and deacons. I believe that Philippians would be the LOGICAL FIRST (!!!) book for Paul to write once he becomes a prisoner...but God does not give Paul the REVELATION of the mystery yet. He is not a prisoner for “you Gentiles” at that EXACT moment. The DISPENSATION of the Grace of God already happened back in Acts 28:28-31 and following, but the revelation of the mystery is only BUILT on that dispensation. The Philippians knew about a church that Paul had persecuted and they no doubt knew that they were a part of that same church.
Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Again, this church was an ORGANIZATION, not bone of his bone...it was just like "the local church". It was the CORPORATE church.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Being a member of the corporate church would NOT stop a person from being a member of “the church, which is his body”...because they are two TYPES of churches. Local vs. Universal. I can belong to a local church and belong to the Universal church at the SAME TIME. What the Philippians did NOT know, nor Tim. and Titus OR EVEN PAUL (yet) was that God had a ONE NEW MAN. It HAD HAPPENED, but Paul did not get this revelation till DURING his SECOND imprisonment. I say that the dispensation of the grace of God kicked into existence with the dispensational frontier and was made known to Paul as soon as it happened, but the revelation of the mystery was not for Paul to know at this time...it would come later. After Paul writes Philippians (his FIRST prison epistle) in his second imprionment he also AFTERWARDS writes 2 Tim., Eph. Col, and Philemon. I do not know the order of those prison epistles but I do believe that Paul did not have the revelation of the mystery till after Philippians was written. Personally, I have to believe that in 2 Tim, that Paul STILL did not truly have the revelation of the mystery. Had he had it, he certainly did not mention it in his epistle to Timothy. To me it seems more logical to keep the MINISTERIAL EPISTLES all together (I.Tim., Titus, Philip., 2 Tim.). More on this later.More on this later.
I have to tell you though, after much thought and prayer that I have come to believe that Philemon, not 2 Tim. was written last. In Eph.4 I read:
Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
The “we” were those that had FIRST trusted Christ, they, like Paul, were the saints that came out of the Early Acts period. The faithful in Christ Jesus did NOT need these gifts because they were US; a set of Gentiles that had NOTHING to do with the commonwealth of Israel.
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
VS.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Paul had only HEARD of the faith of these later Ephesians. They were NOT LIKE the Ephesians in Acts 20. The Acts 20 Ephesians, like Paul, composed the “we” who “FIRST trusted Christ”. They were not like US who, “after that ALSO trusted”. Brethren, we are like the faithful in Christ Jesus, we had NOTHING to do with what went on BEFORE Acts 28:28.
Since this is true, then when the “transition” (phasing out) was over, there would be no more apostles. While Paul was an apostle he magnified his office and had his name put on ALL his epistles.(He does not talk about being an apostle in Heb, but then again he does not put his name on it...and that was obviously an Acts body epistle) But, it would stand to reason in my mind that IF the transition concluded then Paul would loose his apostolic office and would be forced to no longer magnify it. He could not, and WOULD NOT be able to call himself an apostle any longer.
There is only one post Acts28 epistle that reads that way:
Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
It would seem to me that Paul's death indeed was AT HAND according to 2 Tim.4 BUT God allowed Paul to have his hearts desire...as Paul the aged, God let Paul live long enough to see the fulfillment of his transitional work and the horizon of the mystery in full bloom.
Paul still writes about the CORPORATE, local church in II.Tim., but that transition served its purpose and disappears along with the offices of Eph. 4 (apostles, etc) and Paul then DIES as just “a prisoner” after Philemon. I have to believe that in 2 Tim, that Paul STILL did not truly have the revelation of the mystery. Had he had it, he certainly did not mention it in his epistle to Timothy.
1 Timothy 3:14-16 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
This is unquestionably the CORPORATE, VISIBLE church which is why it has VISIBLE vessels…bishops, deacons, etc. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE that the “great house” which is used interchangeably with “church of God” could POSSIBLY be “the church, which is his body”! Remember, in THE GREAT HOUSE there could be vessels of WOOD AND SILVER! There could be vessels of DISHONOUR! This is a sharp CONTRADICTION to a church that is without spot, or blemish, or any such thing. This is NOT a glorious church. Therefore, it COULD NOT be “the church, which is his body”. Things that differ are never equal.
Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Paul expected these gifts to drop off for THE SAINTS. It is INCONSISTENT to say that we must keep evangelists, pastors and teachers while trying to argue that apostles and prophets were to disappear. Heck, I don’t need a pastor. Why? Because nobody can call me a sheep. BUT, if I were coming from “the flock” (Acts 20) then it would make PERFECT SENSE. The SAINTS who FIRST TRUSTED CHRIST were the sheep along with Paul.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Philemon 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
Philemon 1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
Basically, I think that the church of God (local church) ran its course, the saints of the Acts period were brought up to speed, and Paul gets to see his dream come true. His office is taken from him because his mission is accomplished and now he dies with the full revelation of the mystery and with no apostolic gifts around. The transition (dying OUT) of the organizational church is brought into the unity of the faith pertaining to the dispensational change…and now here we all are. The Acts body saints were perfected and brought UNTO the One New Man.
Final thoughts…
Some thoughts: Concerning 2 Tim., I guess that I would have to say that Eph. and Col. did come before it since at the end of Eph. and beginning of Col. he still leaves us with the impression that he is still in the heart of his ministry. He is still making his preaching known and requests prayers to that effect in Eph.6.
Ephesians 6:18-20 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
In Col. 1 he is still talking about being a minister for these Gentiles to fulfill the word of God.
Colossians 1:23-29 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
But in the case of II.Tim 4:6-8, 11, 18, 21 I did notice that he did say to send Mark because he was profitable to him FOR THE MINISTRY and Paul lays out the command to come before winter.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
This would indicate to me, that as Paul saw it, his ministry was NOT done or else he could never say that. (I guess that is because I see his course being more VERBAL with him going about to make God's words known.) This coupled with v. 18 where it states that God will (future tense) deliver him from every evil work makes me think that Paul was on his deathbed and wishes for Timothy to come quickly, but that Paul expected to still keep "serving the Lord" up to some point in the future when he would die.
I understand that part of Paul's ministry was "finishing his course", but why could Paul not have said this and yet write Philemon afterwards? There were times where Paul writes an epistle not knowing that it will necessarily go down as scripture although he did know that he had a course to fulfill in the same book (1 Cor. 7:12; 9:25-27 & Acts 20:24). Paul said that it was HIM speaking, not the Lord, and yet...in the END it was the LORD SPEAKING. I don't really think Paul always knew (in the BEGINNING of his ministry) that he was under inspiration or that it would become part of Scripture, he just wrote as a friend writes to a friend and God thought it good to put it in the cannon of scripture. Regardless, Paul view his COURSE as a preaching and teaching ministry, not a WRITING ministry.
1 Cor. 7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
1 Cor. 9:25-27 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of
the grace of God.
Paul viewed his ministry, as preaching the word. And so he exhorts Timothy in like fashion.
2 Timothy 1:11-12 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 that which I have committed unto him against that day.
NOTE: If the duty of an APOSTLE was to write inspired books, then we have a problem. Many of the other apostles NEVER WROTE BOOKS for the Bible.
2 Timothy 4:1-8 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
To me, this would indicate that what Paul was writing was not known to him as a direct act to finish his course, but as an EFFECT-not as a CAUSE. It would seem that Paul sends out 2 Tim. to Timothy and then when Timothy arrives he writes Philemon for him to CARRY to Onesimus (Phil.1:1). I guess it would also depend on how one sees "to fulfill the word of God" in Col. 1:25. I see it as Paul having to make it known and not having to NECESSARILY put it in writing.
Col. 1:25-27 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Grace,
Mike
A few concluding remarks…
Before anybody can accuse me of teaching that after Acts 28 there were TWO BODIES, let me be clear on this point. There CAN be TWO bodies…but not TWO BODIES of the same TYPE. Honestly, if we are SIDE BY SIDE in going through the tribulation period with the Jews, OR if we are a New Man with those of the kingdom being the Bride…is this NOT TWO BODIES!?!? Location would not even matter. God would STILL have two bodies. And if we are to DIVIDE Paul’s word then we are STILL obligated to KNOW ABOUT two bodies, but to realize that OUR identification as the New Man lies in “the church, which is his body”. There can be TWO BODIES, but not two bodies of the same TYPE.
When Paul says what he does about ONE BODY he says it with the understanding that there is ONE NEW MAN. Technically was only ONE "church, which is his body" even though there might be LOCAL CHURCH BODIES all over the place that men have created. What is a local church? It is a BODY of believers.
Colossians 4:15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.
Colossians 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
Again, I would say the "the body of Christ" in I.Cor. 12 was the LOCAL and CORPORATE CHURCH and would not contradict the truth of Eph. 4 even as there are many lords but to us there is only one Lord. So then, there could be more than ONE BODY, but TO the unity of the faith, only ONE BODY to last through this dispensation.
1 Corinthians 8:5-6 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
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