THE PARENTHETIC EPISTLES FOR THE ECCLESIA

As God has INSERTED the Ecclesia into His programme with Israel, so has He INSERTED these Epistles of Paul, for the sole purpose to teach and feed the Ecclesia.

All truth has its appropriate place out of which truth itself becomes the most insidious error, because it SEEMS to have the support of scripture. We should leave truth concerning Israel to them, and that for the Ecclesia of today, should not be mixed with it. In no other way can we really have the truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.

Paul's Epistles are for the present age. All the rest of scripture finds its interpretation and application either before or after the present mysterious administration. He alone gives the revealed truth of and for the Ecclesia. Today the nations are blessed during Israel's deflection.

NEW DISPENSATION

By faith we are apprehending the ages to have been readjusted to a declaration of God" Hebrews 11:3 God has come in afresh, and through the revelations made to Paul has readjusted the ages to suit the conditions brought about by the apostasy of Israel.

The sphere of blessing is changed from earth to heaven

- Repentance and pardon are replaced by justification and reconciliation.
- Grace replaces mercy.

The scope of the Parenthetic Epistles, both in time and in space far transcends all the rest of revelation. They are not confined to earth, but include the whole universe in God's grand climax of reconciliation. Colossian 1:20.

THE EPISTLES

Paul's writings fall into two divisions, his epistles to the nine Ecclesia and his personal epistles to Timothy, Titus and Philemon. They arrange themselves into three groups, which are closely related; the first Epistle in each group Romans, Ephesians and 1 Thessalonians setting forth the truth didactally (instructive, intending to teach) while the other Epistles of the same group is explanatory and corrective.

1. THE ROMAN GROUP is named Preparatory Epistles, because they deal with the Transitional period, which prepare the saints for the final revelation. The best commentaries on Romans are Corinthians and Galatians.

2. THE EPHESIANS' GROUP is named Perfection Epistles because of the final revelation. The best commentaries on Ephesians are Philippians and Colossians.

3. THE THESSALONIANS GROUP is called the Promissory group because they deal with the expectation of our Lord's appearance for the Ecclesia. The second Epistle of Thessalonians supplements the first.

Each group is characterised by one of the abiding trinity of graces, which are faith, expectation and love. "Yet now are remaining faith, expectancy, love- these three " 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Paul's epistles are not confined to the ages, but reveal a purpose formed before they began, and not concluded till after their consummation. His range reaches from a time long anterior to the first of Genesis, to the period long past the final vision of the Unveiling of Jesus Christ. (Revelation). "…. And through Him, the Son, to reconcile the universe to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross) through Him, whether on the earth or in the heavens."Colossians 1:20.

 

THE LITERARY FRAMEWORK OF PAUL'S EPISTLES

 

THE PREPARATORY EPISTLES
FAITH


*ROMANS  - JUSTIFICATION
* ROMANS   - CONCILIATION
* ROMANS   - DEPORTMENT
* 1. CORINTHIANS   - DEPORTMENT
* 2.CORINTHIANS   - CONCILIATION
* GALATIANS   - JUSTIFICATION

THE PERFECTION EPISTLES
LOVE

* EPHESIANS   - DOCTRINE
* EPHESIANS   - DEPORTMENT
* PHILIPPIANS   - DEPORTMENT
* COLOSSIANS   - DOCTRINE

THE PROMISSORY EPISTLES
EXPECTATION

* I THESSALONIANS
* II THESSALONIANS

THE PERSONAL EPISTLES

* I TIMOTHY
* II TIMOTHY
* TITUS
* PHILEMON