02.05. The Third Paper

(Third Paper, Things to Come, Nov. 1895, 2(5):90-92)) 2) THE GREAT SECRET.

There are three important Scriptures in which the “great” secret is specially and formally revealed. And there are others which contain definite teaching concerning it, receiving light from it, and throwing light upon it. We will consider each in due order.

(a) Passages which formally reveal the secret.

Col 1:24-28 a (KJV with R.V.)

“Who now rejoice in my sufferings for your shake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking (behind) of the afflictions of Christ (i.e., the Christ, of whom the body is composed by the Ecclesia, not the personal) in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Whereof I was (am) made a minister, according to the dispensation (marg. stewardship) of God which is given to me for you (to you-ward), to fulfill (A.V. marg. fully preach) the Word of God; even the mystery (i.e., the secret) which hath been hid from all ages and from generations: but now is made manifest (hath it been manifested) to His saints, to whom God was pleased to (would) make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (or secret) among the Gentiles; which is Christ in (A.V. marg. among) you, the hope of glory, whom we proclaim (preach), warning (admonishing) every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom.” In Col 2:2 The Apostle strives “that they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding that they may know (or have full knowledge of) the mystery (or secret) of God, even Christ [Note - The Greek here is very confused by different Scribes, owing to their ignorance of the Mystery. All Textual critics agree in rejecting the words “and of the Father and of Christ.” See R.V margin.], in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.”

Here, we learn that this secret had never before been made known, and that to make it known was to “fully preach the Word of God.” Hence, to-day, the Word of God is not “fully preached” unless the Secret be proclaimed.

Rom 16:25-26 (KJV with R.V.)

[Notice that the structure of the epistle to the Romans is an Epanodos, i.e. the end corresponds with the beginning; and the opening words are to be compared with the closing words. A remarkable contrast is thus observed: - At the beginning, we have “The Gospel of God,” promised before by His prophets in the Holy Scriptures. At the end, “The Mystery”, which had been kept secret since the world began.]

“Now to Him that is of power (is able) to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (i.e., the secret), which was (had been) kept secret (in silence) since the world began (through times eternal), but now is made manifest (manifested), and by (margin, through) the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting (eternal) God, is made known (un)to all nations for the (unto) obedience of faith” (i.e. on the principle of faith-obedience).

Here, observe, that the same secret is referred to as being made known by a special revelation, and as having been kept in eternal silence, not a word having been breathed concerning it before.

We get here an additional fact: In Col 1:1-29, it was revealed in the first instance to the Apostle Paul. Here it is made known also by “prophetic writings.”

There is no article used with either “writings” or “prophets.” These were not the Old Testament writings, because they are only “now… made known.” They are not the Old Testament prophets, because the word is not propheetōn, but propheetikōn; not the noun but the adjective, and should be rendered “by means of prophetic writings.”

These writings were given through the prophets in the early days of the Church. The Lord Jesus had said, “Behold I send unto you prophets” (Mat 23:34); “I will send them prophets and apostles” (Luk 11:49). This promise was duly fulfilled, for we read in Eph 4:8, Eph 4:11, “When He ascended up on high He lead captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men,… and He gave some apostles, and some prophets…”

[It would take us too far from our subject to go into this question as it deserves. We give the following points as suggestive of further study -

(1) The existence of such an order of ministry, Barnabas, Acts 4:36; Stephen, Acts 6:10,Acts 6:15; Agabus, Acts 11:28; Acts 21:10; Silvanus, Silas, and Judas, Acts 15:32; Manaen and Lucius of Cyrene, Acts 13:1; Thymothy, a “Man of God,” 1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 3:17 (compare Deu 33:1, and 2Ki 4:7, &c.); the daughters of Philip the Evangelist, Acts 21:8; others, Acts 8:17; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 19:6.

(2) The exhortations addressed to and respecting these prophets, “Quench not the spirit; despise not prophesying” (1Th 5:20), i.e., Do not suppress or stifle the workings of the spirit in these prophets. “Prophesy according to the proportion of faith,” (Rom 12:6. Note also the abuse of prophetic gifts at Corinth (1Co 14:1-40).

(3) The examples of prophetic power: Acts 5:4; 1Ti 1:18; Acts 13:2; 1Co 14:24-25; Acts 21:10-14; 1Ti 4:1.

(4) Like Old Testament prophets their great trials were the false prophets (Jer 5:31). See 1Co 12:3; Col 2:18; 1Ti 4:1; 1Jn 4:1-3.] In 2Pe 1:19, we have a reference to “the prophetic word” of these prophets, and a contrast also with the Old Testament prophecy in verse 2Pe 2:21. In 2Pe 3:16, also, it may be these writings which are referred to.

Eph 3:1-11 (KJV with R.V.)

“For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus (Jesus Christ) for (in behalf of) you Gentiles, -If so be that ye have heard of the dispensation (marg. stewardship) of the (that) grace of God, which is (was) given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he (was) made known unto me the mystery (i.e., the secret); (as I wrote afore, in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can (may) understand (perceive) my knowledge (understanding) in the mystery (or secret) of (or concerning) Christ); Which in other generations (ages) was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is (hath) now (been) revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by (as A. V., rather than in) the Spirit(: to wit,); That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and (fellow-members) of the same body (i.e., a joint-body), and (fellow-)partakers of his (the) promise in Christ (Jesus) by the Gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the (that) grace of God(, which was) given unto me (through the Gospel) by the (according to the) effectual working of His power.
Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is (was) this grace given, that I should (to) preach among (unto) the Gentiles the unsearchable (the untrackable) riches of Christ; And to make all men see (Greek, to enlighten all as to) what is the dispensation (marg. stewardship) (fellowship) of the mystery (the secret), which from the beginning of the world (all ages) hath been hid in God, who created all things, [by Jesus Christ]:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and (the) powers in (the) heavenly places might be (made) known through (by) the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose (marg., purpose of the ages) which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This is the scripture which more fully than any other gives the particulars concerning the revelation of the Great Secret.

“As it is (hath) now (been) revealed.” This cannot possibly mean, as some have thought, that it had been revealed before in a certain manner, but not in the same manner as it is now. Because it is distinctly and emphatically declared again and again, here and elsewhere, that it had not been revealed at all.

“That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and (fellow-members) of the same body (i.e., a joint-body).” “Fellow members of the body - sussōmos.” This is a peculiar ecclesiastical word which occurs only here. It does not mean that there was a body already previously in existence and that others became afterwards in due time members of it. But that these, with Jewish believers (Eph 2:13-15), should form a joint-body, being made in Christ - “Of twain, one new man.” (Eph 1:1).

There can be no doubt form this scripture that we have not a mere reference to the Gospel. The Gospel was never kept a secret. The good news of salvation through Christ alone, the seed of the woman, was revealed from the earliest times (Gen 3:15), and it was preached unto Abraham (Gal 3:8).

Neither could it have been the mere fact that Gentiles were to be blessed with Israel: for this was never kept secret. The very first blessing that was promised to Israel through Abraham, contained the promise of blessing for the Gentiles also. “In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:3). Again, speaking of Abraham (Gen 18:18), Jehovah says: “All the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.” Over and over again is this promise repeated (See Gen 22:18; Gen 26:4, etc.). The prophets of Israel constantly had this as the burden of their message. They told of the time when “all nations shall call Him blessed” (Psa 72:14).

“God be merciful unto us and bless us : And cause His face to shine upon us, That Thy way may be known upon earth Thy saving health among all nations” (Psa 67:1-2). In Rom 15:8, &c. (R.V.), it is distinctly declared that “Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that He might confirm the promises given to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy” : as it is written (not as it hath been kept secret !)

“Psa 18:49 : Therefore will I give thanks (praise) unto thee, O LORD, among the Gentiles (the heathen), and sing praises unto thy name.” And again He saith:

“Deu 32:43 a: Rejoice, O ye Gentiles (nations), with his people”; and again :

“Psa 57:9 : I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations (Gentiles)”; and again Isaiah saith :

“Isa 11:10 : And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people (He that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles); to it shall the Gentiles seek (hope): and his rest shall be glorious.”

Such passages might be multiplied, but there is one (Isa 49:6) which very solemnly connects Gentile blessing with the atoning work of Christ : -

“Isa 49:6 : And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the ends of the earth.” No wonder Simeon said (Luk 2:29-32) : -

“Luk 2:29 : Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, According to Thy word:
Luk 2:30 : For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
Luk 2:31 : Which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
Luk 2:32 : (To be) a light to lighten the Gentiles (R.V. for the revelation of the Gentiles. (marg., the unveiling of the Gentiles)), and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

Gentile blessing was no more a secret than Israel’s blessing. The same word that revealed the one, revealed the other also. It is impossible, therefore, for us to believe that the great secret, specially revealed with so much solemnity, and so formally in the New Testament, referred merely to Gentile blessing, as such. This was not “hid in God”: this was not “hid from ages and from generations”: this was not “kept in silence through times eternal”: it could not be said of this, that “in other ages it was not made known.”

Language is useless if such expressions can possibly refer to that which was never hidden; never kept in silence; but was “made known” from the earliest times. No ! this was the secret : that a people should be taken out from among both Jews and Gentiles, who should with Christ be made (sussōmos) a joint-body in Christ (Eph 3:9) a Body of which Christ should be the glorious head in heaven, and His people - the members of that body on the earth - “one new man.” This was the secret which was revealed to God’s “holy apostles and prophets by the spirit,” and which had never entered into the heart or mind of mortal mind, - CHRIST’S BODY.