Aspects of Paul's Ministry

Introduction

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 3:8–13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Aspect 1: The Attitude of Paul

Least of all the saints: Paul here takes a superlative that is the least - you can’t get any less than the least - yet, he takes that word and does what is linguistically impossible, but theologically insightful - he calls himself the leastest! In other words, he goes as low as he can but then states he is lower than that.

He might have been “deliberately playing on the meaning of his name. For his Roman surname ‘Paulus’ is Latin for ‘little’ or ‘small,’ and tradition says he was a little man. ‘I am little’ he may be saying ‘little by name, little in stature, and morally and spiritually littler than the littlest of all Christians.’” [Stott, p. 119]

Yet his humility is genuine - he does state that he is the least of all the apostles and even of all men - yet he does not shrink from exercising apostolic authority. So what does that mean?

It means that Paul recognized himself for what he was - a sinner saved only by grace - yet he magnified the office into which God had placed him.

It means that Paul recognized himself for what he was - a sinner saved only by grace - yet he magnified the office into which God had placed him.

Are we humble? Or do we think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think?

On the other hand, do we think that because we are the least, that we cannot serve God?

On the other hand, do we think taht because we are the least, that we cannot serve God?

Both attitudes are wrong! Recognize reality - who you truly are - a sinner, but also recognize possibility - God can use you for His purposes - as long as you are willing.

Aspect 2: The Preaching of Paul

Paul states it is only through Grace - He always views it as a wondrous gift from God

Ephesians: Verse by Verse Proclaiming Christ’s Riches to the Gentiles (3:8)

God not only saved Paul; he gave him the most precious of all ministries—to bring a new people group into the kingdom, to “preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.” The verb “preach” (euangelizō) means to proclaim the gospel or good news; it is transliterated into English as “evangelize.”

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eph 3:8–13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

“Once we are sure that the gospel is both truth from God and riches for mankind, nobody will be able to silence us.”

John Stott [p. 121]

God’s Plan of Mystery

Paul shifts gears here slightly from preaching the gospel to making all men see:

The verb “make plain” (phōtizō) here means to shed light on or illuminate something so that the truths will become clear and plain.

[Osborne, G. R. (2017). Ephesians: Verse by Verse (p. 88). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.]

Osborne, G. R. (2017). Ephesians: Verse by Verse (p. 88). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Paul never forgot his commission that Christ gave him on the road to Damascus. He tells King Agrippa in :

Acts 26:15–18 KJV 1900

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Acts 26:15–19 KJV 1900

And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

God’s Power of Wisdom

Ephesians: Verse by Verse God’s Wisdom Made Known to the Cosmic Powers (3:10)

In this context the wisdom of God is especially the proclamation of the gospel and the inclusion of the Gentiles in the church. This demonstrates the boundless riches of God that are absolute proof of his wisdom. Moreover, it also proves that his wisdom is “manifold”—multifaceted or composed of diverse aspects. Here Paul has created a compound word composed of “many” and “diverse, various.” It could also be translated “many-sided,” and it demonstrates the great complexity and diversity of the work of God in the world

Another possible meaning for manifold - is many colored - it was used for flowers, crowns, carpets, and cloth -- a variant of this word was used in the LXX for Joseph’s coat of many colors -- the church is made up of all races, cultures, and classes of peoples.

Galatians 3:28 KJV 1900

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Let us remember that both Jews and Gentiles pretty much hated each other with a passion. In the Jewish mind, the only reason for a Gentile was to either be put to death or made a slave — and vice versa:

Isaiah 60:12 KJV 1900

For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Isaiah 60:12 KJV 1900

For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; Yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

Is

Isaiah 45:14 KJV 1900

Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia And of the Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: They shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, And they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; And there is none else, there is no God.

I

Greeks despised barbarians (and everyone besides the Greeks were barbarians:

The 2nd century Greek philosopher Celsus attacked Christians and states:

“the barbarians may have some gift for discovering truth, but it takes a Greek to understand.”

The Message to the Demonic Forces

Ephesians: Verse by Verse God’s Wisdom Made Known to the Cosmic Powers (3:10)

The language of “making known” here does not mean that the church is to evangelize the demonic forces. They have made an eternal decision to oppose God (Rev 12:4, 7–9) and are beyond redemption. Rather, the church reiterates Christ’s preaching to the spirits in prison (1 Pet 3:19) and tells the cosmic powers they have lost. It does so through its victorious ministry in the world

Osborne, G. R. (2017). Ephesians: Verse by Verse (p. 88). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

John Stott talks about it as a Divine Circle of Communication:

the good news or the gospel was passed from God to Paul by direct revelation; from Paul and others to mankind by verbal proclamation or preaching and teaching, and from the church on earth to the cosmic powers in the heavens by a visual display of the multi-cultural church learning more about God and ministering to each other on a daily basis.

This is true divine communication according to Paul.

God’s Purpose of Redemption

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians B. Paul’s Great Mystery (vv. 2–13)

3:12. God’s plan of salvation purposed before the world and executed in the cross clears the path to God. Through Christ a person can enter God’s presence with freedom and confidence. The cross has provided salvation which cleanses us of sin, forgives us, makes us holy, and thus enables us to enter the presence of the Holy one

[Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 130). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.]

It is also clear in this passage that the church as a body is part of the purpose of Almighty God. Too many Christians in our day and age think of salvation and life in Christ as strictly a personal matter - Paul here presents the gospel as a matter of the church as a whole. As Dr. John Stott in his commentary puts it:

Christ “died and rose again not only to save sinners like me (though he did), but also to create a single new humanity; not only to redeem us from sin, but also to adopt us into God’s family; not only to reconcile us to God but also to reconcile us to one another. Thus the church is an integral part of the gospel. The gospel is good news of a new society as well as a new life.” (John Stott, 129.)

Aspect 3: The Boldness of Paul

3:12. God’s plan of salvation purposed before the world and executed in the cross clears the path to God. Through Christ a person can enter God’s presence with freedom and confidence. The cross has provided salvation which cleanses us of sin, forgives us, makes us holy, and thus enables us to enter the presence of the Holy one.

[Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 130). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.]

Aspect 4: The Suffering of Paul

3:13. The eternal plan accomplished in Christ was administered in many ways. These included Paul’s becoming a prisoner and proclaiming this message while in chains. Paul’s situation in prison could easily discourage young churches and turn them away from Jesus. Paul urged the Ephesians not to let this happen. His suffering was no reason for sadness. It helped accomplish God’s plan. Through Paul’s suffering the Ephesian believers gain glory, that is they are led to know Christ more intimately and experience salvation more fully.

Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 130). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Ephesians: Verse by Verse Conclusion: An Admonition Not to Be Discouraged (3:13)

Therefore, Paul admonishes the Ephesians not to be discouraged at all the suffering he is enduring. There were certainly grounds for despair after four years, with about another year to go—Ephesians was probably written a year or so into the Roman imprisonment. Most of them likely saw his problems as emblematic of their own, with the Roman world turning progressively against them.

In this light Paul wanted to encourage the Ephesians. He writes that his sufferings are “for you” and will be “your glory.” Every step of Paul’s sufferings came about as a result of his bold ministry. His work with Gentiles, such as those addressed in this letter, was especially despised by the Jews, as seen in Acts 22:21–22. There Paul defended himself, retelling on the steps of the temple the story of his conversion and call to ministry. His Jewish audience listened quietly—until he related how God had called him to minister to the Gentiles, after which they erupted, “Rid the earth of him! He isn’t fit to live!” His imprisonments in Caesarea and Rome were the result of that animosity.

Osborne, G. R. (2017). Ephesians: Verse by Verse (p. 88). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Ephesians: Verse by Verse God’s Wisdom Made Known to the Cosmic Powers (3:10)

The language of “making known” here does not mean that the church is to evangelize the demonic forces. They have made an eternal decision to oppose God (Rev 12:4, 7–9) and are beyond redemption. Rather, the church reiterates Christ’s preaching to the spirits in prison (1 Pet 3:19) and tells the cosmic powers they have lost. It does so through its victorious ministry in the world