According to Acts 26:16 Paul was
to be a witness of the things he had seen (the things preached by Stephen
and the 12), and of things in the which the Lord would appear unto him (recounted
in Gal 1). Therefore his gospel
centered around the kingdom, same as the 12. There was no disagreement on
that score at the council in Acts 15.
But the new things Paul did receive of the Lord and preach was that Gentiles
could partake of Israel's spiritual things by faith without keeping the law
(Romans 15:27). Paul's preaching
the kingdom brought on the accusation at Thessalonica that he proclaimed
another King than Caesar (Acts 17:7
). Paul wrote 7 epistles during Acts.
1. Galatians. To Gentile believers. The circumcision still under
the law, trying to bring the Gentile under it too. No administration
of the mystery in that.
Gentile believers children of Abraham by faith and partakers of the promise
(3:29). The hope, the New Jerusalem
(4:26).
2. Hebrews. To the Jewish believers. Still under the law as priesthood
is a main theme. They are still God's firstborn (
12:23; cf. Ex 4:22). Their
hope, the New Jerusalem (12:22).
The things of the law pointed to better things of the coming kingdom.
No administration
of the mystery here.
3. I Thessalonians. Both Jews and Gentiles there (
Acts 17:4). Theme of ch 4
is coming of Israel's Messiah to set up His kingdom. Times and seasons now
known because Revelation now written (contrast
Acts 1:6,7). No administration
of the mystery here.
4. II Thessalonians. Had Israel's hope. Warned that the day of the
Lord had not begun as some had said (2:2
). They were suffering for the kingdom (
1:5). There must be a falling away in Israel before the day of the
Lord (2:3). Still under law and
commandments (3:6). Nothing
here about the administration
of the mystery.
5. I Corinthians. Both Jew and Gentile. The Jew spoken to in chapters
10 and
11. Gentiles spoken to in chapter
12. Still under law, so some sleep and some sickly because of breaking
it in the feast of the Passover. Coming of the Messiah in
15:51,52. Note reference to the Revelation in speaking of last trumpet.
They still had the gifts of the Spirit. No administration
of the mystery here.
6. II Corinthians. Paul still a minister of the New Testament (
3:6) which is for the house of Israel and Judah (
Jer 31:31). Under the law, and Christ the sin-offering (
5:21). Tells of John and his Revelation of 14 years before (
12:1-5). No administration
of the mystery in any of this.
7. Romans. Both to Jew and Gentile. Jew spoken to in
chapter 2 especially. Gentiles told of their place in the kingdom
and why in chapters 10 and
11. Gentile believers are partakers of Israel's spiritual things,
not of the administration
of the mystery
(15: 27). Dispensationally the Jew
is first (1:16). The Jews have
a great advantage over the Gentiles (9:1-5
). The law is still in effect (13:9,10
).
In all 7 of these epistles, there is no hint of or mention of the administration
of the mystery.
