Foreword

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 10
 
That the church of God has a very special place in the mind of God is very plainly seen in Scripture. For fullness of meaning and wealth of language the following Scriptures could not well be surpassed. The Apostle Paul wrote:- " 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; 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; to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Eph. 3:8-118Unto 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; 9And 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: 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 3:8‑11).)
" Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." (Rom. 16:25-2725Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. <<Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.>> (Romans 16:25‑27).)
" 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."
(Col. 1: 26-27.)
It is well to meditate long and earnestly on these Scriptures. It seems as if the Apostle Paul were struggling with the inadequacy of human language to express the wonder of the mind of God respecting His church. The Epistles to the Ephesian and Colossian assemblies, the great church epistles, have been well termed adjectival, so marked are they by wealth of language, particularly of adjectives.