The Church: Composed of Jew and Gentile and United to a Glorified Christ in Heaven
The Remembrance of Our Lord
“For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also [He took] the cup, when He had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of Me” (
1 Corinthians 11:23-2523For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. (1 Corinthians 11:23‑25)).
The Dead in Christ Shall Rise First
“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16).
The Blessed Hope
“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (
1 Corinthians 15:51-5251Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑52)).
These truths were quickly given up by professing Christendom. The true character of the Church (the truth contained in the book of Ephesians), the true nature of the remembrance of our Lord, the resurrection from among the dead, and our blessed hope of soon being caught up — these were all quickly lost.
Paul’s Epistles
Romans
Written from Corinth to the assembly in Rome.
1 Corinthians
Written from Ephesus in AD 60 to the assembly in Corinth.
The internal ordering of the assembly. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:99God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)).
2 Corinthians
Written from Macedonia AD 60 to the assembly in Corinth.
Consoled by the news from Titus that the first letter had had its effect in producing repentance, he now comforts them with the consolation he had received from God. “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more” (2 Corinthians 7:6-76Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more. (2 Corinthians 7:6‑7)).
Galatians
Written to the assemblies of Galatia.
The corruption of the Gospel of the grace of God. Some mingled Judaism with Christianity. Judaism is earthly in character, adapted to man in the flesh. Christianity is heavenly in character and totally sets aside man in the flesh. “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-31O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1‑3))
Ephesians
Written to the assembly at Ephesus from prison in Rome around AD 62.
The Apostle unfolds the counsels of God concerning Christ and the church, His body — counsels that had their origin before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:44According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4)). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3)). “And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22-2322And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22‑23)). “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Ephesians 3:66That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Ephesians 3:6)).
Philippians
Written to the assembly at Philippi from prison in Rome around AD 62.
The normal Christian experience. We are seen journeying through the wilderness, through a world unchanged; but we are changed. We have no home here, for we are pressing toward the mark, “for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:1414I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) JND).
Colossians
Written to the assembly in Colosse around AD 62.
The saints at Colosse were being enticed by the allure of philosophy and ritualism. In returning to the elements of the world, they were, in fact, turning away from Christ; they were not holding the headship of Christ in all its fullness. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:8-108Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: (Colossians 2:8‑10)).
1 Thessalonians
Written to the assembly in Thessalonica from Corinth in AD 52.
The Lord’s coming for the blessing of His saints — both for those who have died and those who are alive. “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. ... For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-17).
2 Thessalonians
Written to the assembly in Thessalonica from Corinth in AD 53.
The hope of the Thessalonian saints had been shaken, thinking that the day of the Lord was already come. Paul shows that certain events must first precede that day. “We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-21Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (2 Thessalonians 2:1‑2)).
1 Timothy
Written to Timothy at Ephesus from Macedonia around AD 64.
Divine guidance for right conduct in the assembly, viewed here as the house of God with things seen as in order. “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1515Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (1 Timothy 2:15)).
2 Timothy
Written from Rome to Timothy at Ephesus while imprisoned a second time around AD 67.
Instruction for the godly in a day of ruin. Christendom had become a great house; things were in disorder. “In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:20-2120But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:20‑21)).
Titus
Written to Titus on the Isle of Crete around AD 65.
Our conduct as seen by the world. Whereas the epistles to Timothy are concerned with the internal condition of the assembly, the Epistle to Titus is concerned with that which is outward. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee ... One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies” (Titus 1:5, 125For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: (Titus 1:5)
12One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. (Titus 1:12)).
Philemon
Written to Philemon (perhaps at Laodicea) from prison in Rome around AD 62.
A letter commending Onesimus, a runaway slave and now a brother in Christ, to Philemon, his master, and to the assembly in his house. “I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels” (Philemon 10-1210I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: (Philemon 10‑12)).
Hebrews
For the Jew who had received Jesus as Messiah, His crucifixion and resurrection was perplexing. However, for all that the Jew valued, better things are to be found in Christ. This epistle lifts their eyes heavenward. “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 1:99Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)).