"...through the gospel of which I became administrator according to the gift of God’s grace, having been given me according to working of his power. To me, the very least of all the saints, was given Grace, to preach to the Gentiles, the surpassing riches of Christ,"1
Saul, before God changed him, was a Pharisee of Pharisees, from the lineage of with degrees no less, a teacher of the Law. But Saul became Paul on the road to Damascus, he met Jesus. Paul found Grace. He writes he was given this Grace for a purpose, to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. Now, he had been walking dead in sin, "but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved..." Paul was "given Grace, to preach to the Gentiles, the surpassing riches of Christ," This word for preach euaggelizó (from eú, "good, well" and angellō, "announce, herald") properly, to proclaim the gospel, the good news, of Grace given; to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Isaiah prophesied of the coming of Jesus, as a man of sorrow, rejected and despised, a man of suffering, His own people held Him in low esteem, unworthy, as someone people would hide their faces from.4 "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him."11 Jesus came to his own who turned their eyes from Him, Paul even persecuted Him, but He gave Grace, such speaks to the incomprehensible riches of Grace. "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; The chastening for our peace fell upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."5
To Paul, "this grace was given... to enlighten all what is the dispensation of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,"14 This word for dispensation speaks to the Dispensation of Grace, the New Covenant of blood, revealed to Paul which was hidden in Christ in the beginning. Indeed, of Him, we are workmanship having created in Christ Jesus for good works, which prepared beforehand by God that we would walk in them."15 Paul was to preach or dispense such good news of a new covenant of Grace.16
"The beginning ruler..." This word for beginning ruler is arché, properly, from the beginning, the initial point; foremost, preeminent. This mystery was hidden in God in the beginning, the beginning ruler is made known, He is Christ, Lord and King. This had been revealed to Paul, that through the Church, God would make known this mystery, power, and wisdom, Christ. This word for Church is ekklēsía (from ek, "out from and to" and kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God. Called out to proclaim the gospel, the surpassing riches of his Grace, in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
"The power of heavens influence..." This word for power is exousia, (from ek, "out from," which intensifies eimí, "to be, being as a right or privilege") – authority, conferred power; delegated empowerment. Through the Church (people called out) Christ and the power of heaven is made known. "To them He gave the power to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,"19 Paul was to make known this power of heavens influence, power given to a people called out by God, for "many diverse manifestations" or God's manifold wisdom, which means "much varied." God's wisdom is made known through ultra-diverse, multitudinous expressions (facets). Through workmanship in Christ Jesus, the good works He has created us for.
Heaven Come
Isaiah prophesied of the coming of Jesus, as a man of sorrow, rejected and despised, a man of suffering, His own people held Him in low esteem, unworthy, as someone people would hide their faces from.4 "He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him."11 Jesus came to his own who turned their eyes from Him, Paul even persecuted Him, but He gave Grace, such speaks to the incomprehensible riches of Grace. "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; The chastening for our peace fell upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."5
The gospel is of Grace and Paul writes he found Grace and was called to preach the surpassing riches of Christ. This word for surpassing (from hypér, "beyond, above, in behalf of" and bállō, "throw, cast, put") properly beyond, surpassing (transcending.) It implies the force of throwing, to move something with a purpose, launching force. Sin used the Law as a launching point for unrighteousness in the flesh, so where sin abounded, Grace super-abounded.4 In behalf of mankind God went beyond, transcended, and moved in behalf of man with a purpose. He super abounded. The riches of His Grace super-abounds for a purpose, we preach the surpassing riches of Christ.
"Indeed, the message of the cross, to those indeed perishing is foolishness, moreover to those being saved power of God it is."7 This word for foolishness is where our English word moron comes from, it means dull, lacking in understanding. The gospel is dull to those perishing, but to the ones being saved, the ones He is rescuing from the penalty and power of sin, it is power. The gospel is like the force of dynamite the power of God it is. This word for power is dunamis, (from dýnamai, "able, having ability") where our word dynamite comes from, properly, "ability to perform" it speaks of mighty energy. Christ died on the cross, he took on our sin, the cross represents the Crucible, the testing.8 And it is the Crucible each believer bears to be a true follower of Christ.9 This is the power of the cross, ability given by God.
To proclaim the goods news, is to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. Paul writes through the working of revelation by the Holy Spirit, this mystery was given, to a least saint, even so the dispensation of Grace was given to him. Paul learned through the thorn in his side and as Jesus said to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."10 This is to be made known by the Church, to preach Grace is to proclaim the surpassing riches of his Grace.11 The purpose being to reveal in the ages to come the good news, "that He might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his Grace, in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith..."12 And to reveal the mystery hidden from the beginning, the power and wisdom from heaven, to be made know by the Church. "Indeed, the message of the cross, to those indeed perishing is foolishness, moreover to those being saved power of God it is."7 This word for foolishness is where our English word moron comes from, it means dull, lacking in understanding. The gospel is dull to those perishing, but to the ones being saved, the ones He is rescuing from the penalty and power of sin, it is power. The gospel is like the force of dynamite the power of God it is. This word for power is dunamis, (from dýnamai, "able, having ability") where our word dynamite comes from, properly, "ability to perform" it speaks of mighty energy. Christ died on the cross, he took on our sin, the cross represents the Crucible, the testing.8 And it is the Crucible each believer bears to be a true follower of Christ.9 This is the power of the cross, ability given by God.
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,"6
To Paul, "this grace was given... to enlighten all what is the dispensation of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,"14 This word for dispensation speaks to the Dispensation of Grace, the New Covenant of blood, revealed to Paul which was hidden in Christ in the beginning. Indeed, of Him, we are workmanship having created in Christ Jesus for good works, which prepared beforehand by God that we would walk in them."15 Paul was to preach or dispense such good news of a new covenant of Grace.16
"That might be known, now, the beginning ruler and the power fitting of heaven, through the Church, many diverse manifestations, of God's wisdom."17
"The beginning ruler..." This word for beginning ruler is arché, properly, from the beginning, the initial point; foremost, preeminent. This mystery was hidden in God in the beginning, the beginning ruler is made known, He is Christ, Lord and King. This had been revealed to Paul, that through the Church, God would make known this mystery, power, and wisdom, Christ. This word for Church is ekklēsía (from ek, "out from and to" and kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God. Called out to proclaim the gospel, the surpassing riches of his Grace, in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
"That might be known, now,... the power of heavens influence, through the Church, many diverse manifestations, of God's wisdom."18
"The power of heavens influence..." This word for power is exousia, (from ek, "out from," which intensifies eimí, "to be, being as a right or privilege") – authority, conferred power; delegated empowerment. Through the Church (people called out) Christ and the power of heaven is made known. "To them He gave the power to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,"19 Paul was to make known this power of heavens influence, power given to a people called out by God, for "many diverse manifestations" or God's manifold wisdom, which means "much varied." God's wisdom is made known through ultra-diverse, multitudinous expressions (facets). Through workmanship in Christ Jesus, the good works He has created us for.
"That He might show in the coming ages the surpassing riches of his Grace, in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith..."8
Heaven Come