Christine

‘And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.’ (Gen 2:22) Praise God!

‘And Adam gave names to all cattle, .. and to the fowl of the air, .... and to every beast of the field; but for Adam .. there was not found an help meet for him.’ (Gen 2:20)

Hello again, @Yowm, I will answer this when I can. Love in Christ Chris

Thank you, @Yowm, 'At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” 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.’ (Act 26:13-17) Praise God! * I believe that the risen Christ appeared to Paul on more than one occasion, when revelations were given unto Him. The proof is in the telling, for by comparing the content of the prison epistles with those epistles written during the Acts period you can see the unique content concerning the Church of the One Body of which Christ is the Head which is only found in the prison epistles. That necessitated a revelation to have taken place, and not earlier than the end of the Acts, because otherwise it would have been reflected in the content of those earlier epistles. * A reading of Acts 20 will also be worth comparing with the doctrinal section of the epistle to Ephesians, for when talking to the Ephesian elders Paul lists the doctrines that he had preached to them and there is nothing there to suggest that the revelation had then been given to Paul, for otherwise he could not have said, with all honesty, what he says in (Act 20:27) 'For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.'. For the doctrines of Ephesians and Colossians are notable by their absence. * Please do not dismiss what I have said out of hand, Yowm, * I am feeling very tired at the moment, and may not be taking part on the forum for a while. * With love to you, Yowm, whose input I value, even though we may not always be in agreement. In Christ Jesus Chris

@Yowm, Hello again, As you have shown there were several 'mysteries' or secrets, made known through Paul. The making known of mysteries was not exclusively Paul's task, for he says in (1 Cor 4:1) 'Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.' To the twelve disciples, 'The Mysteries of the Kingdom' were revealed. And to the Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament, 'The Mystery of Christ' was made manifest, which though the subject of the writings of the Old Testament Prophets, the prophets themselves were not able to understand, though they searched diligently. It needed to be divinely revealed. * 'The Mystery' of Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1, was made known to Paul exclusively, having previously been hidden in God since 'before' the foundation of the world, and not the subject either of the Old Testament Prophets or made known to the other apostles and prophets in the New Testament. * The Mystery you quote from Romans 16, is not the mystery of Ephesians, which you will see if you take note of what is said in (vv.35-26):- ‘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:’ (Rom 16:25-26) * Paul refers to a mystery, 'kept secret since the world began.' (not 'before' as in Ephesians 1:4) This is 'the mystery of Christ', which had been the subject of Old Testament Prophecy, but revealed to the New Testament Apostles and prophets, including Paul, and referred to by Him in Ephesians 3:4, to legitimatize his further revelation of, 'The Mystery,' given to him alone, which was the subject of verses 6-9. * In Romans 16:25-26, Paul tells us that the mystery that he refers to in that verse was made manifest 'and by the scriptures of the prophets made known. Which shows that this mystery has to be 'the mystery of Christ', and not, 'The Mystery,' made known to Paul exclusively, and the subject of Ephesians 3, having been 'hid in God' from the beginning of the world, and not the subject of Old Testament prophecy. The content of which concerned the, 'unsearchable,' riches of God, in Christ. Unsearchable, because not previously made known. This is difficult to explain, so I hope I have been clear. In Christ Jesus Chris

Hello @Yowm, You made reference to two verses which I referenced at the end of the OP. (Ephesians 3:2-9 and Colossians 1:24-29). To which I referred because they concerned another dispensation which had been divinely given to Paul to administer as a Steward. Which, as with 'the dispensation of the gospel', to which Paul refers in 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, was specifically given to Him by God to perform. You highlighted in red the fact that 'The Mystery', which was the subject of the 'dispensation' referred to in Eph.3 and Col.1, was received by the Gentiles, to whom it was directed, through the administration of the gospel of which Paul was a minister, 'according to the gift of God's grace.' I agree that through that gospel committed to Paul, they received the grace to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour: and thereby entered into the grace of God which made the receipt of the further truth which would be administered by Paul, called, 'the dispensation of the Mystery' possible. However, the knowledge that, 'the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus', was not the subject of, 'the dispensation of the Gospel,' given to Paul to administer and referred to by him in 1 Corinthians 9. For it was only revealed to Paul when he received, 'the dispensation of the Mystery' referred to by him in Ephesians 3 and Colossians 1; which revelation was given when Paul was imprisoned at the end of the Acts period, and administered through the epistles of Eph. Phil. Col. 1&2 Timothy and Titus. To not make the distinction between these two very specific dispensations (or administrations, or stewardships) is to effectively hide from view the truth they contain, and deny the fulness of their application and significance to believers today. In Christ Jesus Chris

‘And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.’ (Gen 2:18)

Thank you for your reply, @Yowm, I have printed it off to ponder on offline, and will come back to you again asap, God willing. In Christ Jesus Chris

Do you really, @Yowm? * Why is that? In Christ Jesus Chris

'I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. ‘ (1 Tim.2:1-2) Hello @LadyKay, I appreciate what you have to say, and agree that justice is not always done. However, if we do what is right, and are injustly treated, those who commit the injustice in regard to us, are answerable to God for it. Whereas, if we do not do what is right, the blame is all ours, for we have broken the law of the land, and must receive just punishment for it. The verses above ask that we pray for those in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. This was written in days during which believers were being covered in tar and set alight, or placed in the arena to face wild beasts, suffering persecution from family as well as state, so perhaps it is a prayer we should also make for those in authority in this day too. In Christ Jesus Chris

‘But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, .. thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof .. thou shalt surely die.’ (Gen 2:17)

‘And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: (Gen 2:16)

Sorry, @Duval, I have only now returned to this thread, and seen your greeting. I give you a belated welcome, and hope to see more input from you soon. In Christ Jesus Chris

‘For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.’ (1 Cor. 9:16-19) Praise God! * This wonderful spirit manifested by Paul is the only spirit in which the gospel should be preached, don't you agree? * This 'dispensation' or 'administration', committed to Paul was binding upon him. He was bound in the Spirit to accomplish it, for it was no self-chosen appointment. * Peter also manifested the same spirit, in (1 Pet. 5:2-4) :- ‘Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, .. not by constraint, - but willingly; .... not for filthy lucre, - but of a ready mind; ....... Neither as being lords over God's heritage, - but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.’ * This was not the only 'dispensation' or 'administration' committed to Paul, was it? (see Ephesians 3:2-9 and Colossians 1:24-29), carried out with the same spirit, to the glory of God the Father, in Christ Jesus the Lord, by the power of Spirit of God (Titus 1:3). Praise God! Thank you. In Christ Jesus Chris

‘And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.’ (Gen 2:15) Praise God!

And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.’ (Gen.2:14)

'And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.' (Gen.2:13)

‘The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. (Gen 2:11-12)

‘And a river went out of Eden .. to water the garden; .... and from thence it was parted, ...... and became into four heads.’ (Gen 2:10)

Thank you, @enoob57 For making me look again at my previous entry. I will give some thought to this, and come back to you on this, God willing. I have now altered my post. The New Jerusalem comes down to the new earth after the 1,000 year reign of the Overcomers with Christ. With love and grace In Christ Jesus Chris

Hello @frienduff thaylorde I did not say that they were damned, these are your words. See Hebrews 10:23-39, for this puts Hebrews six in it's true light and prevents us from making the wrong application of it's teaching. What these believers were in danger of becoming, was, 'waste', or, 'drawing back unto perdition', by failing to go on unto perfection, and enduring to the end (like those saints of old, listed in chapter 11), failing to reach the goal of their faith. It was not salvation that was lost but reward. In Christ Jesus Chris

Hello there, You are referring to the figure of the Olive tree, when you use the words, 'cut off', but that figure pertained only during the period of the book of Acts, and being cut off from Israel, into which believing Gentiles were 'grafted' in the hope of promoting growth in an ailing tree. That is where the figure ends. Believers in Christ are One with Him, and there is no possibility of being 'cut off'. Romans 8:35,39 denies that possibility for those who are born from above, in Christ Jesus. Praise God! In His Name Chris

‘And out of the ground .. made the LORD God to grow .... every tree ...... that is pleasant to the sight, ........ and good for food; the tree of life also .. in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.’ (Gen 2:9) Praise God!

Hello @frienduff thaylorde, I agree, both the desiring and equipping is of God. However, I was dealing with the context in relation to the Hebrew believers to which the letter was addressed in Hebrews 6:1-3, and not believers in general. Yet, also, in Ephesians three, the prayer requests that the believer be strengthened with might in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in the heart by faith, only then, being rooted and grounded in love, would they comprehend --- (3:18), would they know --- (3:19). That knowledge, that comprehension, required that the believer be especially strengthened to receive it. ‘Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.’ (Eph 3:20) Praise God! Love and grace In Christ Jesus Chris