極大的奧秘 - 基督與教會

Stewards of God's Mysteries

Apostles are stewards of God's mysteries, responsible for dispensing God's mysteries

to believers

Steward (oikonomia) refers to

 a household manager

 who distributes supplies to family members. The apostles' role is to dispense God's mysteries (Christ and the church) to believers

In ancient wealthy households, stewards were responsible for distributing necessities to family members

1 Cor 4:1-2 "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

1 Tim 1:4 "nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith."

 Eph 1:10 "as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

The Stewardship

The apostles' ministry is

 a stewardship, i.e.,

a dispensing service

Stewards are responsible for dispensing the supply of divine life to God's children, enabling them to grow and build up the church

Paul dispensed the riches of Christ to the saints and the entire Body

Eph 3:2 "assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you"

Col 1:25 "of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,"

Christ as God's Mystery

Christ is the embodiment and expression of the mysterious God

God is mysterious, but He is embodied in Christ, making it possible for people to know God

Christ expresses and explains God

Col 2:2 "that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,"

The Church as Christ's Mystery

The church

 is

the Body of Christ,

the manifestation of Christ

Christ dwelling

 in believers

is

mysterious,

but

the church

 as

Christ's Body manifests Him

To contact the church

 is to contact Christ

Eph 3:4-6 "When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."

The Dispensing Ministry

The apostles' ministry

 is

to dispense the riches of Christ

 to

believers

and

the church

Stewards distribute

God's rich supply to

His children, enabling

 them

 to grow

 in the divine life

Paul dispensed the unsearchable riches

 of Christ

 into believers

Eph 3:8-9 "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,"

Col 1:27-29 "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."