Bible Student’s Resource Index

To the Jew First   One of the most important principles of “ correctly partitioning the Word of Truth ” (II Timothy 2:15) is the recognition of the removal of the Barrier Wall mentioned in Ephesians 2:14, and asking ourselves as we read any passage of Scripture, “Is this wall of distinction between Jew and Gentile up, or down?” This distinction is completely removed during the Secret Administration .   For example, “ to the Jew first ” in Romans 1:16; 2:9-10 makes a clear distinction between Jew and Gentile for it even to be possible that the Jews are “ first .” This dispensational distinction and administrative advantage have been completely removed today by the revelation found in Ephesians.

[ Editor: ] When God called Abraham, He placed a  division  between his descendants and all of the rest of humanity. God established a “barrier”  between Jew and Gentile, Israel and the Nations. Paul called this division a  “middle wall of partition”  in Ephesians 2:14 ( KJV ).  The Concordant Version  calls it  “the central wall of the barrier .”   The Dabhar Version  renders it  “the middle wall of the blockage.” When reading the Scriptures it is vitally important that you ask yourself the simple question: Is the middle wall of partition up, or is it down? Recognizing and answering this crucial question is an important key in following Paul’s instruction found in II Timothy 2:15 of  “rightly dividing”  ( KJV ),  “correctly cutting”  ( CV,  1976 – 6 th Edition) or  “correctly partitioning”  ( CV, 1927 – 2 nd Edition) the  “Word of truth.” It’s not until you get to the pinnacle writing...

Paul’s Priestly Ministry Paul’s early ministry was a prophetic, priestly ministry to the nations --  acting as a priest of the evangel of God”  (Romans 11:13; 15:16), which purpose was to provoke Israel to emulation (Romans 11:14). During this time Israel had the preeminence (Romans 3:1-2) -- “ to the Jew first ” (Romans 1:16; 2:9-10) -- with Gentile believers as “ guests ”  at their table (Ephesians 2:12, 19), partakers of Israel’s “ spiritual things ” (Romans 15:27), as a “ wild olive ” branch grafted into Israel, partaking of “ the root and fatness ” of the olive tree (Romans 11:17-18), spiritually “ Abraham’s seed ” (Galatians 3:29), with Jerusalem as their “ mother ” (Galatians 4:26), etc. For a look at the subject of Paul’s priestly ministry, see: Book Resource:   Paul's Priestly Ministry: A Compilation  (A  Compilation), Bibles Student's Press .

Sonship “ Sonship ” is the Greek word huiothesia ( SEC #5206), meaning the “placing as a son”, i.e., “son-placing.” It is “the station in life accorded a son” (A.E. Knoch). It is translated “ sonship ” in the Concordant, Rotherham, Moffatt and Diaglott (“ son-setting ” in the Dabhar ).  The Romans 9 “ sonship ” is the exclusive prerogative of “ Israel according to the flesh ,” the Galatians 4 “ sonship ” extends to the spiritual seed of Abraham who are not “ after the flesh ” (:23), but was associated with “ Jerusalem which is above ” (:26). However, the Ephesians “ sonship ” has no relationship whatsoever to Abraham or Israel. It has no connection with the promises made to the fathers, it is not founded on an earthly inheritance (allotment). The Ephesians “ sonship ” extends back before the disruption of the world, and extends “ far above ” all heavens. These three “ sonships ” correspond to the three distinct spheres of blessing.  Book Resource:   Sonship  (A...

One Body of the Secret Administration The “ One Body ” of Ephesians and Colossians (Ephesians 2:16; 4:4; Colossians 3:15) is the Post-Acts “church,’ to which Christ alone is Head (Ephesians 1:22-23; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:24; 2:19). This is the only Ecclesia of the Secret Administration . “The doctrine of the One Body is never referred to by any other apostle than Paul. He calls it ‘the Dispensation of the Mystery’ with which he had especially been entrusted [Ephesians 3:9]. … Jew and Gentile being formed by the Spirit into One Body … was a truth never before made known. The Old Testament will be searched in vain for it. It is not there, because it was ‘ hid in God’ [3:9]. The recognition of but One Body and One Head … leaves one outside of all human systems, and apart from all recognition of human heads. ‘The Church must have a head!’ was the Romanist’s challenge to Luther, as he began to set forth the claims of the Papacy. ‘Yes,’ replied the mighty champion of the reformati...