As always we will begin with the Barclay
Commentary where we left off last time in our study
of
verse 8.
IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE
Each Friday in every community, two official
collectors went round the markets and called on each
house, collecting donations for the poor in money
and in goods. The material collected in this way was
distributed to those in need by a committee of two,
or more if necessary. The poor of the community were
given enough food for fourteen meals, that is for
two meals a day for the week; but no one who already
possessed a week’s food in the house could receive
from this fund. The fund for the poor was called the
Kuppah, or the basket. In addition, to cover
emergencies, there was a daily collection of food
from house to house for those who were actually in
dire need that day. This fund was called the Tamhui,
or the tray. The Christian Church inherited this
charitable organization, and no doubt it was the
task of the deacons to attend to it.
~Barclay Commentary
Now to the commentaries...
Holding the mystery of the
faith - On the word “mystery,” see notes on 1
Corinthians 2:7. It means that which had been
concealed, or hidden, but which was now revealed.
The word “faith” here, is synonymous with “the
gospel;” and the sense is, that he should hold
firmly the great doctrines of the Christian religion
which had been so long concealed from people, but
which were now revealed. The reason is obvious.
Though not a preacher, yet his influence and example
would be great, and a man who held material error
ought not to be in office.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted Verse
1 Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even
the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the
world unto our glory:
And the commentary...
But we speak
- We who have preached the gospel.
The wisdom of God
- We teach or proclaim the wise plan
of God for the salvation of people; we make
known the divine wisdom in regard to the
scheme of human redemption. This plan was of
God, in opposition to other plans which were
of human beings.
~Barnes Notes
In a mystery, even the
hidden wisdom - The translation
should be literally made, “We proclaim the
divine wisdom hidden in a mystery.” The
apostle does not say that their preaching
was mysterious, nor that their doctrine was
unintelligible, but he refers to the fact
that this wisdom had been “hidden in a
mystery” from people until that time, but
was then revealed by the gospel. In other
words, he does not say that what they then
declared was hidden in a mystery, but that
they made known the divine wisdom which had
been concealed from the minds of people. The
word “mystery” with us is commonly used in
the sense of that which is beyond
comprehension; and it is often applied to
such doctrines as exhibit difficulties which
we are not able to explain.
But this is not the sense in which it is
commonly used in the Scriptures; see the
note at Matthew 13:11; compare Campbell on
the Gospels, Dissertation 9; part 1. The
word properly denotes that which is
“concealed” or “hidden;” that which has not
yet been made known; and is applied to those
truths which until the revelation of Jesus
Christ were concealed from people, which
were either hidden under obscure types and
shadows or prophecies, or which had been
altogether unrevealed, and unknown to the
world. The word stands opposed to that which
is revealed, not to that which is in itself
plain. The doctrines to which the word
relates may be in themselves clear and
simple, but they are hidden in mystery until
they are revealed. From this radical idea in
the word “mystery,” however, it came also to
be applied not only to those doctrines which
had not been made known, but to those also
which were in themselves deep and difficult
to that which is enigmatical (en·ig·mat·i·cal
- puzzling) and obscure; 1
Corinthians 14:2; 1 Timothy 3:16.
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it
is given unto you to know the mysteries of
the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not
given.
1 Corinthians 14:2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue
speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no
man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit
he speaketh mysteries.
Barnes Notes has for "he
speaketh mysteries":
The word here seems to be synonymous with
sublime and elevated truth; truth that was
not before known, and that might be of the
utmost importance.
~Barnes Notes
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery
of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in
the world, received up into glory.
It is applied also to the secret designs and
purposes of God; Revelation 10:7. The word
is most commonly applied by Paul to the
secret and long concealed design of God to
make known his gospel to the Gentiles; to
break down the wall between them and the
Jews; and to spread the blessings of the
true religion everywhere; Romans 11:25;
Romans 16:25; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:9;
Ephesians 6:19. Here, it evidently means the
beauty and excellency of the person and
plans of Jesus Christ, but which were in
fact unknown to the princes of this world.
It does not imply, of necessity, that they
could not have understood them, nor that
they were unintelligible, but that, in fact,
whatever was the cause, they were concealed
from them. Paul says 1 Corinthians 2:8, that
had they known his wisdom, they would not
have crucified him - which implies at least
that it was not in itself unintelligible;
and he further says, that this mystery had
been revealed to Christians by the Spirit of
God, which proves that he does not here
refer to that which is in itself
unintelligible; 1 Corinthians 2:10. “The
apostle has here especially in view the
all-wise counsel of God for the salvation of
people by Jesus Christ, in the writings of
the Old Testament only obscurely signified,
and to the generality of people utterly
unknown” -
Bloomfield. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Revelation 10:7
But in the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he shall begin to sound, the
mystery of God should be finished, as he
hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Notice the commentary...
The mystery of God
should be finished - It means here,
as elsewhere in the New Testament, the
purpose or truth of God which had been
concealed, and which had not before been
communicated to man. Here the particular
reference is to the divine purpose which had
been long concealed respecting the destiny
of the world, or respecting the setting up
of his kingdom, but which had been
progressively unfolded by the prophets. That
purpose would be “finished,” or consummated,
in the time when the seventh angel should
begin to sound. Then all the “mystery” would
be revealed; the plan would be unfolded; the
divine pur-pose, so long concealed, would be
manifested, and the kingdom of the Messiah
and of the saints would be set up on the
earth. Under that period, the affairs of the
world would be ultimately wound up, and the
whole work of redemption completed.
~Barnes Notes
Romans 11:25
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be
ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be
wise in your own conceits; that blindness in
part is happened to Israel, until the
fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Romans 16:25
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,
Ephesians 1:9
Having made known unto us the mystery of his
will, according to his good pleasure which
he hath purposed in himself [speaking
here to the counsel of His own good will]:
Ephesians 3:9
And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the
beginning of the world hath been hid in God,
who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 6:19
And for me, that utterance may be given unto
me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make
known the mystery of the gospel,
1 Corinthians 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world
knew: for had they known it, they would not
have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 2:10
But God hath revealed them unto us by his
Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God.
Which God ordained
- Which plan, so full of wisdom, God
appointed in his own purpose before the
foundation of the world; that is, it was a
plan which from eternity he determined to
execute. It was not a new device; it had not
been got up to serve an occasion; but it was
a plan laid deep in the eternal counsel of
God, and on which he had his eye forever
fixed. This passage proves, that God had a
plan, and that this plan was eternal. This
is all that is involved in the doctrine of
eternal decrees or purposes. And if God had
a plan about this, there is the same reason
to think that he had a plan in regard to all
things.
Unto our glory
- In order that we might be honored or
glorified. This may refer either to the
honor which was put upon Christians in this
life, in being admitted to the privileges of
the sons of God; or more probably to that
“eternal weight of glory” which remains for
them in [the
Kingdom]; 2 Corinthians 4:17. One
design of that plan was to raise the
redeemed to “glory, and honor, and
immortality.” It should greatly increase our
gratitude to God, that it was a subject of
eternal design; that he always has cherished
this purpose; and that he has loved us with
such love, and sought our happiness and
salvation with such intensity, that in order
to accomplish it, he was willing to give his
own Son to die on a [stake].
~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory;
Now the commentary on the "eternal
weight of glory" and specifically "of
glory."
Of glory - The
Hebrew word kabowd denotes weight as well as
glory. And perhaps Paul had that use of the
word in his eye in this strong expression.
It refers here to the splendor,
magnificence, honor, and happiness of the
eternal world. In this exceedingly
interesting passage, which is worthy of the
deepest study of Christians, Paul has set in
most beautiful and emphatic contrast the
trials of this life and the glories of [the
Kingdom]. It may be profitable to
contemplate at a single glance the view
which he had of them, that they may be
brought distinctly before the mind.
~Barnes Notes |
In a pure conscience
- A mere orthodox [established]
faith was not all that was necessary, for it was
possible that a man might be professedly firm in the
belief of the truths of revelation, and yet be
corrupt at heart. ~Barnes
Notes
Let us look at the first part of the verse in the
Adam Clarke
Holding the mystery of the
faith - Instead of, the faith, one MS [original
text], reads of the resurrection.
This reading, like many others in this MS., is found
nowhere else; and is worthy of little regard, but as
expressing what appeared to the writer to be the
apostle’s meaning. One of the greatest mysteries of
the faith was undoubtedly the resurrection of the
dead; and this was held in a pure conscience when
the person so exercised himself as to have a
conscience void of offense towards God and towards
men. See Acts 24:16. What has been since called
Antinomianism (ăn'tĭ-nō'mē-ə-nĭz'əm),
that is, making void the moral law, by a pretended
faith in the righteousness of Christ, is that which
the apostle has here particularly in view.
~ Adam Clarke
Quoted verse:
Acts 24:16
And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a
conscience void of offence toward God, and toward
men.
Notice the commentary on this verse...
Do I exercise
myself - I accustom or employ
myself; I make it my constant aim. Paul
often appeals to his conscientiousness
(kŏn'shē-ĕn'shəs
ness) as the leading
habit of his life. Even before his
conversion he endeavored to act according to
the dictates of conscience. See Acts 26:9;
compare Philippians 3:5-6.
Quoted verses:
Acts 26:9
...Paul speaking
before King Agrippa of his days as a
Pharisee
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to
the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Philippians 3:5-6
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock
of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an
Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law,
a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
touching the righteousness which is in the
law, blameless.
To have always a conscience ... - To
do what is right, so that my conscience
shall never reproach me.
Void of offence
- That which is inoffensive, or which does
not cause one to stumble or fall. He means
that he endeavored to keep his conscience so
enlightened and pure in regard to duty, and
that he acted according to its dictates in
such a way that his conduct should not be
displeasing to God or injurious to man. To
have such a conscience implies two things:
(1) That it be enlightened or properly
informed in regard to truth and duty; and,
(2) That what is made known to be right
should be honestly and faithfully performed.
Without these two things no man can have a
conscience that will be inoffensive and
harmless.
Toward God - In
an honest endearour to discharge the duties
of public and private worship, and to do
constantly what he requires believing all
that he has spoken; doing all that he
requires; and offering to him the service
which he approves.
Toward men - In
endeavoring to meet all the demands of
justice and mercy; to advance their
knowledge, happiness, and salvation; living
so that I may look back on my life with the
reflection that I have done all that I ought
to have done, and all that I could do to
promote the welfare of the whole human
family. What a noble principle of conduct
was this! How elevated and how pure! How
unlike the conduct of those who live to
gratify debasing sensual appetites, or for
gold or honor; of those who pass their lives
in such a manner as to offer the grossest
offence to God and to do the most injury to
man. The great and noble aim of Paul was to
be pure; and no slander of his enemies, no
trials, persecutions, perils, or pains of
dying could take away the approving voice of
conscience. Alike in his travels and in his
persecutions; among friends and foes; when
preaching in the synal gogue, the city, or
the desert; or when defending himself before
governors and kings, he had this testimony
of a self-approving mind. Happy they who
thus frame their lives. And happy will be
the end of a life where this has been the
grand object of the journey through this
world. ~ Barnes
Notes |
Now the verse from the John Gill...
Holding the mystery of the
faith - The doctrine of the Gospel, called
the "faith", because it contains things to be
believed; proposes Christ the object of faith; is
the means by which faith comes, and is unprofitable
without it: it is called "the mystery", because it
is of divine revelation, and could have never been
discovered by human reason. Now this
mysterious doctrine of faith is to be held by
deacons; they are to profess it, and to hold fast
the profession of it and that
in a pure conscience -
with a conscience sprinkled by the blood of Christ;
with a conscience void of offence both towards God
and man; with a suitable life and conversation [conduct];
a conversation becoming the Gospel of Christ, and by
which it is adorned: and this part of their
character is necessary, that such may be able to
instruct and establish those who are weak in the
faith, and oppose and refute the erroneous, and also
recommend the Gospel by their own example; otherwise
should their principles or practices be bad, their
influence on others might be very pernicious [causing
great harm] and fatal.
~John Gill
Let us finish in the Treasury of Scriptural
Knowledge...
Holding the mystery of the
faith:
1 Timothy 1:5
...see the lesson on this
verse
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a
pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith
unfeigned:
1 Timothy 1:19
...see the lesson on this
verse
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some
having put away concerning faith have made
shipwreck:
In a pure conscience:
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified
in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into
glory.
2 John 1:9-10
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in
the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and
the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither
bid him God speed: |