Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 3 · Verse and explication 3
Vers. 3. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mysterie (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the mysterie of Christ.)
THe Apostle, being (in the second branch of the first part of the Chapter to ver. 13.) more largely to illustrate what he did but briefly assert, ver. 2. to wit, that the Apostolick office of dispensing the Gospel to the Gentiles was committed unto him, doth, first, shew, to ver. 7. that he was sufficiently furnished by God with knowledge and insight in the Doctrine of the Gospel concredited to him. And in those two verses he declareth, not only the nature of this Doctrine, that it is a mysterie, or sacred secret; but also, that it was made known unto him by God, together with the manner how he came to the knowledge of it, to wit, by extraordinary revelation from God, and not by ordinary means, as is more clearly expressed, Gal. 1. 12. and for proof of his knowledge and insight in this mysterie, he referreth them to what he hath written succinctly of it in the two former Chapters, in which he hath, by a most divine and ravishing strain, set forth the grounds, causes and means of salvation, and made application of all both to Jew and Gentile, which is the very comprehensive sum of this mysterie, ver. 3. from which two preceeding Chapters, being diligently perpended, and read by them, he doubteth not, but they should find he had not arrogantly, and without ground ascribed to himself a great measure of knowledge and insight in that mysterie, which he calleth the mysterie of Christ; because Christ is the chief subject of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 2. 2. and the very mysterie of that mysterie, 1 Tim. 3. 16. This is contained, ver. 4.
From ver. 3. Learn, 1. Whoever are called by God to undergo any office in His house, they are in somemeasure, greater or lesser, competently furnished and fitted by Him for that imployment: And therfore giftlesse Ministers were never sent by God; for, Paul, having shown that the Apostolick Office was committed unto him by God, ver. 2. he now declareth how God had furnished him for it; How that by revelation He made known unto me the mysterie. 2. That the Gospel is a mysterie, and in what respects it is so, see chap. 1. ver. 9. doct. 1. He made known unto me the mysterie. 3. The Lord doth usually manifest Himself, more or lesse, unto His Servants, according to the nature, weight and difficulty of those imployments unto which He doth call them: for, He maketh Himself manifest to Paul by extraordinary revelation, because he was to serve Him in an extraordidary embassage, as an Apostle; How that by revelation He made known unto me. 4. As Christ's Ministers may sometimes in sobriety speak to the commendation of their own knowledge, and of their other ministerial abilities, to wit, when they are necessitated to assert and avow their calling from God; So it is most safe to speak no further to that purpose, than they have formerly given some proof of, in discharge of their calling, to which they may appeal, as an undeniable confirmation of what they affirm; lest otherwise their bare assertion be taken for vain vaunting and arrogant boasting: for, Paul, being called to speak of his own knowledge and abilities, as an evidence of his calling from God, referreth them to that proof, which he had given thereof in his former writings, while he saith, As I wrote afore in few words. 5. The Doctrine of salvation revealed unto, and Preached by the Apostles, is contained in their writings, and therefore there is no necessity of unwritten traditions: for, the Apostle, proving that this mysterie was revealed to him, he doth not refer them to what he had preached unto them for the space of two years, Acts 19. 10. but to his writings, which had been no adequate proof, except he had written the sum of all which was revealed unto him, at least, of so much as was necessary for them to know; As I wrote afore in few words. 6. The Spirit of God speaking in Scripture, hath comprised large and comprehensive purpose, even the whole plot of mans salvation, and the sum of mans duty, in a small bulk and few words; as knowing that reading much would be but wearisomenesse to the flesh, Eccles. 12. -12. and intending that the gift of interpretation and exponing Scripture, should have place in the Church, 1 Corinth. 12. 8. for, Paul, the pen-man of the Spirit of God, giveth a comprehensive sum of the whole Gospel in the two first Chapters, with relation to which, he saith here, I wrote afore in few words.
From ver. 4. Learn, 1. The brevity of Scripture, and comprehensive largenesse of the purpose contained in it, do not occasion any such obscurity in Scripture, but by diligent reading the mind of God therein may be found out and understood: for, notwithstanding, Paul hath shown he had comprehended that whole mysterie in few words; yet, saith he, Whereby when you read, ye may understand. 2. The Word of God therefore ought to be frequently read, and diligently perused by all the Lords people; this being one mean, and second to none (except publick preaching, Rom. 10. 14, 15.) which the Lord doth blesse, as for other ends, So for attaining to know and understand the purpose and subject-matter contained in the Word: for, Paul supponeth it was their duty to read what he had written, and sheweth by reading they should understand his knowledge in the mysterie. 3. Even private Christians, through diligent reading of Scripture, may attain to such a measure of knowledge and understanding, as may enable them to judge of the abilities, gifts and doctrine of Ministers: for, Paul, speaking even to private Christians amongst those Ephesians, saith, Wherby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mysterie of Christ. 4. Though private Christians are not to sist themselves as publick judges of the doctrine of Ministers, 1 Cor. 14. 32. neither should they delight much in venting their private judgement, especially their carping censures, Iam. 1. -19- yet they are not as stupid blocks, without triall and examination, to receive what-ever the Minister saith; but ought to passe a private judgment of discretion upon what they hear, whether it be truth or error, right or wrong, in so far, at least, as may regulate their own practice in choosing, or refusing what they hear, 1 Thess. 5. 21. for, Paul alloweth unto those Ephesians to passe such a judgement upon his own doctrine and abilities; Ye may understand my knowledge in the mysterie of Christ.