Paul:
The Minister of The Church
Part
II
Lesson
IV
I
Consider Paul the minister of Church truth.
Colossians
1:23 Paul is the minister of the
Gospel.
(23)
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from
the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Colossians 1:24-25
Paul is the minister of the
Church.
(24) Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill
up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s
sake, which is the church:
(25) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the
dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil
the word of God;
Ephesians 3:1-11 Read these verses carefully.
(1) For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
(2) If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me
to you-ward:
(3) How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore
in few words,
(4) Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ)
(5)Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now
revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
(6) That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of
the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
(7) Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God
given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
(8) Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given,
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
(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:
(10) To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places]
might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
(11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord:
Colossians 1:23-27 Read carefully before we
continue.
(23) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled,
and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and]
which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am
made a minister;
(24) Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind
of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the
church:
(25) Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which
is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
(26) [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but
now is made manifest to his saints:
(27) To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
After
reading these Scriptures, one can see that Church truth is to be found in
Paul’s Epistles. As there were ‘fathers’
in Israel (Romans 9:5), Paul claims to be father to the Church.
1 Corinthians 4:15
(15) For though ye have ten thousand instructors in
Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you
through the gospel.
As
we have seen in Romans 11:13, he does not speak of himself as an Apostle of the Gentiles but as the
Apostle of the Gentiles.
Romans 11:13
(13) For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the
apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Paul
is the minister of the doctrines of the Church, also received by divine, direct
revelation. One will never learn
ecclesiology aright apart from Paul’s epistles.
Ephesians
3:1 : “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of
Jesus Christ for you Gentiles…”
II Here we insert
some things we are told about Gentiles (Ephesians 2:11-12):
Gentiles are:
·
The Uncircumcision in the flesh;
·
Without Christ;
·
Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel;
·
Strangers from the covenants of promise (cf
Romans 9:4);
·
Without hope;
·
Without God;
·
Without the law (1 Corinthians 9:21, Romans 2:14);
·
Who can only appeal to God’s mercy (Romans 15:9).
.
III
Ephesians 3: 2-12 “ … if ye have heard of the dispensation of the
grace of God which is given to you-ward; How that by revelation he made known
unto me
the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was
not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his
promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister according to
the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his
power. Unto me, who am less than the
least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
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: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers
in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of
God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord; in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
Here
Paul claims a revelation of the mystery, which in other ages, was not made
known as it is now revealed. The mystery was not that Gentiles would be saved but rather that Gentiles become equal heirs with Jews in the Church, a
mystery hidden, not in the Old Testament but in God. And
if God had not revealed it, it could never have been known. It has to do with God’s eternal purpose in
the Church. By the Church, God is
revealing His manifold wisdom to principalities and powers in heavenly
places.
1
Peter 1:10-12 tells us that the Angels desire to look into those things
pertaining to our salvation.
1
Peter 1:10-12
(10)
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who
prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto you:
(11) Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in
them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and
the glory that should follow.
(12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did
minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached
the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the
angels desire to look into.
IV We would
that you acquaint yourself with Paul before interpreting other Scriptures.
The
book of Ephesians presents the Church as the body of Christ.
The
book of Colossians presents Christ as the Head of that body.
We
shall attempt to outline the first chapter of Colossians as an example of the
need to get to know Paul’s writings.
Colossians
1:1-8 The introduction.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to the saints in Christ but living at Colosse. First he gives thanks for their faith, love
and hope they have because they had heard and knew the grace of God in truth. Where there is genuine faith, there is
love. Where there is genuine faith,
there is hope.
Colossians
1:1-8
(1)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus
[our] brother,
(2)
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse:
Grace [be] unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(3)
We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always
for you,
(4)
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of
the love [which ye have] to all the saints,
(5)
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the
word of the truth of the gospel;
(6)
Which is come unto you, as [it is] in all the world;
and bringeth forth fruit, as [it doth] also in you,
since the day ye heard [of it], and knew the grace of God in truth:
(7)
As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of
Christ;
(8)
Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
His
report of them was given by Epaphras.
cf Colossians 4:12-13
(12)
Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring
fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the
will of God.
(13)
For I bear him record, that
he hath a great zeal for you, and them [that are] in Laodicea, and them in
Hierapolis.
Colossians
1:9-11 His prayer for them.
That
they might be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. That they might walk worthy of their Lord
unto all pleasing so that their work would be fruitful.
First
learn about the eternal will of God for you. That will
alter your walk to be worthy of the Lord.
Your walk that pleases God
will result in your work being
fruitful. Any work for God that is not
the result of a true walk with God will prove to be unfruitful. Paul calls it “wood, hay and stubble.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
Colossians
1:9-11
(9) For this cause we also, since the day we
heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled
with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
(10)
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in
every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
(11)
Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience
and longsuffering with joyfulness;
When
were you told that God’s mighty, glorious power is manifest in patience and
longsuffering with joyfulness? Patience with joy? Longsuffering with joy?
Such is not natural.
Perhaps
Acts 16:25 is the best Bible illustration of this. Paul and Silas having been beaten with many
stripes, thrust into prison with their feet in the stocks “at
Colossians
1:12-14 Giving thanks.
(12)
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet
to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
(13)
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into
the kingdom of his dear Son:
(14)
In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:
Five
wonderful reasons for giving thanks in circumstances we don’t like. Notice, it is for things God hath done
for us. Accomplished facts.
He is not giving thanks for things God
will yet do, but rather things God has already done. There is not one word about material things in
this prayer of thanksgiving
(12)
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [fit] to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Verse 12: In other words, thank God
who hath
made you fit for Heaven.
There
are saints dwelling in the White Light of God’s Presence at this moment (Revelation
19:1-6, Psalm 104:2).
The
saints there are now enjoying their inheritance. Inheritance is not a reward. Inheritance is not earned. Our wills are not involved in this matter at
all. Inheritance is something willed by
another. Thank God we are fit to be
where departed saints are now.
Paul
& Peter are there.
Philippians
1:23
(23)
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with
Christ; which is far better:
2
Timothy 4:6-8
(6)
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
(7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the
faith:
(8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his appearing.
2
Corinthians 5:8
(8)
We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord.
What
made Paul and Peter fit for Heaven?
They
were sinners like the rest of us. Man would
rather think he has some faults or failures. He makes mistakes and is sick but men do not
like to be told that they are filthy sinners in God’s sight. Until we see ourselves as sinful as God sees
us, we will question our need for God’s only provision for cleansing from our
sin.
“When
you break the law of the land, that is a crime. When you break the moral law,
that is a vice. But when you break
the law of God, that is sin.”
Man
is a sinner. God says so!
Man
is lost! God says so.
All
human beings have been ruined by the fall of Adam. In God’s sight, man is totally depraved - in
spite of all “self-worth” and “self-esteem” books.
Man,
as he is, is hell-bound, God says so.
Isaiah
64:6 states “
that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (dirty
laundry). And that verse is not
describing our bad deeds, but our best deeds.
Isaiah
64:6
(6)
But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses
[are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like
the wind, have taken us away.
Perhaps
it will help us if we view two great mountains with a vast valley between them.
First the Mountain of Man’s sinfulness.
God’s
description of man’s condition is not pretty.
See Psalm 14:2-3, Psalm 53:2-3
and Romans 3:9-18. And there is much
more!
Psalm
14:2-3
(2)
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were
any that did understand, [and] seek God.
(3)
They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] none
that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalm
53:2-3
(2)
God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any]
that did understand, that did seek God.
(3) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; [there]
is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans
3:9-18
(9)
What then? are we better [than they]? No, in no wise:
for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
(10) As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
(11) There is none that understandeth, there is none
that seeketh after God.
(12) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable;
there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
(13) Their throat [is] an open sepulchre; with their
tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asp [is] under their lips:
(14) Whose mouth [is] full of cursing and bitterness:
(15) Their feet [are] swift to shed blood:
(16) Destruction and misery [are] in their ways:
(17) And the way of peace have they not known:
(18) There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Man
in God’s sight is so filthy that when man touches anything, his filthy touch
defiles all that he touches. Sinful man
is likened to the leper, separated from others because of his dreaded disease. Man’s worst disease is the disease of
sin. Man’s sinfulness is so great, that
man, in himself, by himself, is incapable of doing anything acceptable to God.
Titus 1:15-16.
Titus
1:15-16
(15)
Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and
unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
(16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being
abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
The
other Mountain is that of the Holiness of God.
Man’s
sinfulness is great but God’s holiness is greater. In our sinful state we are incapable of
realizing how pure God is and how pure Heaven must be. Anything that defiles in any degree will not
enter Heaven (Revelation 21:27).
We
talk about “clean” and “spotless” places on earth, but there are none. Heaven is clean, spotless, pure, as pure as
pure can be! And the moment it ceases to
be pure, that moment it would cease to be Heaven.
Perhaps
God is allowing humans to be awakened to the dangers of a polluted earth to
realize that if man is going to live forever, and enjoy it, he can only do so
in a pure place. God is without blemish
and altogether pure. It is what God is
that makes Heaven what it is. So salvation or preparation for Heaven is
necessary. And more, by himself man
cannot make himself fit for heaven.
God’s holiness removes God from us and our sin removes us from God.
And
then there is that vast valley between the two mountains.
We
cannot do anything to bring God to us.
We cannot do anything to take us to God.
The
distance is too great. His holiness
removes us from Him. Our sin removes Him
from us. Therefore if we are to be saved,
God must do something for us.
2
Corinthians 5:18
All things pertaining to the new
creation are of God.
1
Peter 3:18
Christ
suffered that He might bring us to God. And the only atoning suffering that ever was
done for sin was done by Christ on the cross.
“There
was no other good enough to pay the price of sin….”
And
saints like Paul and Peter and a host of others are in Heaven because of His
work. And they are fit to be there
because of His cleansing blood. Money
may be the currency of earth but the blood of Christ is the currency in
Heaven. And if the blood of Christ and
the righteousness of Christ freely given to the one who believes are not good
enough for heaven, nothing is.
And we give thanks that we are fit
as they. The same blood that cleansed their stain of
sin cleanses ours. What can wash away my
stain? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
There
has been a lot of foolish teaching about “Christ coming for a Church without
spot or blemish”, the result of human effort.
But Christ gave Himself….that he might present it (The Church) to
himself a glorious Church without spot or blemish.
Ephesians
5:25-27
(25) Husbands, love your wives, even as
Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water by the word,
So
thank God that he has made you fit for heaven by what He has done.
Colossians
2:10 “And ye are complete in him,… ”. What can be
added to that which God says is complete?
As my mother would say, “Sit on your hands, the work is done.” So why not believe God’s Word that you are,
right now, fit for heaven? And don’t
waste one moment worrying about it! If
you can’t trust Christ to make you fit, surely you know you cannot trust
yourself to do that task. Praise Him,
the work is done.
Back to Colossians, chapter 1, Verse 13: Thank God
that He hath delivered you from the power of darkness.
Thank
God you do not belong to the Devil.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5
(4) But ye, brethren, are not in
darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
Philippians 1:28
2 Timothy 1:7
(7) For God hath not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
cf. Psalm 23:5
In
our opinion, there is too much talk about Demons and the Devil in our day.
Verse 13 continues: Thank
God that He hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.
We
do not belong to the devil but we do belong to Christ.
John 1:12-13 Believe, receive, belong
(13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Know ye not?
Hebrews 13:5-6
(6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord
[is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
cf. Revelation 1:5-6
The word “translated” may have been
translated “transferred” or even “”transplanted”. All three words implying
being moved from one area to another.
All
this takes place when we believe in Christ and His work for us. That moment “ He maketh the rebel a priest and a king.” That moment tremendous changes take place in
one’s life in the sight of God. Oh that
we could see ourselves as God sees us! Vile
sinners become saints. Slaves become
sons of God. Aliens, foreigners, strangers,
hell-bound sinners, become citizens of Heaven.
Those who have been afar off from God, suddenly are made nigh to
God. Those who have
been enemies of God, haters of God, suddenly become friends of God, precious
children of His family.
Only in
Paul are these facts made plain.
Verse 14 Thank God that in Christ we have redemption through His
blood.
Jesus
paid it all. The Bible is a book
of redemption by blood. Leviticus is a
bloody book, hated by unbelievers.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Redeemed by precious blood.
(19) But with the precious blood of
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
2 Corinthians 8:9 “became poor” (cf Matthew
13:44-46 “sold all”)
cf.
Matthew 13:44-46
(45)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like
unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
(46)
Who, when he had found one pearl of
great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Luke
10:34-35 The Samaritan paid all.
As
slaves we had no income, nothing with which to pay, He paid all for us.
Verse 14 Thank God that in Christ we have forgiveness of sins.
Acts 13:38-39 Read and believe.
Acts 10:43 Believe in Him and receive.
Colossians 2:13-15
Forgiven all trespasses.
Ephesians 4:32 Forgive as ye have been
forgiven.
Do
we believe the hymns that we sing? Do we
believe…
…
It is well with my soul?
…
“My sin Oh the bliss of this glorious thought; My sin not in part but the whole
is nailed to His cross and I bear it no more..”?
Or :
…
He died that we might be forgiven?
Or :
…
Calvary covers it all?
Or :
…
Oh the joy of sins forgiven?
Colossians
1:15-19 “This is the most exhaustive assertion
of our Lord’s Godhead to be found in Paul’s writings.”- Canon Liddon.
Colossians
1:15-19
(15) Who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature:
(17) And he is before all things, and by
him all things consist.
(19) For it pleased [the Father] that in
him should all fulness dwell;
These
verses can be divided into two major parts.
Verses
15-17 Christ’s
position relative to creation
Verses
18-19 Christ’s
position relative to the Church. He is the
Head and we need no other.
Colossians
1:20-23 Christ’s work on the cross. We will consider these verses in our next
paper. However we do note a two-fold reconciliation. (The word, reconciliation, means to bring
back to favour, to restore fully, to restore after
estrangement. Peace cannot last between
parties without reconciliation.)
Colossians
1:20-23
(20)
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all
things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they] be things in earth, or
things in heaven.
(21)
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked
works, yet now hath he reconciled
(22)
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in
his sight:
(23)
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from
the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every
creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1. Future reconciliation of the creation (Isaiah
11:6-9, Romans 8:19-20)
2.
The present individual reconciliation: the
sinner, not God, needs to be reconciled.
In
the revelation of God’s Word there are only two spheres of reconciliation - heaven
and earth. From Philippians 2:10, things
under the earth are under subjection, not reconciliation.
Philippians
2:10
(10) That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth,
and [things] under the earth;
Colossians
1:24-29
(24)
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of
the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
(25)
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is
given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
(26)
[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now
is made manifest to his saints:
(27)
To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
(28)
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that
we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
(29)
Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his
working, which worketh in me
mightily.
Verse 23 The gospel – preached to
every creature under heaven, whereof I Paul am made a minister.
Here
again we are introduced to the two-fold ministry, the first of which is that of
the gospel. It is good news to sinners
and it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who will believe it. (Romans 1:16)
A
friend who works with the Native Indians said, “Some say we have underestimated
the Indian. That is not true. The truth is we have underestimated the power
of the gospel.”
How
easy it is to leave out the gospel for sinners.
In
1938 with a friend named Bob we went to hear an American evangelist. The evangelist spoke for almost three hours! And my friend Bob commented: “All the gospel he gave he could have given in three minutes.”
Verse 24-25 Paul was also the
minister of the Church. Again he says he
was made a minister for the saints.
Church truth is to be taught to the saints, to build them up in the
faith once for all delivered to the saints.
(Jude 3)
But
there is another aspect of Paul’s ministry.
In
verse 24: I rejoice in my sufferings
for you to fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ, suffering
in my flesh for the body’s sake, which is the Church.
We
must always keep in mind that the only atoning suffering for sin was done by
Christ on the cross.
Paul
saw himself as a partner with Christ in suffering. Said one, “Three things
prepare a man for the ministry, the Word, prayer and suffering.”
In
verse 24 he tells us that his sufferings came because he was part of the body,
the Church. He is a minister of the
Church because of the dispensation of God “given to me”. He claimed his ministry to be a stewardship
from God.
2
Timothy 1:11,12
“Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of
the Gentiles. For the which cause I also
suffer these things:… ”
He
suffered because he was part of the body of Christ.
Philippians 1:29 “For
unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but
also to suffer for his sake.”
Acts 5:41 “And
they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”
Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said to him (Ananias).
Go thy way: for he (Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of
Romans 8:18 I
reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 11:23-33 Paul lists some of his
sufferings for the gospel sake. With
these scriptures combined we receive a glimpse of “filling up the afflictions
of Christ” of which Paul speaks in Colossians.
2 Timothy 3:12 All
who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer.
Colossians 1:26 The Church, a mystery which
had been hid from ages and generations. But now, through Paul, made manifest to the saints. It was not hidden in the Old Testament.
Colossians 1:27 God making known the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the
hope of glory. The Church has been made up
of a company of people, both Jews and Gentiles, gloriously united with Christ
in all that He is and all that He has (Romans 8:17).
Romans
8:16-17
(16)
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,
that we are the children of God:
(17)
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so
be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.
This is what Paul preached. This is what Paul taught the early Church
saints. Without revelation, we would
never find anything about the Church in the Old Testament. The message of the Church came to the Church
through the revelations given to Paul.