Archive for August, 2024

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. Ephesians 3:8

“The unsearchable riches of Christ; two attractive words, riches and unsearchable, conveying the idea of the things that are most precious being infinitely abundant. Usually precious things are rare; their very rarity increases their price; but here that which is most precious is also boundless – riches of compassion and love, of merit, of sanctifying, comforting, and transforming power, all without limit, and capable of satisfying every want, craving, and yearning of the heart, now and evermore. The thought of his having such riches to offer to all made him regard his office as most glorious, raised him far above the point of view from which the world would despise it, and filled him with adoring gratitude to God for having conferred it on him.”

H. D. M. Spence in Pulpit Commentary notes on Ephesians 3:8.

Read these remarks from Spence again.

What words stand out to you. Infinitely abundant. Sanctifying. All without limit. Most glorious. Adoring gratitude. When we realize what we have in Christ, it helps us grow in gratitude and generosity.

Give thanks today for what you have in Christ, and ask Him how that might lead you to unleash greater generosity.

Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access in boldness and confidence through faith in Him. Ephesians 3:8-12

By the grace of God, the author of Ephesians had the privilege of helping all people discover the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things. And this mystery — this new economy or order of all things — would be made known not just through the writer of this epistle but through the church, and not just to all people but also to all powers.

“This passage confirms that God has foiled the wisdom of the demonic powers, who thought they could end God’s redemptive plans by inciting the political and religious leaders to put Jesus to death. God raised Jesus from the dead, and he became the head of a worldwide body of believers who would spread the good news of his offer of salvation everywhere. . . The only message the church is called to proclaim is the gospel, and that gospel to people all around the world who have not heard its good news of liberation and deliverance from captivity in Satan’s kingdom. Both the existence of the church and the continued evangelistic growth of the church demonstrate to the powers that they are in fact powerless to impede the redemptive work of God.”

The church emerges as the instrument by which God’s grace would be made known to all peoples everywhere.

Clinton E. Arnold in Powers of Darkness: Principalities and Powers in Paul’s Letters (Downers Grove: IVP, 1992) 197–198.

You and I are central to God’s plan. He brings everything together on heaven and earth in Christ and, in His plan, we serve as the instrument for making known this good news.

This excerpt from my paper delivered in Amsterdam this week relates to generosity in this way. God has defeated the forces of evil and we have a part in making this good news known.

And there’s a paradox. The more we get involved, the more we deploy ourselves and the resources in our stewardship, the more God sees and supplies what we need for playing our part.

Like an instrument plays a part in a vital part in making music in an orchestra, consider what part God ould have you play in His master plan. And play it.

I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different teachings and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training [economy of God] that is known by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4

“The term oikonomia is multifaceted, and English translations are all over the map. Such translations as “godly edifying” (KJV) and “divine training” (NRSV) miss the point, while “God’s work” (NIV) is vague. The root idea is household management, but the word could refer to administration of a household, city, empire, or as Stoics applied it, to divine administration of the cosmos.”

Because “the economy of God” is connected to the phrase “in the faith,” scholars have related it to “God’s way of creating and saving the world.” This reading seems fitting based our findings related to the local heresy. Artemis was revered as the author of all life and everything in the local economy of Ephesus revolved around maintaining that international distinction. The charge to Timothy urges him to promote sound teaching that reflects a whole new economy—a new order of things and way of salvation—that revolves around Christ rather than Artemis.”

Christopher R. Hutson in First and Second Timothy and Titus (PCNT; Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2019) 32, and Luke Timothy Johnson, The First and Second Letters to Timothy: A New Translation and Introduction (AB35A; New York: Doubleday, 2001) 164.

I have appreciated the many responses from people to my recent posts.

This excerpt from my paper delivered this week in Amsterdam aims to define a multifaceted phrase: economy of God in the faith.

The proverbial orders to Timothy to remain in Ephesus relate to teaching people how to live.

For them, life revolved around money and the goddess. Now, in God’s economy or order of things, it needs to revolve around Christ. Around what does your life revolve?

If it relates to working so many years, making money and then retiring, I have news for you.

That’s the “economy of this world” thinking. Don’t go there. Economy of God thinking puts God in the center, walks in obedience, and lets Him sort everything better than you can.

If this sounds too countercultural or too hard. Try it anyway.

I leave you with the words of G.K. Chesterton. “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”

A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” Acts 19:24-27

“When the Phocaeans were setting sail from their homeland an oracle was delivered to them, it is said, to use for their voyage as a guide received from the Ephesian Artemis. Accordingly, some of them put in at Ephesus and inquired in what way they might procure from the goddess what had been enjoined upon them. Now the goddess in a dream, it is said, had stood beside Aristarcha, one of the women held in very high honor, and commanded her to sail away with the Phocaeans taking with her a certain reproduction [of Artemis] which was among the sacred images. This done, and the colony finally settled, they not only established the temple, but also did Aristarcha the exceptional honor of appointing her priestess. Further, in the colonial cities [of Marseilles] the people everywhere do this goddess honors of the first rank.”

Strabo, first century Greek historian, geographer, and philosopher who lived in Asia Minor in Geography 4.1.4–5.

Today’s Scripture refers to the silver shrine business that Demetrius and his fellow craftsman ran in ancient Ephesus. It brought in good income. And yet, the ministry of Paul and his companions in Ephesus caused idol sales to fall.

Then today’s quote from Strabo comes from my paper entitled “The Economy of Ephesus in contrast to the Economy of God in 1 Timothy and Ephesian” and shows an ancient example of the oracles wealthy people like Aristarcha would receive.

The oracles urged wealthy people to secure reproductions of the goddess and place her in their homes or on their ships as a guide. Those who did would get honorific titles. This shows how they spread the renown of the goddess widely.

We see this today with many religions in the world. It’s big business to have shrines to other gods who promise things to those who buy them.

Related to generosity, we can respond like Paul and his companions. We can use our wealth to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. This brings people to faith and shows real power, greater than other earthly powers. And it will cause idol sales to fall wherever we live an serve.

Use what wealth you have to spread the Christian movement where you are.