The Stewards of God's Mysteries

 

The Stewards of God's Mysteries

 

1 Cor 4:1-2 "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful."

Col 1:25 "of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,"

 

Theme	Description	Explanation	Example	Detailed Scripture
Stewards of God's Mysteries	Apostles are stewards of God's mysteries, responsible for dispensing God's mysteries to believers	Steward (oikonomia) refers to  a household manager  who distributes supplies to family members. The apostles' role is to dispense God's mysteries (Christ and the church) to believers	In ancient wealthy households, stewards were responsible for distributing necessities to family members	1 Cor 4:1-2 "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." 1 Tim 1:4 "nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith."  Eph 1:10 "as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."
The Stewardship	The apostles' ministry is  a stewardship, i.e., a dispensing service	Stewards are responsible for dispensing the supply of divine life to God's children, enabling them to grow and build up the church	Paul dispensed the riches of Christ to the saints and the entire Body	Eph 3:2 "assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you" Col 1:25 "of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,"
Christ as God's Mystery	Christ is the embodiment and expression of the mysterious God	God is mysterious, but He is embodied in Christ, making it possible for people to know God	Christ expresses and explains God	Col 2:2 "that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ,"
The Church as Christ's Mystery	The church  is the Body of Christ, the manifestation of Christ	Christ dwelling  in believers is mysterious, but the church  as Christ's Body manifests Him	To contact the church  is to contact Christ	Eph 3:4-6 "When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
The Dispensing Ministry	The apostles' ministry  is to dispense the riches of Christ  to believers and the church	Stewards distribute God's rich supply to His children, enabling  them  to grow  in the divine life	Paul dispensed the unsearchable riches  of Christ  into believers	Eph 3:8-9 "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, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things," Col 1:27-29 "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

 

This table summarizes the main aspects of 'The Stewards of God's Mysteries,' including the definition and responsibilities of a steward, the content of God's mysteries (Christ and the church), as well as the purpose and practice of the stewardship.

 

*Please refer to Life-Study of 1 Corinthians, Message Thirty-Four, Stewards of the Mysteries of God (1)