part0045

The Epistles of Paul are not haphazardly thrown into the Bible, rather they are the very Words of the Lord. In 1905, E. W. Bullinger (1837–1913), a scholar of the first rank and a descendant of the great Swiss reformer Heinrich Bullinger (1504–1575), penned a book on the Church Epistles that is still one of the greatest books ever written about them. We quote freely from his book: (The Church Epistles , E. W. Bullinger, Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1905)[he uses the King James Version].

It is a serious blow to Inspiration when the importance of one part of Scripture is exalted above another. To do this is to reduce the Bible to the position of any other book, and practically to deny that the whole is made up of “the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth.” This is done in the present day when… The Teaching of Jesus is exalted above the Teachings of the Holy Spirit by Paul, as though there were a rivalry between the two. The words of Christ and the words of Paul are equal in weight and importance, inasmuch as both are recorded and given to us by the same Holy Spirit; and are therefore equal in authority. That authority is Divine: and no difference can be made between them without jeopardizing the very essence of Inspiration. That there is a difference is clear. But this difference arises from failing to rightly divide the word of Truth as to the various Dispensations of which it treats (page 9).

The seven churches to which the Holy Spirit addressed His epistles by Paul are Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians. In these epistles we have the perfect embodiment of the Spirit’s teaching for the churches. These contain the “all truth,” into which the Spirit of Truth was to “guide” us…These contain the “things of Christ” which the Spirit was to receive and show unto us (page 12).

In all the hundreds of Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, the order of these seven epistles addressed to churches is exactly the same (page 13).

That order therefore must present to us the line of study marked out for the churches by the Holy Spirit: a complete course which shall begin and finish the education of the Christian: a curriculum which contains everything necessary for the Christian’s standing and his walk: the “all truth” into which the Spirit guides him (page 14).

A) ROMANS. “Doctrine and Instruction.” The Gospel of God: never hidden, but “promised afore.” God’s justification of Jew and Gentile individually—dead and risen with Christ (i.–viii. [1–8]). Their relation dispensationally (ix.–xi. [9–11]). The subjective foundation of the mystery [Sacred Secret]. [1]

B) CORINTHIANS. “Reproof.” Practical failure to exhibit the teaching of Romans through not seeing their standing as having died and risen with Christ. “Leaven” in practice (1 Cor. 5:6).

C) GALATIANS. “Correction.” Doctrinal failure as to the teaching of Romans Beginning with the truth of the new nature (“spirit”), they were “soon removed” (i. 6 [1:6]), and sought to be made perfect in the old nature (“flesh”) (iii. 3 [3:3]). “Leaven” in doctrine (v. 9 [5:9]).

A) EPHESIANS. “Doctrine and Instruction.” The Mystery [Sacred Secret] [2] of God, always hidden, never before revealed. Jews and Gentiles collectively made “one new man” in Christ. Seated in the heavenlies with Christ.

C) COLOSSIANS. “Correction.” Doctrinal failure as to the teaching of Ephesians. Wrong doctrines which come from “not holding the Head” (ii. 19 [2:19]), and not seeing their completeness and perfection in Christ (ii. 8–10 [2:8–10]).

A) THESSALONIANS. “Doctrine and Instruction.” Not only “dead and risen with Christ” (as in Romans), not only seated in the heavenlies with Christ (as in Ephesians); but “caught up to meet the Lord in the air, so to be for ever with the Lord.” In Romans, justified in Christ; in Ephesians., sanctified in Christ; in Thessalonians., glorified with Christ. No “reproof.” No “correction.” All praise and thanksgiving (page 21).