The Pauline Bootcamp: Session VII
Robert E. Walsh, Trinity Grace Fellowship
1997
I. The specifics of the Body's Hope
A. Location of the Body's Hope
B. The Body is equally seated with Christ
C. The Body of Christ inherits the same glory as Christ now radiates from the throne
D. With Christ the Body of Christ rules the angelic realm and the entire created order
II. The Body's Hope in contrast to Israel's Hope
B. The seats (or thrones) of Israel
The Greek words for hope are the noun form "ELPIS" (54 times in the N.T., 69% in Paul) meaning "an expectation" and the verb form "ELPIZO" (31 times in N.T., 61% in Paul) meaning "anticipating" or "expecting". The character of this word family in the religious sense is one of "surety and absoluteness" of expectation. There is no sense of "possibility" nor "probability". Today we tend to use the English word "hope" within the context of "possibility" or "probability", rarely is it used as in the Biblical usage (as will be seen below). A good example of the modern usage might be the following statements:
"I am hoping that the Pirates win the World Series this year..."
"My hope is that the Steelers this year go to the Super Bowl so that I can use my season ticket to my advantage."
In both of these cases (given the teams' records and performances) it is at best "wishful thinking" that they will even come close (the Steelers may have a better chance this year than the Pirates) to fulfilling the poor fan's hope and desire. Thus, the usage of this word family is almost mere speculation - wishing on a "pipe-dream".
In contrast, the Pauline definition of the Hope of the Body of Christ is summarized below:
The Hope [of the Body of Christ] is the personal and eternal union and identification with Christ both in His holy state and His exaltation over all powers and authorities including [the] cherubim ... and the angelic hosts. In its administrative position over all God's eternal created order ... the Body of Christ is the direct, personal, full expression of Christ's administrative position over God's eternal, created order. Everything manifested in the humanity of Christ as He now sits in the Third Heaven (=throne) is manifested both individually and corporately by members of His Body.[1]
I. The specifics of the Body's Hope
A. Location of the Body's Hope
The eternal abode of the Body is in heaven (not earth). Specifically, the Body will spend eternity in the "super-heavenlies", EPIOURNIOS, literally, "the upon-heavens" or "the heavens upon (the heavens)". Indeed all of our blessings are founded in the "super-heavenlies". (Eph 1:3)
Paul was caught up into the Third Heaven, TRITOU OURANOU. (2Cor 12:1-3)
Super-heavenlies == Third Heaven
Our eternal position is in the heavens (Phil 3:20). [more on this below]
Back to topB. The Body is Equally Seated with Christ
The Body of Christ is jointly (equally) seated with Christ in the Third Heaven upon the Father's Throne.
Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father (=Father's Throne) and the Body is also equally seated on the SAME throne (Eph 1:20 cp. 2:6). The Owner of the Throne upon which Christ and His Body sit is the Father (Rev 3:21).
Our conversation (seat of authority) is in the heavenlies (Phil 3:20). The standard commentators have often confused this verse. The phrase "from whence we look" can not refer to "heavens" because "whence" (singular) does not agree in number with "heavens" (plural). Thus, "heavens" can not be the antecedent of "whence". Indeed, the nearest antecedent of "whence" is "conversation". Thus, we are looking for Christ to descend FROM our conversation. Conversation is a very poor translation of the Greek word, POLITEUMA. POLITEUMA is related to the Greek word family POLITEUO, meaning to regulate civil affairs. Thus, conversation is an extremely bad translation of this word. POLITEUMA must be taken to mean "seat of authority", i.e., the place upon which those sitting are "administrating civil affairs". This notion of administrating civil affairs falls precisely in line with the Body's relationship to the elect angels. Thus, Christ and His Body are seated upon the Father's throne administrating the affairs of heaven and by immediate extension earth (more on this below).
Back to topC. The Body of Christ inherits the same glory as Christ now radiates from the throne
The Body inherits all things that are Christ's (Rom 8:16a) because Christ and His Body make up one fundamental Body, where Christ is the Head and we are member of His Body in particular. Thus, the foot inherits the same "humanity" as the "hand" or the "head". A human being is not made with foot of a calf or the arm of a dog. Each body component is uniquely human. Thus, each member of the Body of Christ, uniquely shares in Christ's inheritance. The Body of Christ shares the very same glory as Christ radiates from the Father's Throne (Rom 8:16b). See also Rom 8:17-21.
Back to topD. With Christ, the Body of Christ rules the angelic realm and the entire created order
The Body administrates the affairs of Angels (1 Cor 6:2,3). Here the Greek word "judge" is KRINO, and can only mean in this context judge in the sense of "administrate" NOT judge in the sense of "condemn". For how can elect angels be "condemned"?
The Body has a teaching ministry to angels (Eph 3:10). The angels learn of the Body's hope through the Body's own learning of our Hope. This learning and knowledge gained by the elect angels will also help them administrate the affairs they will be responsible for in the future eternal kingdom.
The Body inherits and with Christ is in charge of the entire created order (Eph 1:10).
Back to topE. The future state of the Body of Christ
Before God (the Father) and through the finished work of Christ the Body is holy and without blame (Eph 1:4). The KJV translators missed the power of Paul's intent here. They missed the Figure of Hendiadys employed here. The phrase "holy and without blame" should have been translated "blamelessly holy", and remembering that the second noun always becomes an adjective of superlative degree, the best translation should have been "super-blamelessly holy".
The Body is sanctified and presented "blameless" at the Rapture (1 Thes 5:23). In this way, the Body of Christ is simultaneously resurrected and glorified.
Back to topF. There is no ethnic distinction within the Body of Christ
The members of the Body of Christ are not saved with any ethnic distinction in mind, nor will there be any ethnic role to be played out among the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:28). The same is said for sexual distinction. In both of the cases there remains NOW distinction (i.e., Germans, Chinese, Irish, Zulu, Jews, etc.) and (male and female), but the eternal position to which the Body of Christ has been called, there will be no ethnic nor sexual distinction (Eph 4:13). Today there distinction in roles (1 Cor 10:3,4,7-10), but in the future for the Body there is no ethnic nor sexual distinction.
Back to top
II. The Body's Hope in contrast to Israel's Hope
A. Location of Israel's Hope
Israel's hope is to inherit the land promised to Abraham (Gen 13:14,15,18; 15:17-21; Ez 48:1-29). The land promised to Abraham encompasses the land bordered by the Euphrates River on the east, the Mediterranean Sea, the Nile River (as latitudinally defined by Kadesh) on the south, and the city of Hamath on the North. This encompasses most of modern-day Iraq, Jordan, parts of Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon.
As can be seen the Body's hope is quite distinct from that of elect Israel. Israel has an earthly hope, while the Body has a heavenly hope.
Back to topB. The seats (or thrones) of Israel
The legislative branch of Israel's future government is precisely the 12 apostles as the Great Sanhedrin. They are to sit on twelve (12) thrones administrating the affairs of Israel (Mat 19:28; Luke 22:30). Indeed, Israel as a nation will be the priestly intercessors for the Gentile nations (Ex 19:6; 1 Pet 2:5,9; Rev 5:9,10). Moreover, these thrones are viewed as being owned by Christ Himself (Rev 3:21).
The Body sits on a singular throne (the Father's Throne) which is in the third heaven not upon the earth. Indeed, an examination and comparison of the relevant scriptures clearly show that the "owner" of the throne does NOT sit on that throne. The Owner of His throne "commissions" others to sit upon His throne.
Characteristics of the Biblical thrones
THRONE OWNER SITTING ONES Heavenly The Father Christ in His Humanity and His Body Earthly The Son 12 apostles and the Nation of Israel
Back to topC. The relationship of Israel to the angels
Israel is under the authority of the Angels in every respect. The law was dispensed to Israel through the Angels (Acts 7:53; Gal 3:19). The angels teach and reveal knowledge to Israel Dan 7:16; 8:17; 9:21. Thus, for Israel the angels are their intercessors (cp. with 1 Cor 8:5,6). For the Body there is NO angelic mediation! Christ alone is the mediator for the Body (1 Tim 2:5).
Back to topD. Ethnicity within Israel's Program
Israel's hope contains and indeed maintains ethnic distinction. In fact, this is implied if Israel is to be the priestly "nation" for the "nations" (Isa 2:1-3; 14:1-3; 60:1-16). Israel possesses the Gentiles in righteousness (Amos 9:9-12). Egypt and Assyria are Israel's immediate associate nations helping Israel administrate the Gentile nations (Isa 19:23-25). God governs the elect Gentile nations through the nation of Israel (Zech 8:3,13,22,23; Joel 3:1).
There is NO ethnic distinction within the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13).
Back to top
III. Immutability of the Body's Hope
The hope into which a saint has been called is eternal for God does not change His mind (Rom 11:29). The context of this passage is in the issue of the setting aside of Israel. This setting aside is as Paul clearly teaches is temporary and was part of the plan from the beginning.
God has not elected persons to a mere generic salvation (whatever that
would mean), but has called his elects to specific hopes. These hopes are
eternally sure because God has chosen them. The Body is eternally elected
to be the righteous extension of Christ's Non-incarnate Humanity (Eph 1:18;
4:4).
Back to top
IV. Upon mastering the Body's Hope
The importance of the doctrine of the hope is clearly stated in scripture (Eph 4:4). The hope is one of the fundamental elements contained in the "doctrinal statement" of the Body of Christ. Each member of the Body of Christ is to learn, master, and obey the seven unities of Ephesians 4. Indeed faithfulness to the hope dictates eternal reward Col 1:23; 2:8,18.
Body saints are compelled to master the hope and come into a "detailed knowledge" of their hope (see Paul's prayer: Eph 1:17, also Eph 4:13; Col 1:9,10; Col 2:2; 3:10; 2 Tim 2:25). In these passages Paul's Gospel the Body's hope is explicitly linked with EPIGNOSIS meaning detailed knowledge.
Reprobates are characterized by NEVER able to come to a "detailed
knowledge" of the hope (2 Tim 3:7), but the true saints progress in
their detailed understanding of their hope (1 Cor 13:12; Eph 1:17).
Back to top
Bible Studies Index | Pauline Bootcamp Index | TGF Home Page