Paul's Two Ministries Explained
When Jesus Christ appeared to Paul in a "heavenly vision," He revealed that Paul would be a minister of two things: what he had already seen and things that would be revealed to him later. 1. The Ministry of "My Gospel" (Apostle to All Men) What it was: This was the preaching of the cross and the gospel of the grace of God. To whom: It was sent to "every creature who is under heaven," specifically directed to both Jews and Gentiles. Purpose: To testify that through Jesus Christ, anyone who believes receives the forgiveness of sins and is justified in a way the Law of Moses could never achieve. During this stage, Paul's pattern was to go to the Jew first; if they rejected the message, he turned to the Gentiles. 2. The Ministry of "The Mystery" (Prisoner for the Body of Christ) What it was: This was the revelation of the mystery—a plan that God had hidden since the world began but revealed through Paul to "fulfill the word of God". ...