Colossians 1:25–26

Notice these two ministries: the preaching of the gospel in all the creation which is under heaven, and Paul's service as minister of the church. These two ministries are distinct, but we see them combined in the person of Paul. God usually gives lesser ministries than apostleship for one or the other of these two branches of service. Yet He sometimes uses one and the same servant to meet the very varied need of souls.

There were two things: the light and the voice. The light gives character to Paul's gospel — the radiance of the glad tidings of the Christ (2 Cor. 4:4). The voice speaks to the nature of the church: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" That is, the believers on earth were a part of Himself, members of His body (Eph. 5:30). Both ministries are distinct, yet they are still connected. Separating them harms both. The gospel leads to the church.

In verse 25, Paul says of himself that he was "made minister." The word means "waiter." Paul as a waiter served this truth to give light to the saints. In the same verse, the word "dispensation" means "house-law." God gave him that house-law so that he might complete the divine revelation. The word "complete" does not mean adding to something else. It means filling up a system already sketched out. The idea of fresh light is ruled out.

In verse 25 the context suggests "complete" rather than "fulfil." There was a blank left in the revelations of God, and the apostle, as minister not only of the gospel but of the assembly, was given to complete the word of God, who would now show to His saints the mystery hidden from the ages and from the generations. Such was the dispensation or stewardship of God given him towards the Gentiles.

To fulfil the Word of God does not mean, as is often said, that Paul fulfilled his ministry and was faithful in it. It means instead that God gave him the revelation which makes full, or completes, the Word of God. The two letters written from prison, to the Ephesians and Colossians, contain this completion of the Word of God.

A "dispensation," or "administration" was given to him by God so that through it he might "fulfil," or "complete," His Word. This does not mean that Paul was to write the last words of Scripture, for, as we know, John did that. It means that God entrusted him with revealing the mystery mentioned in the following verses. Once that was made known, the last item of revelation was filled in. The circle of revealed truth was complete.

"The dispensation of God" given to Paul completed the word of God. Creation, Providence, Law, Government, the Kingdom, Incarnation, Atonement — the word of God had unfolded every subject but one.

The last stone was laid in the building of revelation when the apostle Paul had revealed to him, and laid in his teaching, the stone of the mystery. Christ's body, which is the church, and the mystery here called "Christ in you, the hope of glory," is the furthest point. There is absolutely nothing beyond it.

It may be asked, How do we know that the Book is complete? If the Spirit of God is in the Church, why may He not give further revelations? One scripture answers that question... The body of revelation was completed with the writings of Paul. No further unfolding of truth remains. Peter and John, rounding out their ministry, no doubt did write later than Paul. But they were only finishing a ministry already begun, and adding no fresh line of truth.

Paul knew the great importance of the mystery as the characteristic truth for this dispensation. Every dispensation of God has truth which gives character to it, and this is the truth which characterises the present one. Only as we are taught in it are we likely to be "perfect," or "complete," in Christ.