Section 7
the positive side, to all the revelations of God's mysteries concerning Christ and the church as unveiled in Paul's Epistles. In the writings of Paul, the two great mysteries—Christ as the mystery of God and the church as the mystery of Christ— are unveiled. No other apostle unveiled these mysteries as adequately as Paul did. To be sure, his teaching and preaching were a confirmation of the gospel and of God's economy.
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT
OF THE GOSPEL
In Philippians 1:12 Paul says, "Now I want you to know, brothers, that the things concerning me have turned out rather to the advancement of the gospel." The Greek word rendered advancement refers to the advancement made by pioneers who cut the way before an army to further its march. Paul's sufferings made such an advancement for the gospel. Paul was a pioneer cutting the way so that the church as the army of God could march on. He knew that his sufferings were preparing the way, even the highway, for the advancement of the gospel. Apart from such sufferings, there would not have been this advancement. Even we today are marching on the way cut by Paul in his sufferings for the gospel.