special stewardship (dispensation). He terms this revelation “the mystery of Christ.” (It would be well for you to review the introductory notes to Acts, as well as the notes for Romans 9–11.) In the OT, God revealed through prophecy His program for the people of Israel: that He would establish them in their kingdom when they received their Messiah, and then through Israel He would convert the Gentiles. God offered them the kingdom through the ministry of John the Baptist (Matt. 3:2), whom the Jews
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