Epistles written while Israel remained God’s recognised nation:

• 1 & 2 Thessalonians

• 1 & 2 Corinthians

• Galatians

• Romans

• Hebrews

“To the Jew first…” — Romans 1:16

The Turning Point)

The kingdom offer withdrawn.

At Acts 28:28, Israel is set aside nationally:

“Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.”
— Acts 28:28 (KJV)

Scripture records no further national offer to Israel. A new administration begins in Ephesians.

The Church which is His Body made known.
Jew and Gentile equal in one new man.

“Which in other ages was not made known…” — Ephesians 3:5 (KJV)

Epistles governing doctrine today:

• Ephesians

• Philippians

• Colossians

• Philemon

• 1 Timothy

• 2 Timothy

• Titus (Although often grouped with Paul’s earlier epistles, Titus was written after Acts 28 and belongs to Paul’s Prison Ministry, governing doctrine for the Church, which is His Body.)

“The prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles”
— Ephesians 3:1 (KJV)

These epistles reveal:

• The Church which is His Body

• Christ as Head

• Jew and Gentile made equal

• Truth hid in God before the world began

Failing to recognise this Scriptural division leads to confusion, contradiction, and mixed instructions.
Recognising it allows the believer to walk circumspectly, applying Scripture according to who it was written to and when.

“Rightly dividing the word of truth.”
— 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

This timeline is provided as a visual guide to help the reader see at a glance:
1. What age are they reading?  e.g., Law or Grace, etc
2. Who God is speaking to? (e.g. If Jesus is talking during a time before the cross, then He is addressing an age who are still under the law, a time when Israel is still first.  After the separation of Israel, Paul the  PRISONER was given a 2nd ministry and was appointed as appostle to us Gentiles (non-Jew), so we must pay close attention to Paul's PRISON ministry, which begins in Ephesians.  Paul's first ministry before this was directed to the Jew first, and secondly to any Gentiles who wanted to be saved under the Jewish Kingdom Ministry. That ministry was paused at Acts 28;28.
3. Who is the appointed minister of the passage you are reading? (The Pharisees refused to listen to Jesus; they wanted to continue following God and Moses without Jesus. Now fast forward 2000 years after Jesus appointed Paul as our Minister, and the majority are trying to follow Jesus's earthly ministry and NOT Paul's prison ministry.
4. How (or if) the passage applies today. 

5. Under which calling?
By recognising these divisions, the believer can walk circumspectly, avoiding confusion and mixing instructions given to different peoples in different ages, allowing Scripture to be read in its proper context without commentary or private interpretation.

Timeframe: Genesis – Malachi
Audience: Israel
Appointed Ministers: Moses, the Prophets
Key Scriptures: Exodus 19, Deuteronomy 28
Status Today: Not our doctrine

Timeframe: Matthew – John
Audience: Israel only Matt 15:24
Appointed Minister: Jesus Christ (as Minister of the Circumcision – Rom 15:8)  
Key Scriptures: 
Status Today: Not our pattern

Application today: Gentiles during this age are behind the Jews as the branch grafted in unnaturally to provoke IsraelRom11:24,  Rom 11:11 Reveals the character of Christ and God’s faithfulness to Israel, but instructions given here are not directly addressed to the Church which is His Body Matt 15:24    

 

• Time period: Acts 1 – Acts 28
  Audience: Israel first, Gentiles blessed through Israel
  Appointed ministers: Peter (Kingdom ministry), Paul (first ministry starting from Acts chapter 9)
  Covenant context: Kingdom offer to Israel
  Purpose: To proclaim the Kingdom and the hope of Israel
  Key note: Paul’s first ministry is still focused on Israel; Acts 28:20 — “for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain”
  Application today: Transitional period; instructions are not directly for the Church which is His Body

 

 

Time period: Acts 28:28 onward, 
Audience: Israel set aside nationally; the Kingdom on hold
Appointed minister: Paul, now receiving a new revelation for a different ministry (the Mystery / Church Age)
Covenant context: Transition from Israel-focused Kingdom to the dispensation of the Mystery
Purpose: God’s plan unfolds for the Church which is His Body
Application today: Instructions and doctrine from this point forward in Paul’s writings are for the Church; Israel awaits national restoration in the future

Time period: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Titus,  Philemon, 1 & 2 Timothy
Audience: Jew and Gentile united as one.
Appointed minister: Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles (Eph 3:1)
Covenant context: The dispensation of the Mystery revealed
Purpose: To instruct the Church on doctrine, unity, and the Body of Christ
Application today: Directly applicable to all believers in the Church age; it forms the foundation for current Christian doctrine