Paul's revelation about the Body of Christ is significant because it unveils a mystery hidden from previous ages and introduces God's new work among the Gentiles.
Les Feldick teaches that the Body of Christ is a term and truth that appears nowhere in the Gospels, Acts, or the Old Testament; it is strictly a Pauline revelation. The ascended Lord revealed to Paul a mystery hidden from ages and generations—a new work among the Gentiles after Israel was set aside. Paul's own salvation also became the pattern for every sinner who would later believe on Christ to life everlasting.
Colossians 1:24-26 — Paul directly identifies Christ's body as the church and calls the revelation a mystery hid from ages but now made manifest.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 — Paul explains that he received mercy so that in him first Jesus Christ might show forth longsuffering as a pattern for all who would believe.
In Colossians 1, Paul speaks of his suffering 'for his body's sake, which is the church' (Colossians 1:24). He goes on to describe his ministry: 'Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints' (Colossians 1:25-26). Paul also identifies himself in Ephesians 3:1 as 'the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,' and in Ephesians 2:8 he writes, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.' In 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Paul says Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, 'of whom I am chief,' and that he obtained mercy 'that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.'
Les Feldick emphasizes that the Body of Christ is a unique Pauline revelation. In Clip 2 he says that 'you can find nothing concerning the Body of Christ in the Gospels'—it appears only after Paul comes on the scene with a revelation from the ascended, glorified Lord. He repeats in Clip 5 that 'the Body of Christ' is a Pauline terminology that is not seen until the revelations given to the Apostle Paul. Les explains in Clip 1 that these Pauline truths were 'held in the mind of God'—Israel never had a concept of them, and the Twelve had no concept of them. Paul received the mystery that had been hid from ages and generations, and God now made it manifest (Colossians 1:25-26). In Clip 2 he adds that since Israel rejected the King and the Kingdom, God set Israel aside and turned completely to the Gentiles, so the Body of Christ is predominantly Gentile and not associated with prophecy. Les also connects the revelation to Paul's own conversion. In Clip 0 he teaches that 1 Timothy 1:15 does not make Paul the worst sinner, but rather the head of a line of sinners saved by grace—the first pattern for all who would later believe on Christ to life everlasting. In Clip 6 he says Paul was uniquely called to be THE Apostle of the Gentiles, not one of many. As Clip 7 notes, Paul writes as one who has had these revelations, saying 'by revelation' in Ephesians 3:1.
Les Feldick teaches that the Body of Christ is not found in the four Gospels. In Clip 2 he says, 'You can find nothing concerning the Body of Christ in the Gospels.' In Clip 5 he adds that the term is a Pauline terminology and that you do not see it until the revelations given to Paul. Scripture itself shows Paul speaking of Christ's body, which is the church (Colossians 1:24).
Les says that all these Pauline truths were held in the mind of God; Israel never had a concept of them, and the Twelve had no concept of them (Clip 1). After Israel rejected the King and the Kingdom, God set Israel aside and turned completely to the Gentiles (Clip 2). Paul was uniquely called of God to be THE Apostle of the Gentiles (Clip 6), and he writes as one who has had these revelations, using the phrase 'by revelation' in Ephesians 3 (Clip 7).
In Clip 0, Les explains that 'the chief of sinners' in 1 Timothy 1:15 does not imply Paul was the worst sinner, but that he is the head of a line of sinners saved by grace. The verse goes on to say that he obtained mercy so that in him first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering for a pattern to those who would later believe on him to life everlasting (1 Timothy 1:16).
Les points to Colossians 1:25-26 where Paul says he was made a minister to fulfil the word of God—'even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.' In Clip 1, Les stresses that this was a secret held in the mind of God; Israel never had a concept of it, and the Twelve had no concept of it.
Paul, the Head of the Line
Les explains that 1 Timothy 1:15 refers to Paul as the chief of sinners not because he was the worst offender, but because he was the head of a line—the first pattern of sinners saved by grace.
The Mystery Made Manifest
Les teaches that Paul was made a minister to fulfil the word of God by revealing the mystery which had been hid from ages and generations, and he stresses that these truths had never been known to Israel or the Twelve.
No Body of Christ in the Gospels
Les asserts there is nothing in the Gospels about the Body of Christ; it only appears when Paul receives revelation from the ascended Lord after Israel rejects her Messiah.
Paul's Revelations from the Ascended Lord
Les points out that Paul constantly refers to the revelations he received from the ascended Lord—new truths that had never been revealed anywhere else in Scripture.
The Gospel Revealed to Paul
Les explains that the concepts of Christ's finished work on the cross—His death, burial, and resurrection for our justification—are not found in Scripture until Paul's revelations.
Pauline Terminology for the Church
Les says the term 'the Body of Christ' is a Pauline terminology that does not appear until the revelations given to Paul, even though God continued dealing with Israel in early Acts.
Paul, THE Apostle of the Gentiles
Les teaches that Paul was uniquely called to be THE Apostle of the Gentiles, not one of many, and that believers must go to Paul for basic doctrines.
Paul Writes by Revelation
Les notes that Paul writes as one who has had these revelations, using the term 'by revelation' in Ephesians 3, and identifies himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles.
Colossians 1:24: Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
Paul identifies Christ's body as the church, the group of believers that is the focus of his ministry.
Colossians 1:25: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Paul says he was made a minister to fulfil the word of God by declaring the newly revealed mystery.
Colossians 1:26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
This verse states that the mystery of the Body of Christ had been hidden but is now made manifest.
Ephesians 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
This verse explains the salvation that members of the Body of Christ receive.
Ephesians 3:1: For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Paul identifies himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ specifically for the Gentiles.
1 Timothy 1:15: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Paul calls himself the chief of sinners, a phrase Les explains means he is the head of a line of saved sinners.
1 Timothy 1:16: Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Paul says he received mercy so that his salvation could serve as a pattern for all who would believe.
Romans 1:1: Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Paul introduces his apostolic calling and separation to the gospel of God.
Romans 1:3: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Paul states that the gospel concerns God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
No, according to Les Feldick. He says you can find nothing concerning the Body of Christ in the Gospels. It is not until the Apostle Paul comes on the scene and receives his revelation from the ascended, glorified Lord that the term appears.
Les teaches that after Israel rejected her Messiah, her King, and her Kingdom, God set Israel aside and turned completely to the Gentiles. Paul was uniquely called to be THE Apostle of the Gentiles, and to him God revealed the mysteries, including the Body of Christ.
Les says Paul is not calling himself the worst sinner who ever lived. Instead, he is the head of a line—the first in a pattern of sinners saved by grace. God showed mercy to him first so that others who later believe in Jesus Christ could follow that pattern and receive everlasting life.
No, Les says the Body of Christ is not associated with prophecy. It was a mystery hidden from ages and generations, and it was made manifest through Paul's revelation (Colossians 1:26).
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul Called Himself the "Chief of Sinners" — 1 Timothy 1:15 Explained