THE FULLNESS OF THE JEWS AND THE GENTILES.
By John Matteson
“Now if the fall of them [the Jews] be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?” Rom. xi, 12. “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness, in part, is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” Rom. xi, 25. 1. Fullness; original, πλήρωμα (pleeroma): fullness, plenitude, abundance, the divine blessings in the fullest abundance. Greenfield. It is used in connection with time in Eph. i, 10, referring to the immortal state; and in Gal. iv, 4, meaning the completion of the period of time appointed till the first advent of Christ. But the text above does not read: the fullness of the time of the Gentiles. There is no time there. All that certain theories have claimed for this text, in that respect, is gratuitous. 2. What is the Bible meaning of this term? “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell.” Col. i, 19. Fullness here evidently means, the divine blessings in the fullest abundance. “Unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. iv, 13. A complete abundance of divine blessings and attainments. “That ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. iii, 19. All the divine blessings of God. “I shall come in the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ.” Rom. xv, 29. Paul would come to the Romans with an abundance of gospel blessings. 3. “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” John i, 16. What is this fullness? “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, . . . full of grace, and truth.” Verse 14. What then was the fullness of the Jews? Evidently, the blessings which God bestowed upon the believing descendants of Abraham by the gift of his dear Son, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, when three thousand were added to the church, and the abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit afterwards, when “many signs and wonders were wrought among the people, . . . and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” Acts v, 12–14. This fullness, or abundance, of gospel blessings, was evidently bestowed in the last of the seventy weeks “determined upon thy people.” Dan. ix, 24. Christ confirmed “the covenant with many for one week.” These were the last seven years full of heavenly opportunities and gospel blessings granted to the Jews. During this time the gospel light shone clearly, and, beginning at the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit brought such an abundance of power to establish and confirm the truth, that the gospel seed, well watered and warmed by heavenly sunshine, took root deep and wide, making the heavenly plant so thrifty that the long, cold winter of Papal darkness has not been able to kill it. This was the early rain. 4. Do you still doubt that this fullness was in the days of the apostles? “And of his fullness HAVE ALL WE RECEIVED.” John i, 16. This settles the fact that the fullness of the Jews was in the days of the apostles. Was it not fullness of divine favor when the apostles “were all filled with the Holy Ghost?” Acts ii, 4. Indeed it was. And did it not result in the salvation of thousands of that favored people? It did. 5. But what does it mean when the apostle says we have received “grace for grace” of his fullness? The original signifies, grace corresponding to grace. Jesus disseminated light and truth. This was grace or favor of God. And when the Holy Spirit was poured out, they received more grace—power from on high—corresponding to the grace already received. 6. Are the gifts conferred by the Holy Spirit called grace in the Scriptures? They are. “I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, . . . to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.” Rom. xv, 15–19. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy . . . or ministry . . . teaching . . . exhortation,” &c. Chap. xii, 6–8. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given, by the Spirit, the word of wisdom . . . to another prophecy,” &c. 1 Cor. xii, 7–10. Indeed, the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of grace.” Heb. x, 29. 7. “Now if the fall of them [the unbelieving Jews in rejecting Christ] be the riches of the world [by them Christ was crucified, which death has brought heavenly riches to the world], and the diminishing of them [they were rejected as a nation, lost their greatness, and were no longer preferred as a people to other nations; ‘the middle wall of partition’ being broken down, other nations shared even with them in the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.” Rom. ix, 4,] the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?” Rom. xi, 12. If the Gentiles were enriched by the casting away of the Jews as a nation peculiarly favored, how much more were the Gentiles enriched and abundantly blessed by the gospel truth, and wonderful abundance of spiritual gifts bestowed upon the remnant, of which Paul was one. Verses 1, 5. The apostles, and multitudes of believing Jews, having received such clear light from Heaven, and such extraordinary power from the Holy Spirit, “their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Rom. x, 18. Churches sprung up in abundance throughout Asia, Africa, and Europe; not at the slow and tardy rate in which we are now dragging along in our work, but they soon reached unto the ends of the then known world, churches being established, and flourishing as they went. And of many of these dear children of God, if not of all, they could say, “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ;” “how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; and to wait for his Son from Heaven.” Whom Paul knew that they would be his glory and joy “in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming.” 1 Thess. i, 3, 9, 10; ii, 19, 20. Would to God that such a state of things might return. Even now, we, as Gentile nations, can look back and trace the starting point of our present gospel blessings from yonder fullness of the Jews. Verse 15: “For if the casting away of them (be) the reconciling of the world, what (shall) the receiving (of them be) but life from the dead?” The words in parenthesis are inserted by the translators. Why not use the present tense in the last as well as the first clause? This would be according to rules of language and in harmony with the Scriptures. “For if the casting away (ἡ ἀποβολή: the rejection) (be) the reconciling of the world, what (is) the receiving (ἡ προσληψις: the acceptance) but life from the dead? “If the rejection of the Jews as a nation, by the crucifixion of Christ, brought in reconciliation to the world, how much more did their acceptance, or fullness, bring life and gospel blessings to the Gentiles who were “as good as dead.” 8. Now we are prepared to understand what Paul means by the fullness of the Gentiles. If the fullness of the Jews was an abundance of gospel blessings bestowed upon them during the last seven years of the four hundred and ninety years allotted to them, then138the fullness of the Gentiles must evidently be the abundance of gospel blessings bestowed upon us during the finishing of the mystery of the gospel. As light and truth were first brought in then, before the believers were ready to receive the power of the Spirit, so truth has been revived in the sounding of the everlasting gospel; the final or finishing work of the gospel being presented by the three angels’ messages. As the disciples were then proved and tested before they could be intrusted with power from on high, so character must be developed by keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, before God can commit to our care a fullness of spiritual gifts. The third angel’s message precedes the coming of the Son of Man. So, likewise, does the fullness of the Gentiles precede the second coming of Christ. “There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob;” verse 26; which brings salvation to “all Israel.” Then the fullness of the Gentiles is to prepare all Israel for final salvation at the appearing of Jesus Christ. So, likewise, does the third message. And as the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost introduced the early rain, in the fullness of the Jews, causing the seed of truth to grow; so, likewise, there must be a latter rain, in the fullness of the Gentiles. This will give power to the precious seed which is now sown in tears, and ripen off the harvest, that the sower may “come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Ps. cxxvi, 6. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James v, 7, 8. When this latter rain shall come, and the fullness of the Gentiles be seen in mighty power; when the angel of Rev. xviii, 1, 2, shall come from Heaven with great power, to join in with the third angel, then he shall cry “mightily with a strong voice,” and the earth shall be “lightened with his glory;” no doubt many of the Jews will then open their eyes and partake of the fullness of the Gentiles, as the Gentiles partook of their fullness in time past. Then God “will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness; because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Rom. ix, 28. Then the waiting saints will be gathered home. Who is prepared for this work? The signs of the end are hung out in the heavens. May the command of our Saviour constantly ring in our ears: “Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke xxi, 28. Now it is time to live so humbly, so devotedly, that we can “covet earnestly the best gifts.” 1 Cor. xii, 31. Before we obtain these, we must walk in the “more excellent way” of love. God help us. Amen. JOHN MATTESON.