Part 1 – Bible Books from The Four Gospels to Paul’s Epistles

This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Paul’s Unique Place in The Biblical Canon of Scripture.

One of the terms used in describing the books that belong in Scripture is the word ‘canon.’ This comes from the Greek word kanon, meaning reed or measurement. A canonical book is one that measures up to the standard of Holy Scripture. Thus, the canon of Scripture refers to the books that are considered ‘the authoritative Word of God.’

It would be helpful to the Bible student to consider and note the specific order of the books as contained in the Biblical Canon. In their God-ordained order the books of the Bible serve to reveal the unfolding of the ages; uncovering the unique place of Paul’s mystery “gospel of the grace of God” in God’s eternal plan. Paul’s thirteen epistles from Romans to Philemon serve as an insertion of information not found anywhere else in the Bible.

The Holy Spirit Inspired Books (2Tim. 3:16) that are in the Bible are not at all listed according to the chronological order of their writing. They are set in the order of the unfolding of the dispensational ages from “time past,” the present “but now,” unto “the ages to come.”

The index of our Bible (i.e., the Authorized Kings James Version) reveals the uniqueness of Paul’s epistles, and the fact that the present “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) was given to Paul for the Gentile “body of Christ.” The epistles of Paul appear in our Bibles almost as if they were inserted as a parenthesis, interrupting God’s Prophetic plan with regard to Israel. Some refer to this as new, formerly secret information as ‘vertical truth’ that was handed down from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ in heaven… to Paul directly (cf. Gal. 1:12).

So, God’s eternal plan included this ‘interruption’ in His timeline plan for the fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy concerning Israel and the promised “Kingdom of Heaven” to come on earth.

After Paul’s thirteen (13) epistles to ‘the church, which is body of Christ,’ come the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews picks up from the Gospels, with God’s focus still being set upon Israel, just as though Paul’s Gentile “dispensation of the grace of God” had not occurred.

Only through Paul is the full meaning and purpose of the Cross of Christ revealed (i.e., Romans). But, the Book of Hebrews adds similar Cross-based information from Israel’s historical perspective for Israel’s believing Jewish remnant to better see, receive, and believe in “the ages to come” – that is during “the Day of the Lord” that we call the Tribulation period and Jesus’ subsequent Millennial kingdom on earth.

Let’s now consider the specific order of the books of the New Testament in more detail, noting to whom they are addressed and intended.

  • The so-called ‘Four Gospels are set in what Paul calls time past,” while yet under the Law in view of the Prophecies of the Old Covenant concerning Israel. The dispensation of “the Law” is then referred to as time past as it is a time before the present day ofthe now” of “the dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2).

In the so-called Gospels, Jesus of Nazareth says He has come to specifically address “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:4), not the Gentiles. Jesus spoke of the long-promised “Kingdom of heaven” being “at hand” and much more. He first gathered a small following of Messianic Jewish believers that He called the Father’s “little flock.” Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32) Yet, as He continued to share truth with them, Scripture says “they understood Him not(Luke 8:4) until after His death and resurrection when the Spirit would come to reveal “all truth.” (cf. John 16:13)

Among the “little flock” Jesus had “The Twelve” Apostles, meaning they would be His “sent ones.” He explicitly sent them ONLY to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” with the message of and the offer of the Kingdom, as seen in Peter’s preaching the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapters 2 and 3.

“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go NOT into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6 (KJV)

  • The Book of Acts, written by Luke, begins still in “time past as a continuation of Luke’s Gospel writing with Israel under “the Law.” A relatively small number responded to the Apostle’s preaching of “the Gospel of the Kingdom” while the religious hierarchy of Israel vehemently opposed their preaching until the killed Stephen a man who at his stoning it says he was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ recounting Israel’s history of ‘resisting the Holy Spirit.’ Then the religious leaders of Israel orchestrated his stoning, while Saul of Tarsus (later to be called ‘Paul’) stood by “consenting” while he held the coats of the executioners.   In accord with the Bible’s unfolding of the ages, it is soon after Stephen’s stoning that we note Paul’s calling and conversion (Acts 9). This is the beginning of the transition from the “time past” age of Israel under “the Lawto the “but now” dispensational age of “the dispensation of the grace of God (Eph 3:2).

After the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7 and the salvation of Saul of Tarsus in Acts 9, Paul’s grace-age ministry to both Jew and Gentile began to rise even as the ministry of “the twelve” Apostles of Israel began to “diminish(Rom. 11:12). Israel was later fully “fallen” with Paul’s declaration of Acts 28:28 at the end of the Book of Acts, saying “the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles and they will hear it.” From then on, Paul went only to the ‘Gentiles,’ a term that then included those ALL RACES without distinction, including Israelites who then are regarded to be nothing special, just as lost as any lost Gentile.

Saul Paulus was commissioned by the resurrected Christ from heaven in His celestial ministry to be “Paul… THE [singular] Apostle to the Gentiles.” With that Paul progressively received “revelations” (2Cor 12:7) concerning the details of the mystery [the formerly secret plan of God].” These truths included “the gospel of the GRACE of God(Acts 20:24) which is built upon the full meaning of the substitutionary work of Christ’s Cross for the “but now” age of “the dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2). Paul received direct “revelations” from the ascended Christ for the Gentile “body of Christof which he writes in his thirteen epistles.

“For I neither received [the grace gospel] it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of [from] Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12, cf. v11)

  • Paul’s Thirteen (13) Epistles to the members of "the church" that Paul calls the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23). These books are from Romans through Philemon as seen index of your KJV Bible, are gathered together, following the book of Acts.

These epistles explain the delay in Israel’s coming Kingdom (cf. Rom. 11:10-11, 15, 25) as accounted for in the transition from the Israel’s Prophetic Program of God to … the new Pure Grace ‘Mystery [God’s formerly secret) Program’ of Christ’s Cross-based “Grace of God” for the Gentiles as recorded in Mid-Acts and Paul’s thirteen epistles.

Again, the epistles of Paul reveal the mystery [the formerly secret plan of God].” God had kept this information “hid from ages and generation” until He revealed to Paul, then to be inserted’ into our Bible as the parenthetical grace-age for us today. Thus, this grace age interrupts God’s eternal plan for Israel. It only delays the fulfillment of His plan for Israel.

These Pauline epistles, for the members of “the body of Christ” present the entirety of the new truth concerning a new God and man relationship that is built upon the grace of the Cross-work of Jesus Christ. This dispensation is called the mystery [Grk. musterion, the former secret],” which “had been kept secret since the world began.” Thus, Paul wrote here of this formerly “hidden” plan of God;

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, According to The Revelation of The Mystery [the God planned secret],” which Was Kept Secret Since The World Began,” (Romans 16:25 (KJV)