Paul's Meaning Of The Oncoming Ages?
By Jonathan Mitchell
Paul used this phrase in Eph. 2, but he did not explain what he meant by the phrase. So, let's begin by examining the verse:
7. to the end that within the continuously oncoming ages (the indefinite time periods progressively coming upon and overtaking [us] in continuous succession) He may, in Himself, exhibit (display; point out; give proof of) the continuously transcending (being cast beyond; overshooting) riches and wealth of His Grace and Favor, in useful goodness (beneficial kindness) [flooding] upon us, within the midst of Christ Jesus (or: in union with, and centered in the sphere of, [the] Anointed Jesus).
Our question, in this investigation, involves Paul's meaning of "the continuously oncoming ages."
Fredrick J. Murphy (Apocalypticism in the Bible and the World p 361) rightly reads the author's use of the word ages as, holding "apocalyptic meaning." Paul here gives a rare view into what lies before us. We, His body, will "display and point out" - to someone or to other folks! - the continuously transcending riches and wealth of His Grace and Favor. This calls to mind Paul's apocalyptic statement in Rom. 8:
19. For the looking away and watching with the head stretched forward alertly (or: the peak expectation, premonition or intuitive opinion; or: = the concentrated and undivided focus) of the creation is constantly receiving and taking away from out of the unveiling of God's sons (or: = the uncovering and revealing of folks who have the character and qualities of God; or: the disclosure pertaining to the sons of God; or: the unveiling and revelation which belongs to God's sons; or, as an ablative: the disclosure from God's sons).
What we may have assumed to pertain only to this life would seem to speak to "the indefinite time periods [that are] continually and progressively coming upon and overtaking [us]." Although the temporal sense seems to be the central idea of the ages, since the concept of an "age" derives from the perception of the lifetime of a human being, this phrase, oncoming ages, has been by some considered to speak of people, or of human lifetimes (e.g., here, Rudolf Schnackenburg, in The Epistle to the Ephesians, A Commentary, once again points to such a use in the Apocalypse of Adam, and also, The Perceptions of our Greater Power, but he concludes its sense, here, to be temporal). The reference to "the secret pertaining to that having been hidden away from the ages" (Eph. 3:9) could also be potentially interpreted in this manner. The ages are a part of creation (time and space) and in the Scriptures these always involve humanity - as we see in this verse.
The picture of His "beneficial kindness" [flooding] upon us, within Christ Jesus calls to mind Rom. 5:5b,
"God's love (the urge toward reunion and the unambiguous, uniting acceptance from God) has been poured out in a gush and shed forth so that it now floods within our hearts, permeating the core of our being, through the Set-apart Breath-effect (or: Holy Spirit; Sacred Attitude) being given to us (in us; for us)."
We should note in the last phrase of Eph. 2:7, above, the location of "us" (which is, "within Christ Jesus") and our relationship to Christ ("in union with the Anointed Jesus") that is signified by the pervasive 'en' phrase of the passage, and which concludes that verse. [taken from: Comments on Ephesian in, Peter's Encore & Later Paul]
Some Christian traditions have assumed that there will be an end of this world, and then, following that, there will only be eternity (see our post: Eternity). But Paul's statement, above, seems to contradict that doctrine, yet he does not give us any information about these "continuously oncoming ages." We suggest that he may have been speaking about these ages, further on in this letter. Consider what he discloses in Eph. 3:
8. To me, the one far inferior to (or: less than the least among) all of those set apart (or: the saints; the holy people), was given this Grace and joyous Favor: to myself address the nations (non-Jews; Gentiles; ethnic multitudes) with the good news of (or: whose source is) the un-trackable (untraceable; or: not-searched-out and unexplored) riches of the Christ [cf Col. 1:27](or: to, for myself, declare and bring to the ethnic groups the message of goodness, ease and well-being of the un-explorable wealth which is, and is from, the Anointed One),
9. and to illuminate all people (give light to everyone) [as to] what [is] the execution of the detailed plan and household administration of the Secret (or: mystery) pertaining to that having been hidden (concealed) away, apart from the ages (or: disassociated from the [past] periods of time), within the midst of (or: in the sphere of; in union with) God - in the (or: this) One forming and founding (framing, building and settling from a state of wildness; creating) all things (the Whole; everything) [other MSS add: through means of Jesus Christ] -
10. to the end that now (at this present time), in union with, and within the sphere of, the ruling heavenly people, God's greatly diversified Wisdom (the exceedingly variously-colored wisdom which is God; or: the many-phased wisdom from God) could, and would, be made known - through means of the called-out community - to, for, and among, the governments (or: rulers; sovereignties; chief ones) as well as to the authorities and folks with privilege among those situated upon elevated positions [cf 1 Cor. 2:7; Col. 2:10; 1 Pet. 3:22] (or: made known by the agency of the summoned and gathered congregation: by the original members and the folks who have the right, that is, among the imposed-heaven folks; or: made known by means of the ecclesia with the founders and people having the privilege - in union with these celestial people, within the midst of the things situated upon the atmospheres and among the folks [residing] in the added atmospheres),
11. in accord with (or: down from; corresponding to; commensurate with; following the pattern of) a purpose of the ages (a fore-designed aim, plan and object [which He is bent on achieving] of the unspecified time-periods) which He formed (or: forms; made; constructs; creates; produced) within the Christ by, and in, our Lord and Owner, Jesus (or: in union with Jesus the Anointed One [= Messiah], within the midst of, and for, our Lord and Master),
12. within, and in union with, Whom we continuously have (progressively possess and hold) the freedom of speech (or: boldness, which comes with citizenship, to publicly speak the truth of a matter - without fear of reprisal) and conducted access (escorted admission; entree), in union with, and centered in the sphere of, persuaded confidence (confident reliance and assurance), through means of His Faithfulness and Loyalty (or: the trust, which is Him; this confidence and allegiance from Him)!
It is 3:11, above, which seems to tie in with 2:7. Both verses speak of ages (plural). Second Temple Judaism held the view that there were two ages: their present age, and the coming age of the Messiah. In 3:11, above, Paul could have been speaking of these two ages, focusing on the present age which was initiated by the advent of Christ. But, why did he speak of the "oncoming," thus future, ages?
This is "made known" (vs. 10, above) "in accord with (kata)" a purpose, and this purpose, or, "fore-designed aim, plan and object" spans the ages of unspecified time-periods. With God we have expectations lying ahead for humanity. It is the greatly diversified wisdom (Christ) which is the purpose of all the ages, and which is now made known to humanity. Now consider this apocalyptic and creation-wide picture that he describes as that which He formed within the Christ. This would be speaking of the cosmic and corporate Christ which Paul calls the "eschatos Adam" and the Second Humanity (1 Cor. 15:45-50) of the new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) "which He creates/made/produced within the Christ," where it also informs us that
"we can and should [B reads: will] also bear and wear the image of the supra-heavenly One (or: belonging to the One having the quality and character of the finished and perfected atmosphere; or: from the fully-heaven [sphere]; of the added-sky person)" - 1 Cor. 15:49b.
This was accomplished "by our Lord and Owner, Jesus." Or, the combined phrases can be read, "which He (i.e., God) produced in union with Jesus, the Anointed One, within the midst of and for our Lord and Master." This would call to mind 2 Cor. 5:19a,
"God was existing within Christ (God was and continued being in union with [the] Anointed One) progressively and completely transforming [the] aggregate of humanity (or: world) to be other [than it is]... "Schnackenburg sees this as a statement of God's "intention" which was "the decision taken by god before all time" (ibid p 141). [excerpt from Peter's Encore and Later Paul]
Jesus made an apocalyptic statement to His disciples, in Lu. 18:
29. So He says to them, "It is established (or: Amen; Count on it), I am now saying to you folks that there is no one who abandoned (or: lets flow away) house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, centered from union with (or: on account of; for the sake of) God's Realm and Reign (kingdom; royal rule; sovereign influence and activities),
30. "who would not by all means be getting back and receiving many times more, in this season (or: fitting situation and opportunity; fertile moment), and then within (or: in union with) the Age which is progressively coming, Life pertaining to that Age (or: eonian life; Life with the qualities of the Age of the Messiah; life from and of that Age; or: life of, and for, the ages)."
In Jn. 11, Jesus told Martha,
25. Jesus said to her, "I AM the Resurrection (or: I exist Being the standing back up again: the Arising), and (or: that is to say,) the Life. The one progressively believing and habitually putting trust into Me, even if he may die-off (or: die-away), will continue Living (or: will proceed being alive)!
26. "And further, everyone, who (or: all mankind, which) in, or by, presently living and progressively trusting-and-believing into Me (or: when regularly experiencing convinced faith into the midst of, and being constantly faithful unto, Me), can by no means (or: may under no circumstances) die-off (or: die-away), on into the Age. Are you presently believing this, trusting this and having convinced faith of, or in, this?"
Might Jesus have been speaking of the "progressively coming age" (Lu. 18:30) when He spoke this to Martha?
The closing statement in the epistle of Jude offers us a doxology which ends with a focus on the "ages."
25. By [the] only God (or: To and for God alone; In and with God alone), our Deliverer (Rescuer; Safe-keeper; Savior; Restorer) - through Jesus Christ our Lord (Master; Owner) - [is] glory (or: an assumed appearance; a manifestation of that which calls forth praise; a good reputation; opinion; imagination), greatness, strength, honor and authority (right and privilege from out of Being) before all of the Age (or: in front of the Age's entirety and all that is this Age), both now and on into all the ages (eons; indefinite periods of time; eras)! It is established (Amen; Believe it; It is so; Count on it). [cf Rev. 4:11]
God is the Source and Realm of glory, greatness, strength, honor, and right from out of being, all of which existed "before all that is this Age (etc.)." Then he continues, "both NOW (in the Age of the Messiah) and on into all the ages." John picks up this thought in the prologue of the Unveiling,
"In Him [is] the Glory (or: For Him [is] the good reputation; By Him [is] the manifestation of that which calls forth praise; With Him [is] the appearance which affects the opinion of the whole of human experience) and the Strength (or: Might), on into the ages (or: indefinite time periods; lifetimes; [some MSS add: of the ages])! It is established (Count on it; Amen)." (Rev. 1:6b)
Notice that both of these verses speak of the plurality of ages. Both of them open with words in the dative case, but with no expressed preposition. On offer are English prepositions which express the main functions of the dative case: by, to, for, in or with. Both Jude and John seem to have the same view of a plurality of ages in the oncoming future. Both use the same preposition (expressed in the Greek text) which indicate movement into something (in these cases, the future ages). We find the noun, "age," used the most time in the Unveiling, the second time being in Rev. 1:18, "I also brought Myself to be (or: birthed Myself) a dead one (or: I also came, by Myself, to be dead), and now, Look and consider! I am living on into the ages of the ages (or: the unspecified and indefinite time periods of the eons)." We find similar uses of this noun in Rev. 4:9-10, 5:13-14, 10:6 and 15:7. Rev. 7:12 repeats the same idea as Rev. 1:6.
Rev. 11:15 informs us that, "He will continue reigning (ruling as King) on into the ages (or: indefinite time periods) of the ages (or: eons)." Then, speaking of God's slave-servants, Rev. 22:5 instructs us that, "they will continue reigning (functioning as kings, with sovereign influence) on into the ages of the ages (or: indefinite time periods of the eons)." Rev. 14:11, 19:3 and 20:10 use the phrase "ages of ages" (with the latter two verses having the definite article, "the ages of the ages") to indicate that God's judgment is happening during the oncoming ages. In these two last uses of the phrase, alternate renderings can be, "in the indefinite time periods of the eons," or, "indefinite eras which comprise the ages." In all of Revelation, the use of the various forms of the term, "age," speak of what Paul terms, "the oncoming ages."
The book of Hebrews uses some form of the word "age" almost as often as does the book of Unveiling (Rev.). In chapter 11, we are informed:
3. In faith and by confident, loyal trust, with the mind we progressively perceive (or: with the intellect we now continue reflectively understanding) the ages, eras and indefinite time-periods to have been completely equipped by (or: dovetailed-together with; thoroughly adjusted and adapted to; knit together and put in order in the sphere of) God's gush-effect (or: the result of that which flowed from God; or: a declaration or speech that had the source, character and qualities of God; or: a spoken word or utterance which was God), into this [resultant situation]: the thing continuously being seen (being looked at, observed, or perceived, and thus experienced) has not come into being from out of the midst of things which are normally appearing (or: from [creations or realities] continuously shining and exposing themselves to view, or presently becoming visible, or now being given light and thus being made to appear). [cf Heb. 1:2]
Then, in Heb. 13:8, we find that: "Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and on into the ages." This verse calls to mind a beautiful proclamation of the Good News, found in 1 Tim. 2:
3. This [is] beautiful (fine; ideal) as well as welcomingly and acceptably receivable from the presence of, and in the sight of, God, our Deliverer (our Savior; the One Who rescues us, heals us, makes us whole, while restoring us to our original state and condition, and keeps us safe),4. Who is constantly willing (continuously intending and purposing) all human beings (all people; = all humanity) to be saved (delivered; rescued; kept safe; made healthy and whole), and (or: even) to come into a full, accurate, experiential and intimate knowledge and insight of Truth (or: that is, to go or come into a complete realization of Reality).
With this Truth in mind, we turn to 1 Jn. 2:17,
"the person constantly doing (or: performing; constructing; creating) God's will (the intent and purpose of God; that desire from God) continues remaining (constantly abides; is habitually dwelling; or: keeps on lodging in a home) on into the Age.
In the oncoming ages, what we will be doing is co-working with God (1 Cor. 3:9a), just as Jesus said,
"This is God's Work (the Action which is God; the Deed from God): that you folks would keep on trusting and progressively believe into (or: can constantly trust, faith-it, and remain faithful unto) Him whom That One sends (or: sent) forth with a mission" (Jn. 6:29).
And in Jn. 14:12, He told His disciples,
"The person habitually trusting and progressively believing into Me, the works (actions; deeds) which I Myself am constantly doing (habitually performing; progressively making, constructing, creating or forming) that person also will proceed doing (performing; making; creating; producing), and he or she will progressively be doing and producing greater than these, because I Myself am progressively journeying (going from one place to another) toward (or: facing; face-to-face with) the Father."
If we join Jesus' words with John's, Paul's and those of Heb. 13:8, above, we can see that in the continuously oncoming ages, we will be involved with bringing 1 Tim. 2:4 into Reality.
Jonathan
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