Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 108:432 (Oct 1951)
Article: Part 5: The Return of Christ in Relation to the Jew and the Earth
Author: C. I. Scofield

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BSac 108:432 (Oct 51) p. 477

Part 5: The Return of Christ in Relation to the Jew and the Earth

C. I. Scofield

[Editor’s note: By special request Bibliotheca Sacra is putting back into print the lectures delivered by Dr. Scofield at the second annual Philadelphia Bible Conference. These prophetic messages were given first in 1914 after World War I had begun, and appeared originally in a Bible study magazine then being published, Serving and Waiting. The series was entitled “The World War in the Light of Prophecy.” Here the fifth lecture is reproduced.]

In the eighth and ninth verses of the 15th chapter of the Epistle to the Romans we have this great statement, “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision…” Peter was an apostle to the circumcision, and Paul says that he was an apostle to the Gentiles. You see the distinction? Jesus Christ—in His earth-ministry, in His incarnation—was first a minister to the circumcision. When you study the four Gospels bear that in mind. Bear in mind that He was preaching primarily to the Jews, to Israel, not to the Christian church.

But wait.—”Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision.” What for? “…for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.” There was a distinct and definite ministry. Certain promises had been made to the fathers of Israel. And Jesus came, a minister of the circumcision, to confirm the promises made to Israel. And that was not all: “…and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.” The Gentiles had no promises. There were little clauses in the great promises to Israel that spoke of a breaking out of His blessing to the Gentiles, and the apostle Paul has been quoting them in the 9th, 10th and llth chapters of Romans. That is all mercy.

BSac 108:432 (Oct 51) p. 478

We need to remember that the Gentile position as such, apart from faith in Jesus Christ, is this: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world…” (Eph 2:11–13). That is the position of every Gentile out of Christ. “…but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

Now, Jesus Christ was a minister of two kinds—of a twofold message and purpose. He was a minister to Israel to confirm the promises made to the fathers, that the truth of God might stand. He was a minister that t...

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