WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "ABLE MINISTERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT" ?

Is it enough to simply know what the New Testament means, or does this ministry prompt a certain behavior?

How would you respond if you were asked why there is a new testament in scripture? What is it's purpose? Is it simply an internal division within The Word of God designating a change in God's will, that all men be saved (1 Tim 2:4), rather than only the Jews (Ephesians 2:12), OR, does the knowledge of why God changed His will when He did (at the cross) demand a corresponding change in man's behaviors?

Are you aware that scripture doesn't even describe what we know as “the old testament,” as a testament at all…. at least not until the book of Hebrews was made available?

Hebrews 9:15-18 KJV - And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

How meaningful is it that the Lord's words in the upper room (Matt 26, Mark14, Luke 22) were not understood in a context of salvation until explained by the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 11, 2 Cor 3) some 25 years later?

1 Cor 11:26-30 KJV - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

2Co 3:4-6 KJV -4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The Apostle Paul is clearly indicating that the church (which is the Body of Christ) has an active role in the salvation of the Jewish remnant of today. Paul details this role for today's church at Romans 11:

Romans 11:3032 KJV- For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Note that “ye" is plural subjective, speaking TO the church, “your” is also plural, same subject but shifted to a possessive form, and “they”/”them"/”their”/”these” is NOT the Body of Christ. It's a remnant of the children of Israel that is provoked into believing in their messiah (Rom 11:11-14).

Paul reinforces this understanding only four chapters later, as he prepares to closeout this book of doctrine for the body of Christ:

Romans 15:27 KJV — It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

It's helpful to note how the role reverses over time.

Bottom line, knowledge and understanding are given as both guideposts to truth and milemarkes towards greater faith. To be an able minister means to have both the knowledge and understanding, along with the skills to effectively communicate to others in faith & truth. This is the mercy that Paul encourages us in the Body of Christ to demonstrate, Christ in us. This is also why the Apostle Paul writes this to the Corinthian church (and to us) when he does in the curriculum that is his epistles, as a guidepost towards the goal of a deepened, meaningful relationship with our Lord Jesus that supervises our flesh.

Putting it differently, the Body of Christ is called to minister the entire counsel of God in a fellowship of the mystery (program) and the words of the prophets (the kingdom program). Paul presents this “calling” at Ephesians ch3, just before describing our walk as a vocation at ch4:

Ephesians 3:9-10 KJV — And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

The word “manifold” is critical to our understanding, in that it is defined as a method of distribution from (a) source(s) to recipients, depending on designed direction of flow…. Think of an exhaust or intake manifold on an engine. See my other post, “manifold” VS “manifest” for details. In this case, God's wisdom was compartmentalized into two programs, a kingdom on earth and a kingdom in the heavens. Although they will ultimately become fused into a single government upon the “fulness of times” ( Eph 1:10), this was necessary to preserve the heavenly program as a mystery, hidden in God from BEFORE the foundation of this world (1 Cor 2:7-8)…. But I digress.

Another way of presenting this concept: many of the governments of this world protect their information by using three levels of classification beyond what is commonly called “open source”, or unclassified information: “SECRET”, “TOP SECRET” & “COMPARTMENTALIZED” (TS/SCI).

This paradigm is actually biblically-based, owing itself to how God preserved & protected His words from becoming totally corrupted over time. What is commonly understood as”the bible” is the unclassified (thus, corrupted) open source consisting if over 300 versions or variations of his word.

The SECRET adaption would require discerning to correct Gospel in order to be justified and then sealed in the Holy Spirit. Most “believers” stop here.

TOP SECRET would reflect a deeper understanding of His word, such that one becomes skilled in rightly dividing (2 Tim 2:15-16) in order to avoid deception.

COMPARTMENTALIZED is analogous to operating as an able minister of the New Testament, both knowledgable & skilled in understanding the orchestration for both programs of ministry. Not a small task.