Paul says that the gospel brings to light the mystery that had been hidden in God, and that this revelation of the mystery aims to make the wisdom of God known to “the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies” (Ephesians 3:8-10). Who are these rulers to whom the mystery of the gospel is directed?
Isaiah helps answer that question. When he begins outlining the work of the Suffering Servant, he says that the exaltation of the Servant will astonish rulers: “Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; for what they had not been told they will see and what they had not heard they will understand” (52:15). Rulers are the target of the prophet’s message about the Servant. The gospel of the Suffering Servant is proclaimed to kings .
It’s not entirely clear how the story of the Servant has its effect on rulers. Pilate was amazed at Jesus’ silence in his court, and we may surmise that rulers would be astonished to learn that the path to glory is not the path of head-crushing war but the path of suffering faithfulness.
So when rulers (say, Constantine) start responding to the gospel, it is not a deviation from the program. On the contrary, sending a message to kings was a central point of the gospel. And when they respond, we’re seeing the fulfillment of ancient prophecy.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
The Church in the Age of Therapy
In 1966, Philip Rieff wrote in The Triumph of the Therapeutic that “Religious man was born to…
Canada’s Deadliest Blind Spot
On September 20, the Daily Mail ran a story with the provocative headline, “Our 83-year-old Christian grandmother…
The Faithful Joy of Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen
Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen seem to have had little in common. She favored rhinestones; he wore…
