Bible Student’s Notebook ™ The Herald of His Grace Volume 35 Presenting every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:28 Issue 873 The Plērōma A Brief Introduction to the Threefold “Complement” by — Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. Well-nigh lost is the dominating doctrine of the plērōma or fullness. — A.E. Knoch (1874-1965)1 phesians and Colossians are the epistles Something that completes, makes up a whole, or of divine fulness, and one of the most brings to perfection … The quantity or num- Eprofound Greek words used by Paul to ber needed to make up a whole. – American characterize important aspects of the rev- Heritage Dictionary elation surrounding the Secret Adminis- tration is plērōma (πλήρωμα). The pinnacle Amazingly, Paul reveals to us the most glo- truths of plērōma are unrecognized by the rious truth that we are the complement of vast majority of believers.1 Christ and in turn, the Christ (i.e., the many- membered Christ – Head and Body) is the comple- The Meaning of Plērōma ment of God. The Greek word plērōma means: We – The Complement of Christ – completion, that is … what fills (as contents, sup- … Head over all, to the Ecclesia which is His plement, copiousness…) – SEC; Body, the Complement [plērōma] of the One – fulness, abundance – TGL; completing the all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23, – that which fills, complement – LSJ; CV). – that with which any thing is filled – CL. … the realization of the Son of God, to a Ma- Thus, we see that the English counterpart of plērōma ture Man, to the measure of the stature of the is “complement,”2 and thus, it is so translated in the Complement [plērōma] of the Christ (Ephe- Concordant Version. sians 4:13, CV) The root word of our English word “complement” is Christ – The Complement of God “complete,” and is defined as, … to know the love of Christ as well which tran- A thing that completes or brings to perfection. – scends knowledge – that you may be completed Oxford Dictionary The Plērōma ................................................7401 1. Unsearchable Riches, Volume 4 (1913). Philippians: Words Demonstrating Its 2. It is important to distinguish between “complement” with an “e” and “compliment” an “i.” While complement with an “e” means Dispensational Placement ...........................7405 “a thing that completes,” compliment with an “i” is defined as: “a Our Mailbox .................................................7407 polite expression of praise or admiration.” – Oxford Dictionary In Ephesians dominion extends much farther and man has a part in it. – Oscar M. Baker (1898-1987) for the entire Complement [plērōma] of God” superexcessively above all that we are requesting (Ephesians 3:19, CV). or apprehending (Ephesians 3:20, CV)! … for in Him the entire Complement [plērōma] Dare we expound on this transcendent theme?! of the Deity is dwelling bodily” (Colossians 2:9, CV). To lay the foundation for these untraceable riches (Ephesians 3:8),4 it is important that we note that Eve Paul discloses that, just as believers are Christ’s is termed the “complement” of Adam. plērōma (Complement), so in turn is Christ (Head along with Body) God’s plērōma (Complement). And saying is Yahweh Elohim, “Not good is it for This is a truth made known only by revelation, and the human for him to be alone. Make for him this is the revelation of Christ Jesus made known to will I a helper as his complement” (Genesis and through Paul in Ephesians and Colossians. This 2:18, CV). is not to be confused with the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” (also known as “The Apocalypse”) commit- Adam was not complete; there was something lack- ted to John, the Apostle of the Circumcision.3 ing, and yet that lack was within himself. Eve came out of Adam and returned to Him as His “completer.” Now that, through Paul, this divine “revelation” has been made known, it takes a divine “realization” to Just as Eve came out of Adam in the old creation, so see it. Both revelation and realization are required, Christ came out of God, and we come out of Christ because no one ever could have imagined such sub- in the new creation. In the pre-expectant out-resur- lime truths, for they are truly rection, every member of Christ’s Body returns back to Christ at His Celestial appearing “ i n G l o r y,” “far above all Heavens.” Likewise, at the Consummation, 3. It is important to note the vital difference that is made in Scrip- ture between “Christ Jesus” and “Jesus Christ.” 4. “The untraceable riches of Christ” (REB, YLT, CV). ™ Bible Student’s Notebook – adult sonship position (Ephesians 1:5). Paul Our Guide – Christ Our Goal This publication is the product of humble efforts of ordinary ISSN: 1936-9360 men intended to stimulate the earnest study of Scripture. We Volume 35, No. 873 – May 31, 2021 do not claim infallibility for the contents of this publication; Scripture education in a weekly format! thus they are not meant to imply finality on any subject dis- cussed, or that further research would not add further light This free electronic publication is dedicated to: from the Word of God. God’s storehouse of truth is inexhaust- • the absolute sovereignty and deity of God (Romans 11:36); ible, so draw on its wealth by prayerful study. Our readers are • the proclamation of the riches of God’s abundant, exceeding asked to be as the Bereans and search the Scriptures (Acts grace (Romans 5:20; 11:6; Ephesians 1:7); 17:10-11; I Thessalonians 5:21). • the affirmation that God will save all through the death, burial This publication is not connected with any “church,” “de- and resurrection of Christ (I Timothy 2:3, 4; 4:10; Titus 2:11); nomination,” “movement,” “organization,” “mission,” “creed,” • the “preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the “meeting,” “school,” “conference” or “fellowship.” mystery, which was kept secret in ages past” (Romans 16:25); • true freedom and liberty apart from law (Galatians 5:1); ™ • the organic nature of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:16); Bible Student’s Notebook • the Secret Administration, being the operational revelation for PO Box 265, Windber, PA 15963 today (Ephesians 3:9); Office: (800) 784-6010 – Local: (814) 701-0063 • the unprophesied, Celestial hope and calling of the Body of Christ (Colossians 3:4); [email protected] • the distinct message and ministry of Paul, the apostle to the Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. – Editor nations (Ephesians 3:1-3); André Sneidar – Executive Editor • the importance of receiving all whom Christ has received (Ro- Assistant Editors: J. Blake Botner, mans 14-15); James Fine, Gary Ingison, Mark Vogt • the recovery of rich Biblical truth that has too long remained hidden under the veils of traditionalism, prejudice, misunder- Managers and Assistants standing and fear (Mark 7:7, 13); Clyde L. Pilkington, III, Nathan H. Pilkington, Stephen Hill • the completeness of the believer in Christ (Colossians 2:10), with: For definitions of abbreviations/acronyms, see index after the order form. – total freedom from sins (Colossians 1:14); – union in His death, burial and resurrection and ascended seat- Copyright © 1989-2021 Bible Student’s Press™ ed position among the celestials (Romans 6; Ephesians 2:6); 7402 BIBLE STUDENT’S NOTEBOOK™ – PO BOX 265; WINDBER, PA 15963 Issue 873 bsn It’s a privilege to chronicle the Scripture research of the saints and an honor to add a bit of our own to it. – Clyde L. Pilkington, Jr. the Completed Christ (Head along with Body) re- be “able to apprehend” his “understanding in the Se- turns back to God as His “completer,” so that God cret of the Christ, which, in other generations, is not will be “All in all.” made known to the sons of humanity” (Ephesians 3:3- 5). Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How … untraceable Thus, the passionate prayer of Paul for us is “realiza- His ways! (Romans 11:33). tion”: [Oh,] the realization of the Son of God, [the] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Fa- Mature Man, the measure of the stature of the ther of glory, may be giving you a spirit of wis- complement of the Christ! (Ephesians 4:13). dom and revelation in the realization of Him (Ephesians 1:17, CV); The Great Secret Unto the end that we should all attain to the This introduces us to what Paul remarkably termed unity of the faith and of the realization of the the “Great S e c r e t .” Son of God, to a Mature Man, to the measure of the stature of the Complement of the Christ This Great Secret … Christ and the Ecclesia (Ephesians 4:13, CV); (Ephesians 5:32). That you may be filled full with the realization Have you ever read this passage and it seemed to you of His will, in all wisdom and spiritual under- to be quite anticlimactic? If so, you are not alone. It is standing … growing in the realization of God not until we are granted “realization” that we are able (Colossians 1:9, CV). to perceive this “Great Secret.” Being united in love, and to all the riches of the “Realization” of the advanced truths set forth in assurance of understanding, unto a realization Ephesians and Colossians – the present Secret Ad- of the Secret of the God and Father, of Christ ministration – is the sole act of Divine Enlighten- (Colossians 2:2, CV). ment. These truths cannot be humanly taught, they must be divinely imparted. Without such a divine “realization” we will be left to mistakenly assume that the teachings of Ephesians The “Administration of the Grace of God” was given and Colossians are merely expositions of previously to Paul for us (Ephesians 3:2).