Unsearchable Riches

May 26

Unsearchable Riches
anexichniaston plouton

In the past few days we’ve been considering the importance of preaching. That being understood, then, what exactly should we preach? Paul tells us in Eph_3:8: “That I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” What a wondrous and staggering thought!

Unsearchable is anexichniastos (G421), “that which cannot be traced out.” The root is a noun that means “a track or a trail.” The verb appears only one other place in the NT: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Rom_11:33).

The word is also found in the Septuagint. It was one of Job’s favorite words, in fact: “Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number” (Job_5:9; Job_9:10).

Riches is ploutos (G4249), which literally means “wealth.” The meaning here, however, is figurative; it speaks of the whole wealth of salvation and growth in Christ. It’s interesting that Paul was the only Scripture writer who used the figurative meaning of ploutos, and that five of those fourteen usages are in Ephesians (Eph_1:7, Eph_1:18; Eph_2:7; Eph_3:8, Eph_3:16).

Putting all that together, then, we see: The wealth we have in Christ is a pathway we cannot trace; it is unfathomable from human understanding. Instead of the fluff and shallowness of most contemporary preaching, Paul declares that we are to preach unfathomable truths. Calvin called this “the astonishing and boundless treasures of grace.”

Now, to what riches is Paul specifically referring? Is he implying entertainment, pop-psychology, “felt needs,” or other popular notions?

Hardly! He is, of course, referring back to the riches spoken of in Ephesians 1. How can any of us fathom (“trace out”) redemption, forgiveness, acceptance, election, adoption, God’s will, or the ministry of the Holy Spirit?

We can’t! From human understanding we cannot understand (“trace out”) such truth; it’s a path in the jungle we could never find, much less follow. Rather, it’s the Holy Spirit who gives us understanding. Do you see? Paul was to preach all that truth, but it was the Holy Spirit who would illumine it to men.

So, instead of shallow sermons, motivational talks, feel-good discussions, and bad theology, every preacher should be preaching the doctrine of the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Let’s preach doctrine, not drivel.

Scriptures for Study: Read a few of the other occurrences of ploutos and identify what riches Paul is speaking of: Rom_2:4; Rom_9:23; Eph_1:7, Eph_1:18; Eph_2:7; Eph_3:16; Col_2:2.

 
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