Aurel Gheorghe

The mystery that Paul talks about here is the Gospel (Eph 1:9,10, 3:9, 6:19; Col 1:26,27).
In the NT the word “mystery” refers to something hidden that has been revealed to believers. The Greek word used here is “musterion” and literally means something that one must be taught before is fully known or understood (Acts 8:30-35. 

In Ephesians 1:9, Paul is saying that the Gospel has been concealed or has not been fully revealed, but when the doctrine is made known, it will be clear and easy to understand. Such was the Gospel that God charged Paul to preach to the Gentiles, which before that it was hidden to them.

September 08 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the specific "mystery" referenced in the verse cited in the question is not the gospel message itself (that is, God making salvation possible by the incarnation, death, and resurrection of His own Son), but the fact that the subsequent scope of that salvation was shown (as in Acts 10:44-48) to apply not only to Jews, but to Gentiles, as well.

To me, this meaning of the word is indicated by the fact that Paul was addressing these words to Gentile Christians in Ephesus, and also by the reference in the following verse (Ephesians 1:10) to God bringing unity to all things under Christ.

September 08 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

Our apostle Paul answers this below in verse 8 of 1 Corinthians:

(1 Corinthians 2:5-9)
"5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."

Satan would not have crucified Jesus Christ had he known that forgiveness of all our sins through Christ's death would occur, and that the burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day would bring eternal life to all that will believe. Thus the secret mystery was kept hidden from Satan.

The mystery gospel, revealed to Paul alone from Christ ascended into Heaven, is the only place in the Bible that you will find information regarding the dispensation of the grace of God, the church the body of Christ, the "catching away" of believing members who are in Christ, that Gentiles may have salvation without the need of first going through Israel, that forgiveness of sins occurred at the cross without the need of our additional works for salvation (unlike Israel's faith PLUS works program). Believers today do works AFTER salvation. We work because we ARE saved, not in order to BE saved.

This mystery was kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25). Compare this to what is stated in Luke:

Luke 1:69-73.
"And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,"

It is read here that Israel's salvation is for Israel (not Gentiles), through God's covenant program with Abraham (not God' grace program for us), made known through the prophets since the world began (unlike the mystery gospel that was kept hidden since the world began), and only revealed to Paul for us until the fullness of the Gentiles come in. Romans 11:25

These truths become evident if we study the Bible as we are instructed in 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV " Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." We must divide our gospel from the other gospels found in the Bibile. Most of the confusion today comes from a lack of understanding in this.

Remember that true Christianity is a faith, having faith alone in Christ alone and nothing of ourselves. This is opposite to a religious system that requires works, which only leads to self-righteousness and overlooking the righteousness of Jesus Christ and what HE accomplished on the cross on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

Thank God for His grace today!

Ephesians 2:8
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

November 07 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report