The seven mysteries revealed to the apostle Paul
The seven mysteries revealed to the apostle Paul
The largest part of the New Testament deals with the life of the apostle Paul. We read about him for the first time in Acts 7:58; 8:1-3; and 22:20, during the stoning of Stephen. At this point he is identified as Saul (his Jewish name) while later he would be known as Paul (his Latin name). The change of name has nothing to do with his conversion but rather because he would travel through the length and breadth of the Roman Empire to preach the gospel to the pagans. Using his Roman name would give him more opportunities. From Acts 13 onwards the majority of the letter is about Paul and his ministry among the Gentiles and most of the New Testament's books and letters were written by Paul.
We can often ask critically where Paul got his knowledge from. We can also go the uninformed route and simply not care where he got his knowledge. Let us quickly recap the history. We read in Acts 9 of Saul's conversion. Read to verse 19. “Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for a few days.” Now continue with verse 20: “And immediately he proclaimed Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” Remember that this is Luke's account of the events but he did not have all the details. Now continue with verses 25 and 26. It will seem as if the events follow one another in quick succession, but a long period passed between verses 25 and 26. We read about this in his letter to the Galatians 1. The following aspects stand out clearly:
- The gospel preached by him is not that of men (verse 11);
- He received it through a revelation from Jesus Christ (verse 12);
- After his conversion, he immediately did not consult flesh and blood (people) (verse 16);
- He did not immediately seek out those who were apostles before him (verse 17);
- He first left for Arabia and returned to Damascus (verse 17);
- He did not go to Jerusalem until three years later (verse 18 and Acts 9:26);
- There he initially only met Peter and James (verses 18-19).
Point two above is important to remember: Paul received his knowledge through direct revelations from Jesus Christ. We read in the rest of the New Testament that he describes these revelations as mysteries. The Greek word is μυστήριον (mustḗrion). A mystery (sometimes “secret”) can be described as a truth that was kept hidden by God until it was revealed to someone who in turn shared it with others. It is part of God's progressive revelation to mankind.
Paul therefore mentions that he received information through a revelation directly from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). This is what the book of Revelation refers to although this information was revealed to John and not to Paul. Note that the name of the last book should not be “The Revelation of John”, but rather “The Revelation [of Jesus Christ] to John”. Paul goes on to explain how he obtained these truths, proclaiming:
6Howbeit 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: 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.– 1 Corinthians 2:6-8
This wisdom of God was veiled but was established for our glory. He explains in Ephesians 3:2 and 3:8 that God revealed these mysteries to him.
The word “mystery” is used 22 or 23 times in the New Testament, depending on the exact translation. Jesus used it once, in Mark 4:11. In the other cases, the word was used each time by Paul to describe seven mysteries. Seven is symbolic of God's perfection and it is often found in the Word. I give the seven mysteries in the order of Paul's writings to congregations and individuals, together with further references in the same context or to other congregations and individuals.
First Mystery: Romans: The Future of Israel
See Romans 11:25-27 and 16:25-27:
25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. – Romans 11:25-27
Paul makes it clear that he must explain this mystery to the Gentiles, that the hardening in part came over Israel until the Church period is completed (“fullness of the Gentiles”). After that all Israel will be saved. Note that Paul makes it clear that God is not done with Israel. Note that the Church is not the replacement for Israel, as is so often falsely preached in our churches, the so-called Replacement Theology. We cannot simply apply God's promises for Israel to the Church.
A good example is Jeremiah 29:11. We know that God wants to give us as a Church peace and a hopeful future, but we already have it in Jesus Christ: peace as found in Romans 5:1 and hope as it says in Hebrews 6:18. However, read the passage just before Jeremiah 29:1 and you will see that it is actually about Israel's exile in Babylon. Unless you can say without a doubt that you are currently an Israelite in exile in Babylon, you cannot apply God's promises from that text to yourself.
Paul’s revelation of the mystery aims to exhort the Church not to delight themselves in Israel’s condition. It is true that God temporarily set them aside in order to first give the Gentiles the opportunity to come to salvation, but when it is over God will deal with his people again during the tribulation when the Church is no longer on the scene is not
Paul concludes his letter to the congregation in Rome by mentioning that God can strengthen the congregation through his gospel and his preaching about Jesus Christ, which corresponds to the mystery that God made known to him:
25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 27To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. – Romans 16:25-27
Second mystery: 1 Corinthians: The change of the composition of man at the Coming of Jesus Christ
Study 1 Corinthians 15, focusing on verses 51 to 54:
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. – 1 Corinthians 15:51
Paul makes it clear that he is sharing a mystery with his readers:
- We are not all going to physically die (sleep) (verse 51);
- Our bodies will all be changed (verse 51);
- It happens quickly (in a moment) (verse 52);
- When the trumpet sounds (verse 52);
- Those who had already died at that stage are resurrected (verse 52);
- We who are still alive are changed (verse 52);
- The present perishable body changes and becomes immortal (verse 53); and
- This event conquers death (Is 25:8) (verse 54).
Paul shares the same thought with the church in Philippi. See Philippians 3:20-21. To the congregation in Thessalonica, Paul explains the rapture of the Church, as with the congregation in Corinth. See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Paul writes to Titus that this is our blessed hope. See Titus 2:13. Sceptics refuse to see that man can change physically in such a way that he is imperishable and will be able to handle conditions outside the present world. We read that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). What follows in verse 51 must happen first. If you do not believe in what will happen, you reject God's promise for your future (John 14:3).
Third mystery: Ephesians: We are in Jesus Christ
See Ephesians 1:9 and 3:1ff:
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself, – Ephesians 1:7-9
God makes his mystery known to us through Paul, namely that we are in Jesus Christ. See verse 11 (“... in him in whom we also...”) and verse 13 ("...in whom you also... in whom, having believed, you were sealed...”). See also specifically Ephesians 1:3; 4; 7; 11; and 13. Read Ephesians 5:30. Paul describes our relationship with Jesus as one that is inseparable: For we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. We see the same thought in Romans 12:5 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. The singer Michael Card sums up this thought beautifully:
Flesh of his flesh
We are flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone (1 Corinthians 6:15; Ephesians 5:30)
His spirit has brought us together as one (1 Corinthians 6:17)
Though we may be separate, we're one perfect whole (Ephesians 4:13)
For we are his body and He is our soul (1 Corinthians 12:27)
We are the blessed receivers (Ephesians 1:3-14) of his inexhaustible love (John 15:13)
And so it is out of believers the body of Christ is made of (1 Corinthians 12:27)
We are flesh of His flesh, bone of his bone
His spirit has brought us together as one
Although we may be separate, we're one perfect whole
For we are his body and He is our soul
Forever, we'll have one another because we belong to the Lord
And so we belong to each other and that is our greatest reward
We are flesh of His flesh, bone of his bone
His spirit has brought us together as one
Although we may be separate, we're one perfect whole
For we are his body and He is our soul
Michael Card, 1988 [ Visit www.michaelcard.com. ]
See Ephesians 5:32. The most important mystery that Paul tells the congregation in Ephesus is the fact that the Church, as a relationship between Jesus Christ and the people who make up the Church, is the same as a marriage between a man and a woman. How do you handle your spouse? You are probably going to handle Jesus the same way.
Fourth mystery: Ephesians: The mystery of the Church
Study Ephesians 3:1-10:
1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), – Ephesians 3:1-4
Paul explains that what he writes here was given to him through a revelation (verse 3). It is that in other times (verse 5) the Church was not made known to man as it is now revealed. The Gentiles become co-heirs and are co-members of the body (the Church) of which he is a servant. Before the establishment of the Church, God only dealt with Israel. Now He deals with a diverse group of people. He describes it in Galatians 3:28 as follows: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or freeman, there is no longer male and female; for you are all one in Jesus Christ.” We are saved only by grace, faith, and Jesus Christ. See Ephesians 2:8-9.
Fifth mystery: Colossians: Christ is in us
Study Colossians 1:24-29:
24Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.. – Colossians 1:24-29
What was hidden for many centuries is now revealed. Christ is among us. Other translations put it as in us. See also Romans 8:10; 2 Corinthians 4:6-7; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 1:15-16; 2:20; and 4:19; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27; and 2 Thessalonians 1:10.
Sixth mystery: 2 Thessalonians: The iniquity to come
7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. – 2 Thessalonians 2:7
In 2 Thessalonians 2:7 Paul makes it clear that the secret that is now being revealed is that iniquity is already at work until he (the church) that is now restraining (the operation of the Holy Spirit that the revelation of the Antichrist times) has been removed (taken away from this order). Only then will the unrighteous be revealed. Many denominations today no longer want to learn anything about doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3), and so they ignore the doctrine of the rapture by never reading John 14:2-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; or refer to 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
Again, those who do not believe in the doctrine of Eschatology will ignore the above passage in 2 Thessalonians. God cares for humanity and warns us early on that this person will appear on the scene, but that the Church will not be part of it. I cannot understand how people who think Jesus loves them or they love Him, do not want to accept that He is going to save us from the order of the Antichrist.
Seventh mystery: 1 Timothy: Godliness was revealed in the flesh
16And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. – 1 Timothy 3:16
The mystery of godliness is great and is that God was revealed through the flesh (Jesus Christ) and we are justified in the Spirit (we are justified by our faith). See also Romans 3:20. This godliness was preached throughout the world among the Gentiles, and we were filled with glory. Immediately after this, Paul writes that the Holy Spirit himself says that some will fall away from the faith. To whom did the Holy Spirit say this? To none other than to Paul.
Summary
Paul was the mouthpiece through which God revealed information that was hidden to previous generations (Romans 16:25), now revealed to him to be recorded in letters and sent to the various congregations so that God’s full revelation of his will to man is permanent was recorded. Any actions by pastors who do not want to teach these mysteries to their congregations, amount to their thinking that they know better than God. There are no further revelations from people. I ask you to try and read up on these mysteries. There is sufficient information available. Be amazed at God’s revelation to man and that you are part of this.