Mystery

Three passages deal with the principle of the Greek word μυστήριον (mustērion) or mystery and actually define the word. Eph. 3:1-11; Col. 1:25-27; Rom. 16:25-26.

“that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.” (Ephesians 3:3-7, NASB)

“Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:25-27, NASB)

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;” (Romans 16:25-26, NASB)

The etymology indicates in the 5th century BC, a group of fraternities existed which had a sacred doctrine. Those on the outside did not know the doctrine. However, once inside and initiated into the organizations, the mysteries became known. Thus, the word mystery.

Eight Mysteries in the New Testament

Eight mysteries or doctrines are referred to in the New Testament and are known only believers through the filling of the Holy Spirit and the grace apparatus for perception.

The Body of Christ. Eph. 3:1-11.

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me for you; that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;” (Ephesians 3:1-5, NASB)

The Bride of Christ. Eph. 5:28-32.

“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:28-32, NASB)

The Church. Rev. 1:20

““As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:20, NASB)

The indwelling of Jesus Christ in every Church Age believer. Col. 1:26-27.

“that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:26-27, NASB)

Spirituality/Godliness. 1 Tim. 3:16.

“By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16, NASB)

The Rapture (translation) of the Church. 1 Cor. 15:51-57.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-57, NASB)

The blindness of Israel. Rom. 11:25.

“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;” (Romans 11:25, NASB)

The Kingdom of Heaven. Matt. 13. Jesus is talking to Jews in the Age of Israel.

“And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” (Matthew 13:10-11, NASB)

“"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44, NASB)

Every time one finds the word “mystery’ in the New Testament, it pertains to some fact of the Church Age. The doctrine of the mystery is the doctrine of the dispensation of the Church. The reason the doctrine is called “mystery” is because these truths were not revealed in the Old Testament. Nowhere in the Old Testament is there Church Age truth. The Old Testament was a time of detailed information with regard to many things - the death of Jesus Christ, His burial, resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of the Father. Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:1-6; Col. 1:25-26.

Then, when chronologically, you would start the Church Age, you skip right over that area into the Tribulation to the Second Advent, and the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ in the earth. Therefore, any information pertinent to the Church Age was not revealed.