THE MYSTERY: to mustêrion:
(Col 2:2–3,
Ro 11:25,
2Th 2:7,
Eph 3:3-6,
1Co 15:51)
Mystery (3466)
(musterion from mustes = one initiated [as
into the Greco-Roman "mystery" religions] from mueo
= to close or shut) in the NT is a truth never previously
known, and a truth which human intellect could never discover, but one
which has now been made known by divine revelation.
In Paul's day musterion was a technical term utilized by the
"mystery religions" which referred to a secrets concealed by strange
customs and ceremonies and confided only to those initiated into the
"mystery cult". Musterion embraced ideas such as "a
secret rite," "secret teaching," and "a divine mystery which is beyond
human comprehension." The "mystery-religions" had their secrets and
signs just as seen in modern secret societies. Those initiated into
these pagan cults, knew these secret signs. In summary, a mystery in the context of the Greek Mystery
Religions was a secret rite which was administered to the person being
initiated.
Mystery in modern usage is similar to this ancient use for it
usually means a secret for
which no answer can be found (cf "mystery novel"). In contrast to this
contemporary use of "mystery", Scripture uses musterion to
indicate truth which was previously unknown but which now has
been made known through revelation mediated by God.
Musterion in the Bible means those truths which are part of God's plan
and can only be understood as He reveals them by His Spirit through
His Word. As discussed further below, musterion refers to truth previously hidden,
which when revealed, is understood by the believer. Stated another way
musterion is "a secret
purpose of God which when uncovered is understood by the Spirit-taught
believer." It refers to a truth which without
special revelation would have been unknown and thus is commonly used
with words denoting revelation or knowledge (e.g., "to know the mysteries", (Mt
13:11), "revelation of the mystery",
(see note
Romans 16:25) , "made
known...the mystery", see note
Ephesians 3:3)
Vincent defines musterion
as that
which was kept hidden from the world until revealed at the appointed
time, and which is a secret to ordinary eyes, but is made known by
divine revelation. (Vincent, M. R. Word studies in the New Testament.
Vol. 4, Page 234-235).
MacArthur adds that
musterion
does not carry the connotation that word has in modern English, as
used, for example, of a mystery novel. In the New Testament it refers
to something hidden in former times but now made known. Specifically,
it refers to a part of God’s truth that was not revealed, or was only
partially revealed, in the Old Testament. (MacArthur,
J: Romans 9-16. Chicago: Moody Press
or
Logos)
McGee
explains that...
A mystery is something which had
not been revealed in the Old Testament but is now revealed in the New
Testament. It is something which you cannot learn by the eye-gate or
the ear-gate. Nor has it entered into the heart of man—that is, it is
not something man would have thought of. It is a fact which must be
revealed by God. (McGee,
J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson
or
Logos)
Unger says that
The NT use of the term mystery has reference to some operation
or plan of God hitherto unrevealed. It does not carry the idea of a
secret to be withheld, but of one to be published...The term mystery,
moreover, comprehends not only a previously hidden truth, presently
divulged, but one that contains a supernatural element that still
remains in spite of the revelation
(Unger,
M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. The
New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody Press)
BDAG
explains that musterion is...
the unmanifested or private counsel
of God, (God’s) secret, the secret thoughts, plans, and dispensations
of God which are hidden from human reason, as well as from all other
comprehension below the divine level, and await either fulfillment or
revelation to those for whom they are intended
Musterion is used 27 times in the NT in the NASB (Mt
;
Mk;
Lu;
Ro
2x;
1Co
5x;
Ep
6x;
Col
4x;
2Th;
1Ti
2x;
Rev
4x). If you have
time, study 27 references in context and record what the "mystery"
refers to in each use. This will give you a good sense of the NT use
of musterion.
There are also 8
uses of musterion in the
Septuagint (LXX)
all in the book of
Daniel (Da 2:18-19, 27-30, 47; 4:9)
Here are the 27
NT uses of musterion...
Matthew 13:11 (Jesus
responds to the disciples' request to explain the parables) And
He answered and said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been
granted. (Who can understand the mysteries? cf the two other uses in
the gospels)
Mark 4:11 (Jesus responds to
the disciples' request to explain the parables) And He
was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the
kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables,
Luke 8:10 (Jesus responds to
the disciples' request to explain the parables) And He said,
"To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the
kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, in order that
seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
Romans 11:25 (note)
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery,
(the temporary, partial hardening of Israel's heart) lest you be wise
in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to
Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in
Romans 16:25 (note)
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 (the truth that believing Jews and believing Gentiles are
made fellow heirs, fellow members of the Body of Christ, and fellow
partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel) which has been kept
secret for long ages past,
1 Corinthians 2:7 but we
speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God
predestined before the ages to our glory; (Comment: Here
musterion refers to the truth God established before time and
revealed in the gospel)
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man
regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards (a
servant who cares for the property of another) of the mysteries
of God. (Comment: In this context musterion is used in its
broadest sense as God’s full revealed truth in the NT which Paul had
to oversee and dispense as God’s steward. All believers are in a very
real sense "stewards" of God's mysteries, and we are responsible for
handling these mysteries with reverence and integrity; e.g., see below
Colossians 4:3)
1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I
have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all
knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do
not have love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 14:2 For one
who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one
understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. (Comment:
In this context musterion refers to "mysteries" that were
totally unlike the ones mentioned in the most of the other uses of
Scripture. The "spirit" by which they spoke was not the Holy Spirit
but their own human spirit or even worse, a demonic spirit! The the
mysteries they spoke were like those associated with the "mystery
religions" which only the initiated few were privileged to know and
understand)
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold,
I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all
be changed (Comment: Here the mystery is the rapture of the
church, a truth never revealed in the Old Testament.)
Ephesians 1:9 (note)
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His
kind intention which He purposed in Him
Ephesians 3:3 (note)
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I
wrote before in brief. (Comment: Mystery = Jews and Gentiles in
one body, the church.)
Ephesians 3:4 (note)
And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight
into the mystery of Christ, (Comment: Mystery = Jews and
Gentiles in one body, the church.)
Ephesians 3:9 (note)
and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which
for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; (Comment:
Mystery = Jews and Gentiles in one body, the church.)
Ephesians 5:32 (note)
This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to
Christ and the church. (Comment: The mystery is that God has
called out a people to become the Body and Bride of His Son and the
marriage relationship is optimally to portray a beautiful picture of
the relation between Christ and His Bride, the church.)
Ephesians 6:19 (note)
and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the
opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of
the gospel,
Colossians 1:26 (note)
that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages
and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints (observe
how this "mystery" is now revealed in the next verse),
1:27 (note)
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. (Comment: The mystery now revealed is that the
living Christ indwells believers).
Colossians 2:2 (note)
that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in
love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full
assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's
mystery, that is, Christ Himself (Comment: Here the mystery
revealed appears to be a reference to the Church as the spiritual body
of Christ on earth and He as its Head in heaven.)
Colossians 4:3 (note)
praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a
door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of
Christ (referring to the gospel), for which I have also been
imprisoned;
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the
mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now
restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. (Comment
by John MacArthur: This is the spirit of lawlessness already prevalent
in society [cf. 1 John 3:4; 5:17], but still a mystery in that it is
not fully revealed as it will be in the one who so blatantly opposes
God that he blasphemously assumes the place of God on earth which God
has reserved for Jesus Christ. The spirit of such a man is already in
operation [cf. 1 John 2:18; 4:3], but the man who fully embodies that
spirit has not come.)
(MacArthur,
J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word
or
Logos)
1 Timothy 3:9 but holding to
the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (Comment:
Here the "mystery" is "the faith" which is not the act of believing
but the content of what is believed. In other words, many of the
doctrines of Christianity were kept secret throughout the OT period
but were then revealed by the apostles and prophets of the NT,
especially in the gospel).
1 Timothy 3:16 And by common
confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was
revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in
glory. (Comment: The mystery here is of the previously unknown
truth concerning the Person and work of the Lord Jesus, truths of
salvation and righteousness in Him, which produce godliness in
believers.)
Revelation 1:20 (note)
"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. (Comment: Here the glorified Christ clearly states
the meaning of this "mystery".)
Revelation 10:7 (note)
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to
sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to
His servants the prophets.
Revelation 17:5 (note)
and upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE
GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
Revelation 17:7 (note)
And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I shall
tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her,
which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Barclay adds that
musterion
"means something whose meaning is hidden from
those who have not been initiated, but crystal clear to those who
have. It would describe a ceremony carried out in some society whose
meaning was quite clear to the members of the society, but
unintelligible to the outsider...in other words "In Greek a
musterion is not necessarily something abstruse; it is something
quite unintelligible to the uninitiated but crystal clear to the
initiated." (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press
or
Logos)
In contrast to this use, the NT
use of musterion refers to a previously hidden truth now
divinely revealed. The secret counsels of God which remain hidden from
the ungodly (to them they are a true "mystery" as the word is commonly
used in English) but when these truths are revealed to the godly, they
are understood by them. The mystery is not in the fact
that the truths are difficult to interpret, but that they are
impossible to interpret until their meaning is revealed at which time
the truth becomes plain.
Jesus explained to His disciples
that they had been initiated into these secret things declaring
To
you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those
who are outside get everything in parables, in order that while
seeing, they may see and not perceive; and while hearing, they may
hear and not understand lest they return and be forgiven." (Mk
4:11-12)
When Jesus talks
of the mystery of the Kingdom, it does not mean that the Kingdom is
remote and hard to understand, but it does mean that this truth is
quite unintelligible to the man or woman who has not believed in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Musterion
has its roots in the Old Testament and is found frequently in the
second chapter of Daniel in the Greek translation (Septuagint) while
the Hebrew equivalent occurs in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Gnostic teachers
talked much of mysteries so Paul takes their "special" word and
presents his special message regarding the Gentiles.
Most people think of mystery as something eerie and unknown but this
was not the way Paul uses the word (which he uses some 20x in the NT).
As used by Paul musterion
denotes, not something "mysterious"
but that which, being beyond unassisted natural apprehension, can be
made known only by divine revelation, and to those who are illumined
by the Spirit.
Mysteries in
the Scripture fall into two categories. Some have already been
revealed, and among these are the incarnation of Christ and the
salvation of sinners. Others are yet to be seen, such as the general
resurrection, the coming Antichrist, and the evil of the last day. It
is comforting to realize that all the mysteries which bear on our
salvation are already revealed to readers of Scripture.
Musterion is a divine secret or
truth which is unknowable apart from divine revelation and which has
now been revealed in Christ and the surrounding context stresses the
fact that the mystery was hidden from pre-cross times, but now has
been manifested to the saints of the church age.
So here we see a clear
contrast between the ordinary use of
mystery
implying knowledge withheld, but in Scripture indicating truth
revealed. The terms often found associated with mystery are “made
known,” “manifested,” “revealed,” “preached,” “understand,”
“dispensation.”
In the present passage it is used of the union of
redeemed men with God in Christ, forming the church which is Christ’s
body, similar to the meaning in
Ephesians 5:32 (note) . In Ephesians the prominent
thought is the union of the saints in Christ (see notes
Ephesians 3:2;
3:3;
3:4;
3:5;
3:6) while in Colossians the thought is the indwelling of
Christ in the saints. And yet in both epistles the figure is that of
the body of which Christ is the Head.
So here Paul revealed a "sacred
secret", previously unknown "which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory." Paul wanted the Gentiles to know
that they too could have Christ in them. He teaches the parallel
thought in
(see notes
Ephesians 2:11ff).
This is the great
mystery,
the greatest truth taught in the Bible, and yet it is the most
seriously missing element in many churches today. Most Christians in
our churches understand and believe that Christ died for their
sins but
most fail to go beyond this basic truth. Relatively few go on
to grasp the fact that Jesus died for them that He might live in and
through them, the so called "exchanged life" or "Christ life".
Many fall sadly short of grasping that it is Christ's life in them that
provides the power to live the Christian life, bring about real change
in one's behavior and lifestyle and provide the ability to resist temptation. It is not enough to know
that Christ died in order that we might go to heaven. We are also to
know, understand, and practice Christ "Who is our life" living in us now!
(see note
Colossians 3:4)
Have you begun to discover this "mystery"? To attempt to obey the many
commands in
Colossians 3 and
Col 4 without an understanding and
appropriation of one's Power Source can lead to frustration and
failure in the Christian life, which God desires for you to live
abundantly.
Charles Wesley
(1707-88) wrote of Biblical mystery in hymn form:
And Can It Be That I Should Gain?
'Tis mystery all! The
immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
WHICH HAS BEEN HIDDEN FROM
THE PAST AGES AND GENERATIONS: to apokekrummenon (RPPNSA) apo ton aionon kai apo ton
geneon:
Hidden (613) (apokruphos from apo = from or away + krupto = hide, conceal by covering) means to be
hidden away from the common gaze and thus kept as a secret. This
Greek word gives us the English word apocrypha.
God called the nation of Israel to be His holy priesthood, giving them His Law
and a
glorious promised land filled with "milk and honey". He promised them a King who would one day establish a
glorious kingdom and fulfill the many promises made to Abraham and
David. The OT prophets wrote about the Messiah Who would suffer, and
the
Messiah Who would reign.
Peter writes that "As to this salvation,
the prophets who prophesied of the
grace that would come to you made
careful search and inquiry, seeking to know what person or time the
Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the
sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow." (see
notes
1 Peter 1:11;
12). They did not understand that the Messiah
first had to suffer before He could enter into glory (Lu 24:13-27).
Jesus Christ came to earth, was rejected by His people, and was
crucified. He arose again and returned to heaven. Did this mean that
God’s promised kingdom for Israel was now abandoned? No, because God
had initiated a new program—His mystery
—that was not understood even by the OT prophets.
BUT NOW HAS BEEN MANIFESTED
TO HIS SAINTS: nun de ephanerothe (3SAPI) tois hagiois autou: (1Cor 2:7-16
Ps 25:14
Mt 13:11
Lu 8:10
2Ti 1:10 ) :
Manifested
(5319)
(phaneroo) means to be (note the use of
passive voice = action or effect comes from an external source)
revealed in its true
character, making visible that which was
previously hidden or unknown.
Imagine! Christ the Creator and
Sustainer of everything, dwelling in your body His Temple! Dr. Robert Munger's great
little booklet, "My Heart, Christ's Home," is a magnificent
development of this statement. It is the mystery hidden from the
foundation of the world, but now made known to His saints. In the Old
Testament, those who feared God, knew the Messiah was coming, but they
did not know that the Messiah would indwell the very physical bodies
of His people and that those bodies would be the temple of the living
God because it was not yet manifested. In addition the OT Jews may
have understood the Messiah's relationship to Israel, but they did
understood the relationship of the indwelling Messiah to the Gentiles,
specifically the mystery of the church.
Saints
(40)
(hagios) are set apart ones (set apart by God and
for God). They are holy ones.
Click for in depth word study of
hagios.
John MacArthur writes that saints
"are rich, because as the church, Christ is in us. And this is the
subject of the ministry. Our message is to tell people that the living
God wants to come and dwell in their life. That's a fantastic reality,
isn't it? A thrilling concept....The mystery is that Jew and Gentile
are made fellow heirs to receive and possess God within them. That's
our message! This is the subject of the ministry. Our message to the
world is not to try to live a better life. We're not forcing imposed
rituals or a self-styled alteration of life. We're not saying, "Please
could you make your New Year's resolution every month?" That's not the
message. The message is this: "God wants to come and live in you."
God took sinners, "washed" them
in the blood of the Lamb and set them apart for something brand
new and useful for a different purpose. Have you ever thought about
the fact that before Christ your life was futile but that now in
Christ as a saint you have the privilege of living a life filled with
purpose and potential? You can live this life today. Don't go through
the rest of your life without being all you can be for the glory of
God. Prepare yourself for eternity in His presence by fulfilling your
purpose in His plan in this present age.
Dearly beloved you
possess a high privilege for as the Psalmist writes
The secret of
the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His
covenant. (Ps 25:14
see
Spurgeon's note)
Are you living in keeping with
your holy calling?
