What is “the Mystery” in the New Testament?

BEYOND THE BASICS | Jeff Smith | Gainesville, Virginia

The most likely association made when “mystery” is mentioned is to the mystery literary genre. We think of authors like Arthur Conan-Doyle, Agatha Christie, and G. K. Chesterton, and their famous fictional sleuths, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Father Brown. Their characters are artfully crafted. Plots are intricately woven. Facts are strategically and stingily meted to keep the reader guessing “who done it” until the great reveal at the climax of the work. Although popular and entertaining, this is not Biblical mystery.

“Mystery” may also suggest mysticism. Practitioners of Mysticism seek to become one with God, often through some sort of altered consciousness that may be drug induced. Ironically, such religions maintain that true knowledge is unattainable, or nearly so. Mystics teach that it is important to grasp for and grapple with lofty ideals. Disciples are locked in a closed loop of ever-reaching for an ever-elusive goal. This is not biblical mystery, either.

Biblical mystery is nowhere near as mysterious as either of the above. Ironically, Biblical mystery can be understood. It does not leave the reader frustrated by a closed loop of seeking that never satisfies. As with all that our Heavenly Father does, Biblical mystery is good, and right, and just.

The word “mystery” is found twenty-four times in twenty-four verses in the English Standard Version New Testament. Rather than consider each occurrence, let us focus on one pericope in which the Apostle Paul describes “the mystery” in detail.

Ephesians 3:1–12 (ESV)
¹ For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

When the Bible refers to “mystery” it refers to a fact or idea that was known by God but covered or hidden from humans. It is something God knows but is not telling, yet. Paul says that the mystery under consideration here in Ephesians “was not made known to the sons of men in other generations” (verse 5). In verse 9 Paul describes it as, “the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God.” In fact, God’s plan to save the world through Jesus is so old that Paul calls it God’s “eternal purpose” (verse 11). For hundreds or thousands of years God knew what He would eventually do, but He kept his plan hidden or covered (Romans 16:25). Being hidden or covered is what made it a mystery.

When God reveals a mystery, He uncovers something He previously covered. He reveals something He had concealed. The act of revealing is called revelation. Paul said that the mystery under consideration “was made know to [him] by revelation” (verse 3). Revelation sounds mysterious, but it simply means that God told Paul about His plan.

What was “the mystery” under consideration? Paul calls it “the mystery of Christ” (verse 4). Paul not only names the mystery but explains it in verse 6. “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” Paul equates the mystery with the gospel (verse 7).

In the Law of Moses God created a separation, a wall, between Jew and gentile. Peter acknowledged this wall when he arrived in Cornelius’ house. “And he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation…’” (Acts 10:28, ESV). Peter goes on to share that the wall was, at that moment, being torn down, “’…but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.’” This verse relates the exact moment when the mystery Paul refers to in Ephesians 3 was revealed to Peter and Cornelius.

In Acts 11, the Jews’ reaction to Peter’s preaching to Cornelius’ house was surprise and initial refusal to accept that Gentiles could be saved. “² So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, ³ ‘You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them’” (Acts 11:2–3, ESV). Even though God had prophesied His plan to save the Gentiles along with the Jews (Isaiah 56:8, John 10:16), the last thing the Jews expected was for the Messiah to unite Gentiles with Jews in one body. It seems they thought that Jews would be saved one way, and Gentiles another way. It amazed them then, and it should amaze us still, that God saved Jew and Gentile alike in one body, that of His Son, Jesus the Christ. This is the gospel; the good news that Paul calls “unsearchable riches” (verse 8).

So “the mystery” in the New Testament is that God the Father purposed to save Jew and Gentile alike in one body, the body of His Son, our Savior, Jesus the Christ. God intends that this amazing plan, this now revealed former mystery, the gospel of Christ, should be made known to everyone (verse 10). And the church is God’s chosen agent to spread this good news (verse 10).

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October 2023 | GROW magazine