The Church a Mystery?

On the Way to Damascus-Caravaggio³

Years ago, he asked, "What do you mean, the church is a mystery?" My answer was essentially "Old Testament prophets had no understanding of what we now know as the church — it was a mystery."

As the oblivious pastor continued his presentation unabated, it was obvious, he was without a clue regarding Paul's doctrine of "the mystery," much less the identity of the church, i.e., the Body of Christ of which he was a senior pastor.

“By revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (… Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ). Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy [New Testament] apostles and prophets by the Spirit” (cf. Eph 3:3-5).

On the road to Damascus, Christ declared His purpose for Paul to witness both of things which he had seen that day, and of “future” revelations “in the which I will appear unto thee” (cf. Act 26:16).

"By revelation he made known unto" Paul "the mystery." Not “one” mystery only, but the comprehensive all-inclusive will of the Father from which Paul unveils "the mystery of Christ."

After Ananias commanded “Brother Saul” to receive his sight, he further informed Paul regarding the Father’s will: “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will” (cf. Act 22:14). Part of that comprehensive will is the mystery of the church, i.e., “the fellowship of the mystery”:

“That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs [with Jews], and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph 3:6-11).

A.T. Robertson¹ writes: "My understanding in the mystery of Christ" (tēn sunesin mou en tōi mustēriōi tou Christou). My “comprehension” (sunesin, Col_1:9; Col_2:2). Every sermon reveals the preacher’s grasp of “the mystery of Christ.” If he has no insight into Christ, he has no call to preach.²

A.T. Robertson biographical profile


¹A.T. Robertson, professor of New Testament interpretation (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) published 45 books, including his 1,454-page "A Grammar of the Greek New Testament" and six-volume "Word Pictures in the New Testament."

²A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Ephesians 3:4, 1927.

³By Caravaggio - scan, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15219516