Doctrine of Mystery

 “We speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, even the wisdom that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the world unto our glory” (1Co 2:7).

The doctrine of the “mystery” is essentially as much a mystery today as it was before it was revealed almost 2000 years ago. It is to be found in only one “Book” – and in part, it is “the gospel wherein we stand… by which also we are saved” (cf. 1Co 15:1-2).

There was once “another” gospel whereby men were saved ─ but when a “dispensation of the gospel” was committed unto Paul (cf. 1Co 9:17) ─ that previously imparted began to vanish away. 

Although Paul’s “gospel” is but one facet of the mystery reveled in his epistles ─ it is the one of “eternal” consequence, for ─ he declares: “in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ,” it will be“according to my gospel” (cf. Rom 2:16). 

Any other gospel, Paul contends is an “anathema”!

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8). 

“As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received [from us], let him be accursed” (Gal 1:9). 

There many other facets of the mystery — however, seems best to confine ourselves to this “until the righteousness of the law … be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (cf. Rom 8:4). 

Paul prayed: “that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (cf. Eph 6:19-20).

And once again in his Romans doxology (16:25-27): “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching [proclamation and heralding] of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the [New Testament] prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: 

To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”