As used in the New Testament, something true that we could never figure out for ourselves, but which must be disclosed to us by God; something which was “beyond us to discover, though we can understand it all right when God has made it known to us.” 1
- From scripture:
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages [26] but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—[27] to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen (Romans 16:25-27 ESV).
- From The Epistle to the Romans by Leon Morris, commenting on Romans 11:23:1
He speaks of a mystery, a term the Christians used in the sense of something that people could not possibly know of themselves, but which has now been revealed to them. It was not incomprehensible, not “mysterious” in our sense of the term; it was something beyond us to discover, though we can understand it all right when God has made it known to us… . Paul uses [this term] to refer to a number of facets of the Christian message (e.g., 1 Cor. 2:7; 15:51; Eph. 3:4), but especially to the gospel (e.g., Eph. 6:19).
Learn more:
- Blue Letter Bible: What Does the Term “Mystery” Mean In Relation to Bible Doctrine?
- Albert Mohler: The Mystery of the Gospel
- J. Hampton Keathley, III: Mystery Truths of Scripture
Related terms:
1 The Epistle to the Romans by Leon Morris, page 419.
This theological term was suggested by Neil Baulch.
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