Question:
What is the the "fellowship of the Mystery?"
Answer:
The mystery was that Jews and Gentiles could receive
salvation equally through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 3:1-12
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 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.
8 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;
9 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:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 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.
8 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;
9 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:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Paul's mission was to Gentiles in particular, but by no means was his message limited. He preached to both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 1:16; Acts 13:13–43). He spoke in Israel and far beyond, seeking even to take the gospel to Spain (Romans 15:24, Romans 15:28). This preaching included "the plan of the mystery hidden for ages."
This mystery was revealed from God to Paul. Paul references God as creator (Genesis 1:1), affirming God's direct design of all things, living and non–living. He also referred to God as creator in Romans 1:25 and Colossians 3:10. God is the "Creator of the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 40:28). In Ephesians 2:10, Paul wrote of believers being created in Christ Jesus for good works, affirming Jesus elsewhere as creator and equal with God (Colossians 1:16). Paul taught that "everything created by God is good" (1 Timothy 4:4). Hebrews 11:3 adds "that the universe was created by the word of God," while Revelation 4:11 declares God's creation of all things by His will.
This mystery was revealed from God to Paul. Paul references God as creator (Genesis 1:1), affirming God's direct design of all things, living and non–living. He also referred to God as creator in Romans 1:25 and Colossians 3:10. God is the "Creator of the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 40:28). In Ephesians 2:10, Paul wrote of believers being created in Christ Jesus for good works, affirming Jesus elsewhere as creator and equal with God (Colossians 1:16). Paul taught that "everything created by God is good" (1 Timothy 4:4). Hebrews 11:3 adds "that the universe was created by the word of God," while Revelation 4:11 declares God's creation of all things by His will.
“…the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began…” – Romans 16:25
This should be clear enough, but it is often rejected by claiming that the mystery of Christ was prophesied but hidden in the old testament, the law, or the promises given to Abraham.
This is an outright denial of what Paul says by inspiration that the mystery of Christ was “kept secret since the world began”.
If something was revealed since the world began until Paul, it can not be the mystery of Christ revealed to Paul.
“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” – Colossians 1:26
The mystery was hidden from past ages of time. There is no time in the past in which this mystery was made known, until now.
“But Peter says the prophets prophesied of grace in 1 Peter 1:10”
Then what was prophesied about grace cannot be the mystery of Christ, even if they did not understand what they prophesied.
That they prophesied at all means God revealed and did not keep it secret (Deuteronomy 29:29).
God’s word says the mystery was hid “from generations”. There is no generation of men that was given this information until Paul.
“Then, where was the mystery of Christ hid if not in the Old Testament writings?”
Ephesians 3:9 explains that the mystery was “from the beginning of the world hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ”.
God the creator, before the world began, decided to keep this mystery a secret, hidden, and unknown until He revealed it to the apostle Paul by the Spirit (Ephesians 3:3-5; Galatians 1:15-16; Romans 15:15-16).
It was not hidden in the Old Testament writings, nor in the New Testament writings, nor in the promises given to Abraham.
“But the prophets did speak of Christ’s death, forgiveness of sins, and grace to Gentiles.”
Then those things cannot be the mystery kept secret, unknown to ages and generations, hidden from the beginning in God as the Scripture states.
If the mystery was in prophecy then it ceases to be a mystery.
This is the foundation of rightly dividing the word of truth, and the only way to keep from denying the secret nature of the mystery.
To Paul was revealed the mystery of Christ’s headship in heaven with one body called the church united to him freely by God’s grace through Christ’s death, blood, and resurrection.
This mystery of Christ is not found at all in prophecy.
If something was revealed since the world began until Paul, it cannot be the mystery of Christ revealed first to Paul.
“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:32
This should be clear enough, but it is often rejected by claiming that the mystery of Christ was prophesied but hidden in the old testament, the law, or the promises given to Abraham.
This is an outright denial of what Paul says by inspiration that the mystery of Christ was “kept secret since the world began”.
If something was revealed since the world began until Paul, it can not be the mystery of Christ revealed to Paul.
“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:” – Colossians 1:26
The mystery was hidden from past ages of time. There is no time in the past in which this mystery was made known, until now.
“But Peter says the prophets prophesied of grace in 1 Peter 1:10”
Then what was prophesied about grace cannot be the mystery of Christ, even if they did not understand what they prophesied.
That they prophesied at all means God revealed and did not keep it secret (Deuteronomy 29:29).
God’s word says the mystery was hid “from generations”. There is no generation of men that was given this information until Paul.
“Then, where was the mystery of Christ hid if not in the Old Testament writings?”
Ephesians 3:9 explains that the mystery was “from the beginning of the world hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ”.
God the creator, before the world began, decided to keep this mystery a secret, hidden, and unknown until He revealed it to the apostle Paul by the Spirit (Ephesians 3:3-5; Galatians 1:15-16; Romans 15:15-16).
It was not hidden in the Old Testament writings, nor in the New Testament writings, nor in the promises given to Abraham.
“But the prophets did speak of Christ’s death, forgiveness of sins, and grace to Gentiles.”
Then those things cannot be the mystery kept secret, unknown to ages and generations, hidden from the beginning in God as the Scripture states.
If the mystery was in prophecy then it ceases to be a mystery.
This is the foundation of rightly dividing the word of truth, and the only way to keep from denying the secret nature of the mystery.
To Paul was revealed the mystery of Christ’s headship in heaven with one body called the church united to him freely by God’s grace through Christ’s death, blood, and resurrection.
This mystery of Christ is not found at all in prophecy.
If something was revealed since the world began until Paul, it cannot be the mystery of Christ revealed first to Paul.
“This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” – Ephesians 5:32