Mystery (3466) (musterion from mustes = one initiated [as into the Greco-Roman "mystery" religions] from mueo = to close or shut) in the NT is a truth never previously known, and a truth which human intellect could never discover, but one which has now been made known by divine revelation.
Musterion - 28x in 28v - Matt 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10; Ro 11:25; 16.25" class="scriptRef">16:25; 1Cor 2:1, 7" class="scriptRef">7; 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; 15:51; 9" class="scriptRef">Eph 1:9; 3:3f, 9; 5:32; 6:19; Col 1:26, 27; 2:2; 4:3; 2Th 2:7; 1Ti 3:9, 16; Rev 1:20; 10:7; 17:5, 7
In Paul's day musterion was a technical term utilized by the "mystery religions" which referred to a secrets concealed by strange customs and ceremonies and confided only to those initiated into the "mystery cult". Musterion embraced ideas such as "a secret rite," "secret teaching," and "a divine mystery which is beyond human comprehension." The "mystery-religions" had their secrets and signs just as seen in modern secret societies. Those initiated into these pagan cults, knew these secret signs. In summary, a mystery in the context of the Greek Mystery Religions was a secret rite which was administered to the person being initiated.
Mystery in modern usage is similar to this ancient use for it usually means a secret for which no answer can be found (cf "mystery novel"). In contrast to this contemporary use of "mystery", Scripture uses musterion to indicate truth which was previously unknown but which now has been made known through revelation mediated by God.
Musterion in the Bible means those truths which are part of God's plan and can only be understood as He reveals them by His Spirit through His Word. As discussed further below, musterion refers to truth previously hidden, which when revealed, is understood by the believer. Stated another way musterion is "a secret purpose of God which when uncovered is understood by the Spirit-taught believer." It refers to a truth which without special revelation would have been unknown and thus is commonly used with words denoting revelation or knowledge (e.g., "to know the mysteries", (Mt 13:11), "revelation of the mystery", (Ro 16:25-note) , "made known...the mystery", Ep 3:3-note)
Vincent defines musterion as that
which was kept hidden from the world until revealed at the appointed time, and which is a secret to ordinary eyes, but is made known by divine revelation. (Vincent, M. R. Word studies in the New Testament. Vol. 4, Page 234-235).
MacArthur adds that
musterion does not carry the connotation that word has in modern English, as used, for example, of a mystery novel. In the New Testament it refers to something hidden in former times but now made known. Specifically, it refers to a part of God’s truth that was not revealed, or was only partially revealed, in the Old Testament. (MacArthur, J: Romans 9-16. Chicago: Moody Press or Logos)
McGee explains that...
A mystery is something which had not been revealed in the Old Testament but is now revealed in the New Testament. It is something which you cannot learn by the eye-gate or the ear-gate. Nor has it entered into the heart of man—that is, it is not something man would have thought of. It is a fact which must be revealed by God. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos)
Unger says that
The NT use of the term mystery has reference to some operation or plan of God hitherto unrevealed. It does not carry the idea of a secret to be withheld, but of one to be published...The term mystery, moreover, comprehends not only a previously hidden truth, presently divulged, but one that contains a supernatural element that still remains in spite of the revelation (Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Chicago: Moody Press)
BDAG explains that musterion is...
the unmanifested or private counsel of God, (God’s) secret, the secret thoughts, plans, and dispensations of God which are hidden from human reason, as well as from all other comprehension below the divine level, and await either fulfillment or revelation to those for whom they are intended
There are 8 uses of musterion in the Septuagint (LXX) all in the book of Daniel (Da 2:18-19, 27-30, 47; 4:9)
Here are the 27 NT uses of musterion...
Matthew 13:11 (Jesus responds to the disciples' request to explain the parables) And He answered and said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (Who can understand the mysteries? cf the two other uses in the gospels)
Mark 4:11 (Jesus responds to the disciples' request to explain the parables) And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables,
Luke 8:10 (Jesus responds to the disciples' request to explain the parables) And He said, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, in order that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
Romans 11:25 (note) For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, (the temporary, partial hardening of Israel's heart) lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in
Romans 16:25 (note) Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery (the truth that believing Jews and believing Gentiles are made fellow heirs, fellow members of the Body of Christ, and fellow partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel) which has been kept secret for long ages past,
1 Corinthians 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory; (Comment: Here musterion refers to the truth God established before time and revealed in the gospel)
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards (a servant who cares for the property of another) of the mysteries of God. (Comment: In this context musterion is used in its broadest sense as God’s full revealed truth in the NT which Paul had to oversee and dispense as God’s steward. All believers are in a very real sense "stewards" of God's mysteries, and we are responsible for handling these mysteries with reverence and integrity; e.g., see below Colossians 4:3)
1 Corinthians 13:2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. (Comment: In this context musterion refers to "mysteries" that were totally unlike the ones mentioned in the most of the other uses of Scripture. The "spirit" by which they spoke was not the Holy Spirit but their own human spirit or even worse, a demonic spirit! The the mysteries they spoke were like those associated with the "mystery religions" which only the initiated few were privileged to know and understand)
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (Comment: Here the mystery is the rapture of the church, a truth never revealed in the Old Testament.)
Ephesians 1:9 (note) He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
Ephesians 3:3 (note) that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. (Comment: Mystery = Jews and Gentiles in one body, the church.)
Ephesians 3:4 (note) And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, (Comment: Mystery = Jews and Gentiles in one body, the church.)
Ephesians 3:9 (note) and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; (Comment: Mystery = Jews and Gentiles in one body, the church.)
Ephesians 5:32 (note) This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. (Comment: The mystery is that God has called out a people to become the Body and Bride of His Son and the marriage relationship is optimally to portray a beautiful picture of the relation between Christ and His Bride, the church.)
Ephesians 6:19 (note) and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,
Colossians 1:26 (note) that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints (observe how this "mystery" is now revealed in the next verse), 1:27 (note) to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Comment: The mystery now revealed is that the living Christ indwells believers).
Colossians 2:2 (note) that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself (Comment: Here the mystery revealed appears to be a reference to the Church as the spiritual body of Christ on earth and He as its Head in heaven.)
Colossians 4:3 (note) praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ (referring to the gospel), for which I have also been imprisoned;
2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. (Comment by John MacArthur: This is the spirit of lawlessness already prevalent in society [cf. 1 John 3:4; 5:17], but still a mystery in that it is not fully revealed as it will be in the one who so blatantly opposes God that he blasphemously assumes the place of God on earth which God has reserved for Jesus Christ. The spirit of such a man is already in operation [cf. 1 John 2:18; 4:3], but the man who fully embodies that spirit has not come.) (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word or Logos)
1 Timothy 3:9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (Comment: Here the "mystery" is "the faith" which is not the act of believing but the content of what is believed. In other words, many of the doctrines of Christianity were kept secret throughout the OT period but were then revealed by the apostles and prophets of the NT, especially in the gospel).
1 Timothy 3:16 And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. (Comment: The mystery here is of the previously unknown truth concerning the Person and work of the Lord Jesus, truths of salvation and righteousness in Him, which produce godliness in believers.)
Revelation 1:20 (note) "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. (Comment: Here the glorified Christ clearly states the meaning of this "mystery".)
Revelation 10:7 (note) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.
Revelation 17:5 (note) and upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
Revelation 17:7 (note) And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I shall tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Barclay adds that musterion
"means something whose meaning is hidden from those who have not been initiated, but crystal clear to those who have. It would describe a ceremony carried out in some society whose meaning was quite clear to the members of the society, but unintelligible to the outsider...in other words "In Greek a musterion is not necessarily something abstruse; it is something quite unintelligible to the uninitiated but crystal clear to the initiated." (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos)
In contrast to this use, the NT use of musterion refers to a previously hidden truth now divinely revealed. The secret counsels of God which remain hidden from the ungodly (to them they are a true "mystery" as the word is commonly used in English) but when these truths are revealed to the godly, they are understood by them. The mystery is not in the fact that the truths are difficult to interpret, but that they are impossible to interpret until their meaning is revealed at which time the truth becomes plain.
Jesus explained to His disciples that they had been initiated into these secret things declaring
To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God; but those who are outside get everything in parables, in order that while seeing, they may see and not perceive; and while hearing, they may hear and not understand lest they return and be forgiven." (Mk 4:11-12)
When Jesus talks of the mystery of the Kingdom, it does not mean that the Kingdom is remote and hard to understand, but it does mean that this truth is quite unintelligible to the man or woman who has not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Criswell comments that...
The "mystery", which has been hidden in the heart of God through all the ages of time and from all generations of men but is now revealed to His apostles, is the church age (cf. Eph 3:3, note). That is, between the suffering of Christ on the cross and the setting up of the kingdom of Christ on earth, there is to be the dispensation of grace when both Jew and Gentile will make up the household of faith, the church (ekklesia, Gk.).
A mystery, in NT terminology, refers to a truth long hidden but eventually revealed to man by God at the appointed time. Most of the 27 occurrences of the word in the NT refer to some aspect of the plan of salvation: e.g., the kingdom of God (Mt. 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10), the hardening of Israel and the admission of the Gentiles (Ro 11:25), the equality of Gentiles with Jews (Ep 3:3, 4, 5, 6), the gospel (Eph 6:19; 1Co 2:7; 4:1; Col 4:3) and its reception (Ep 1:9; 16.25" class="scriptRef">Ro 16:25; Col 1:26, 27), the sweep of God's redemption (Ep 1:9; 3:9), the resurrection (1Co 15:51), the central doctrines of the faith (1Ti 3:9, 16), and Christ Himself (Col 2:2). The term is also used of marriage as a symbol of Christ and the church (Ep 5:32), of prophetic secrets (1Co 13:2; 14:2), of the "man of sin" (2Th 2:3), and of intended symbols (Rev 1:20; Rev 10:7; Rev 17:5, Rev 17:7).
Musterion has its roots in the Old Testament and is found frequently in the second chapter of Daniel in the Greek translation (Septuagint) while the Hebrew equivalent occurs in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Gnostic teachers talked much of mysteries so Paul takes their "special" word and presents his special message regarding the Gentiles. Most people think of mystery as something eerie and unknown but this was not the way Paul uses the word (which he uses some 20x in the NT).
As used by Paul musterion denotes, not something "mysterious" but that which, being beyond unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and to those who are illumined by the Spirit.
Mysteries in the Scripture fall into two categories. Some have already been revealed, and among these are the incarnation of Christ and the salvation of sinners. Others are yet to be seen, such as the general resurrection, the coming Antichrist, and the evil of the last day. It is comforting to realize that all the mysteries which bear on our salvation are already revealed to readers of Scripture.
Musterion is a divine secret or truth which is unknowable apart from divine revelation and which has now been revealed in Christ and the surrounding context stresses the fact that the mystery was hidden from pre-cross times, but now has been manifested to the saints of the church age.
Summary of
NT Mysteries
The Mystery of the Incarnate God
The Mystery of Iniquity
The Mystery of the Rapture
The Mystery of Babylon
The Mystery of the Church
The Mystery of the Bride
The Mystery of Israel's Unbelief
Colossians 2:2-3, 9
2Th 2:7
1Cor 15:51,52
7.5" class="scriptRef">Rev 17:5, 7
9-Eph.1.10" class="scriptRef">Eph 1:9, 10; 3:3, 4, 5, 6,9; 6:19
Eph 5:23-32
Ro 11:25 (note)
So here we see a clear contrast between the ordinary use of mystery implying knowledge withheld, but in Scripture indicating truth revealed. The terms often found associated with mystery are “made known,” “manifested,” “revealed,” “preached,” “understand,” “dispensation.”
In the present passage it is used of the union of redeemed men with God in Christ, forming the church which is Christ’s body, similar to the meaning in Eph 5:32 (note) . In Ephesians the prominent thought is the union of the saints in Christ (Eph 3:2, 3, 4, 5, 6-see notes Ep 3:2; 3:3; 3:4; 3:5; 3:6) while in Colossians the thought is the indwelling of Christ in the saints. And yet in both epistles the figure is that of the body of which Christ is the Head.
So here Paul revealed a "sacred secret", previously unknown "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Paul wanted the Gentiles to know that they too could have Christ in them. He teaches the parallel thought in (Ep 2:11ff- notes). This is the great mystery, the greatest truth taught in the Bible, and yet it is the most seriously missing element in many churches today. Most Christians in our churches understand and believe that Christ died for their sins but most fail to go beyond this basic truth. Relatively few go on to grasp the fact that Jesus died for them that He might live in and through them, the so called "exchanged life" or "Christ life". Many fall sadly short of grasping that it is Christ's life in them that provides the power to live the Christian life, bring about real change in one's behavior and lifestyle and provide the ability to resist temptation. It is not enough to know that Christ died in order that we might go to heaven. We are also to know, understand, and practice Christ "Who is our life" living in us now! (Col 3:4-note) Have you begun to discover this "mystery"? To attempt to obey the many commands in Colossians 3 and Col 4 without an understanding and appropriation of one's Power Source can lead to frustration and failure in the Christian life, which God desires for you to live abundantly.
Charles Wesley (1707-88) wrote of Biblical mystery in hymn form:
And Can It Be That I Should Gain?
'Tis mystery all! The immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
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