Topical Encyclopedia In the context of the Bible, the term "mysteries" refers to divine truths that were once hidden but have been revealed by God. These mysteries are not meant to remain secret but are disclosed to those who seek understanding through faith. The concept of mysteries is prevalent throughout both the Old and New Testaments, highlighting the progressive revelation of God's plan for humanity.Old Testament Context While the term "mystery" is not explicitly used in the Old Testament, the concept is present in the form of divine secrets and revelations. The Hebrew word "sod" often conveys the idea of a secret or counsel, as seen in Amos 3:7: "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets." This indicates that God shares His divine plans with His chosen messengers, who then communicate these truths to the people. New Testament Context The New Testament provides a more explicit treatment of mysteries, using the Greek word "mysterion" to describe divine truths revealed through Christ and the apostles. The Apostle Paul frequently uses the term to explain the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul writes, "No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began." Here, the mystery refers to the wisdom of God that was hidden but is now revealed through the gospel. The Mystery of the Gospel One of the central mysteries in the New Testament is the mystery of the gospel—the inclusion of Gentiles in the covenant promises of God. Ephesians 3:6 states, "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus." This revelation was groundbreaking for the early church, as it expanded the scope of God's salvation beyond the Jewish people to include all nations. The Mystery of Christ The person and work of Jesus Christ are central to the mysteries revealed in the New Testament. Colossians 1:26-27 speaks of "the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This passage emphasizes the indwelling presence of Christ in believers as a profound mystery now made known. The Mystery of the Kingdom of God Jesus Himself spoke of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. In Mark 4:11, He tells His disciples, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside, everything is expressed in parables." The parables of Jesus often contained hidden truths about the kingdom, accessible to those with spiritual insight and understanding. The Mystery of Godliness Another significant mystery is the mystery of godliness, as described in 1 Timothy 3:16: "And undeniably, great is the mystery of godliness: He was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory." This encapsulates the incarnation, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, highlighting the profound nature of God's redemptive work. The Role of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in revealing and understanding these mysteries. In 1 Corinthians 2:10, Paul states, "But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." The Spirit grants believers insight into the mysteries of God, enabling them to comprehend and live out these divine truths. Conclusion The mysteries of the Bible are divine truths that were once hidden but have been revealed through God's progressive revelation. They encompass the gospel, the person of Christ, the kingdom of God, and the nature of godliness, among other profound truths. Through the Holy Spirit, believers are granted understanding and insight into these mysteries, allowing them to participate in God's redemptive plan. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) Plural of Mystery.Greek 3453. mueo -- to initiate into the mysteries, hence to instruct ... to initiate into the mysteries, hence to instruct. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: mueo Phonetic Spelling: (moo-eh'-o) Short Definition: I initiate ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3453.htm - 7k 3466. musterion -- a mystery or secret doctrine Strong's Hebrew 6013. amoq -- deep... Word Origin from amoq Definition deep NASB Word Usage deep (6), deeper (8), exceedingly mysterious (1), mysteries (1). exceeding deep thing. ... /hebrew/6013.htm - 6k 7328. raz -- a secret Library Of Mysteries The Mysteries of the Brazen Serpent Whether the Angels Know the Mysteries of Grace? The Mysteries of Providence. (On the Mysteries. Ii. ) (On the Mysteries. Iii. ) (On the Mysteries. Iv. ) (On the Mysteries. V. ) What are These Hidden and Unseen Mysteries, You Will Say... Three Celebrated Mysteries. Thesaurus Mysteries (11 Occurrences)...Mysteries (11 Occurrences). Matthew 13:11 He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. ... /m/mysteries.htm - 9k Nonimmersionist Non-immersionist Mystery (31 Occurrences) View (86 Occurrences) Samothrace (1 Occurrence) Archaeology Hellenism Hellenist Criticism (1 Occurrence) Resources Should a Christian be interested in conspiracy theories? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the mystery of faith? | GotQuestions.org What is the King James Version (KJV)? | GotQuestions.org Mysteries: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Mysteries (11 Occurrences)Matthew 13:11 Luke 8:10 1 Corinthians 4:1 1 Corinthians 13:2 1 Corinthians 14:2 Philippians 4:12 Job 11:7 Job 12:22 Daniel 2:28 Daniel 2:29 Daniel 2:47 Subtopics Related Terms Understandeth (24 Occurrences) |