Mystery and revelation
In the Bible, a mystery is a truth once hidden in God’s plan but now made known by his revelation. The term often refers to aspects of the gospel and God’s saving purpose revealed in Christ.
At a Glance
In the Bible, a mystery is a truth once hidden in God’s plan but now made known by his revelation. The term often refers to aspects of the gospel and God’s saving purpose revealed in Christ.
Description
In biblical usage, a mystery is not merely a puzzle for human reason but a divine purpose that was previously concealed and has now been disclosed by God. The New Testament especially uses this language for truths connected to Christ, the gospel, the inclusion of the Gentiles, the union of Christ and the church, and God’s saving plan reaching its appointed fulfillment. Revelation is the gracious act by which God makes himself and his truth known, ultimately in Christ and through the apostolic witness preserved in Scripture. A careful evangelical definition should say that the mystery remains known only because God has revealed it, not because human beings discovered it on their own. While specific “mysteries” in Scripture vary by context, the safest summary is that God has now made known in Christ what was once hidden in earlier stages of redemptive history.
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