By Arthur J Licursi

Herein I will differentiate the two words “Mystery” and “Secret” as used and seen in the Pauline Scriptures, of the KJV, and the significance thereof.

While the word “Mystery” is translated from the Greek ‘musterion’ meaning “a secret,” the use of the word ‘secret’ [Gk. sigao] means something of which “to be kept silent,” “to keep quiet” or something “kept hidden” until the time of its revealing.

Paul wrote of two important ‘musterions,’ or “mysteries” that were revealed by Christ to him for us today.

The 1^st Pauline Mystery’ Revealed during the Acts period while Paul was going “to the Jew first.”

This 1^st Mystery’ revelation Paul received concerned the full meaning of the purpose and power of the cross of Christ, all that is provided to us by faith in Christ’s suffering, death, burial, and resurrection (cf. 1Cor. 15:3-4). The power of the Cross of Christ was “kept secret” from Lucifer and his heavenly and earthly ‘princes’ who killed “the prince of peace.” In ‘secret,’ God used Lucifer, who in turn used his fallen angels, and Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders to kill Jesus, “the Prince of peace.”

⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery [Grk., musterion], even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: ⁸ Which none of the princes of this world [Grk. kosmos] knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Cor. 2:7-8 (KJV)

The 2^nd Pauline Mystery Revealed After Acts:

AFTER Acts 28 Paul received “the revelation of the mystery [Grk. musterion]” (Rom. 16:25, Eph. 3:3). He refers to this 2^nd Mystery as “a great [Grk. megas, mega] mystery” (Eph. 5:32). This mega mystery that was to reveal the culmination of the written “word of truth” which is is especially for us Gentile grace-age believers of today as seen in Paul’s Post-Acts Prison epistles of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 2 Timothy. Paul alludes to this in His closing Acts period epistle to the Romans.

²⁵ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [Gk. musterion, secret], which was kept secret [Gk. sigao, kept silent] since the world began, Romans 16:25 (KJV)

This newly added Pauline truth is as superstructure added upon the universal doctrinal Salvation grace truths of Paul’s Acts period epistles (i.e., Romans and Galatians). Such truth of the Cross apply to both Israel who is destined to reign on earth (Rev. 5:10, 20:6), as well as The Gentile “church, which is His body,” which is destined to reign “in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3, 2Tim 2:12). Recall that Paul was at that time going “to the Jew first.” Those epistles mainly concern the believing remnant of Israel’s Pentecostal “little flock” (Luke 12:32) church of Christ believers. Those early Acts period epistles contain truth for our learning, but much of the instruction such as seen in 1^st Corinthians Was For That Time Only as they mainly apply to the Jewish Christ believers.

These believers died never seeing the long-promised ‘kingdom come on earth’ because the Nation Israel fell in unbelief (cf. Roman 11:10-12, 15, 25). With Israel fallen and set-aside as of Acts 28:26-28, this ushered in a new Post-Acts Gentile “dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) that concerns the Gentile “church, which is His body” of which Christ is “the Head” (Read Eph. 3:1-12), not a bridegroom.

In reading Romans 16:25 (above) we should realize that this verse is Paul’s Romans Postscript that was added after his two sets of earlier original closing ‘sign-off’ remarks as seen in Romans 16:20 and 24 (below). 

²⁰ And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. AMEN. Romans 16:20 (KJV)
²⁴ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN. Romans 16:24 (KJV)

I believe Paul likely was alluding to Romans 16:25 Post-Script by his comment here in Eph 3:3.

³ How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (As I Wrote Afore In Few Words, Eph. 3:3 (KJV)

The Apostle Paul’s letters, known as the Pauline epistles, were written to various churches and individuals in the early Christian community and circulated widely among them. Particularly during the 35-year Acts period these letters provided guidance on doctrine, ethics, and church management, playing a crucial role in the development of early Pentecostal Jewish Christian church. So, the Ephesians most likely read Paul’s Romans epistle before receiving a Pauline prison epistle directed to them.

Note that Paul’s Romans letter was written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome, where he also then wrote his ‘prison epistles.’ This was likely soon after the time he had received the further revelation of this “Great Mystery” in accord with his extended calling to now go to the Gentiles DIRECTLY … Totally Apart From Israel And Her Program. In Romans 16:25 Paul calls his 2^nd ministry’s gospel “my gospel,” being the message “the revelation of the mystery.” He then wrote Ephesians and Colossians, which most succinctly the many details of knowing “Jesus Christ, According To The Revelation Of The Mystery.” Romans 16:25 can be viewed as a bridge to introduce his Prison epistles that followed explaining the details of “the Mystery.”

As seen below, this ‘secret plan’ of God was in God from “before the world [Gk. Komos] began” and “kept secret [Gk. sigao],” being “hid in God” until the time of its God-ordained revelation to the Apostle Paul “for ye Gentles” (Eph. 3:1-10) as explained in Paul’s Post-Acts Prison epistles.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Ephesians 1:3-4 (KJV)

²⁶ Even [meaning, ‘that is’] the mystery [Gk. musterion, the secret], which hath been hid [Gk. apokrypto, concealed] from ages and from generations, but now [After Acts 28] is made manifest to his saints [set-apart believers]: Colossians 1:26 (KJV

Today, since after Acts 28:28, it is for us …

⁹ … to make all men see [be enlightened] what is the fellowship of the mystery [Gk. musterion, secret], which from the beginning of the world hath been hid [Gk. apokrypto, concealed] in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Ephesians 3:9 (KJV)

The phrase “the fellowship of the mystery” speaks of the spirit-union that believers have by “Christ In You the hope of [eternal] glory” (Col. 1:27 below). This union comes to us by His resurrected “spirit of life” (Rom. 8:2) being “dispensed” into our “spirit of man” immediately upon our fist believing (cf. 1Cor 6:17). The believers of Paul’s “revelation of the [the great] mystery” are heaven-bound; to “appear with Him in heaven’s glory” when He appears.” (Col. 3:4)

³ For ye are dead, and Your Life Is Hid With Christ In God. [such that] ⁴ When Christ, Who Is Our Life, Shall Appear, then shall ye also [will simultaneously] Appear With Him In [heaven’s] Glory. Colossians 3:3-4 (KJV)

All these Post-Acts precious verses concern the “GREAT mystery,” which Paul wrote of to “fulfill [Grk. pleroo, *complete] the word of God.” They concern a “great [mega] mystery” that had been “kept secret since the foundation of the world [Grk. kosmos]” (Rom. 16:25).

²⁵ Whereof I [Paul] am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil [Gk. pleroo, complete] the word of God; ²⁶ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest [revealed] to his saints: ²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you [plural, all the members of “the body of Christ”], the hope of [heaven’s] glory: Colossians 1:25-27 (KJV)

²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his [Christ’s] cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him [Christ], I say, whether they be things In Earth, or things In Heaven. Colossians 1:20 (KJV)

¹⁰ That in the DISPENSATION Of The Fulness Of Times [the final eternal age] he [God] might gather together in one all things in Christ, BOTH which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him [Christ]: Eph. 1:10 (KJV)

*Some may ask; How can you say Paul ‘completed’ the word of God as noted in Col 1:25 (above)?

ANSWER: In the broad overview of the Bible we should know Paul in Ephesians refers to three overarching ages as 1) “time past” (Eph. 2:2), 2) “the ages to come” (Eph. 2:7), but most important is 3) Paul refers to “But now”, “But now in Christ Jesus ye [Gentiles] who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Eph. 2:13). That which concerns “Time Past” and the “ages to come” were well prophesied and spoken of in the Scriptures. However, Paul’s “But now” statements concern aspects of truth that had never been made known until Christ Jesus revealed them to Paul… for us to know and believe during today’s Gentile “dispensation of the grace of God.” (Eph. 3:2).

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: Ephesians 3:1-2 (KJV)