SOAP BOX 24- THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST

What is 'the mystery of Christ ?' This should be easy. The words are only found in the prison epistles, Ephesians and Colossians. The verses from these epistles read :

Ephesians 3:4 "……..Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my
knowledge in the mystery of Christ…"……….

Colossians 4:3 "………Withal praying also for us, that God would
open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the
mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:……."

Concerning the Context of Ephesians The first seven verses of chapter 3, are all one sentence. In this sentence, the word 'mystery' is found twice- 3:3 and 3:4. The word is found three times in the entire chapter. Cf. 3:9

Some would make a difference between 'the mystery' and 'the mystery'…..of Christ.

This is a teaching and a conclusion (to this writer ) that supports a theology and a position taken, but can not be supported by this scripture.

First, notice Paul's relating both references to each other. Paul says about 'the mystery' in 3:3 'as I wrote afore in few words..' as he refers the Ephesians to an earlier portion of the Ephesian epistle, which more than likely is 2:12-22. If the Ephesians do this, Paul says, 'When ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ'..

How strange ? Could you possibly read about oranges and by that reading, know more about apples ? Well, you should already know that oranges are not apples. It hardly seems possible that you could learn a lot about two different entities, by reading what Paul Wrote afore IN FEW WORDS about only one entity. Rather, 'the mystery' and 'the mystery' of Christ are the same. Paul is saying, I was given by revelation knowledge of the mystery. And as you read these truths over and over, you will then get an idea of my knowledge of this mystery as it relates to Christ.

Secondly, you will find 'Christ' in all the scriptures. But you will not find 'the mystery' as it refers to a 'Christ', who can be found in all the scriptures. Notice how this is brought out in 3:5, as Paul continues,

"Which ( 'mystery') ( that is, 'the mystery' of Christ or 'the mystery' in
reference to Christ or, 'the mystery' as it relates to Christ ) in other ages
(generations) was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now
revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit :…"

Thirdly, Paul makes a contrast between the known in other ages/generations and what is now revealed and so known. The difference is made by the particle 'as'. Either we have a 'mystery' that is by definition not known by other ages/generations 'as' it is now revealed or Paul is not using the proper words to make comparisons.

The contrast that Paul is making is like using automobiles here. There was no knowledge of automobiles in other ages/generations 'as' there is now in our day. Well, Abraham had no knowledge of automobiles 'as' we have now.

Fourthly, since 3:1-7 is all one sentence, we see Paul making a smooth flow into the very description/definition of 'the mystery' as he ends the contrast in 3:5 and moves into 3:6

….'That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs ( with believing Israelites), and of the same body (joint-body) (with believing Israelites), and partakers(joint-takers) (with believing Israelites) of his promise in Christ by the gospel:….'

Concerning the Context in Colossians 'The mystery of Christ' as found in Colossians 4:3, is the same as found in Ephesians 3:4. This is the new dispensational truth that Paul was converted and called to proclaim.

For this reason, Paul now asks the Colossians to continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving: and to pray

"that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak
'the mystery of Christ'
for which I am also in bonds":….

If 'the mystery of Christ' is not the same as 'the mystery' in Ephesians 3:3-4, and that the 'mystery of Christ' was partially revealed in the Old Testament times, why would Paul ask the Colossians to pray that a door of utterance to speak about a subject that had no relationship to the revelation that some contend he had just received while in prison????.

That is, 'IF' Paul was not given the revelation of 'the mystery' until after he was placed in prison, then, again we would ask, why would Paul ask the Colossians to pray that a door of utterance to speak about truths from the Old Testament , when Christ had just given to him the revelation of 'the mystery' TO NOW START MAKING KNOWN ????

The phrase after the mystery of Christ, enlightens our minds-for which I also am in bonds
Paul is actually saying, 'for which (the mystery of Christ) I am also in bonds':….
Paul is actually saying, 'on account of 'the mystery of Christ' I am also in bonds':…
Paul is actually saying, I have been preaching 'the mystery of Christ' and that is the reason also that I am also in bonds.

Paul is actually saying, 'pray that I will be able to have a door of utterance to continue to preach the mystery of Christ, even as I was preaching this mystery and was placed in prison, in bonds on account of this.'

It was a fact that Paul was a prisoner of Caesar. But it is a claim of Paul that he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Eph. 3:1; 4:1. When arrested in Jerusalem while in the temple, the Jews thought Paul had brought a Greek/Gentile into the temple also. During Paul's testimony, in Acts 22:21, Paul tells them of another temple experience that happened in Acts 9, where Paul shows that the Lord had then told Paul that he was to be sent to the Gentiles, (as the Apostle of the Gentiles).

The mystery of Christ, the secret of Christ had been NO SECRET many chapters before Acts 28 and many writings before Colossians and Ephesians.

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