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We may conclude, therefore, that the secret of Israel's
blindness is well within the testimony of Moses and the
prophets.
The mystery that had been kept secret (Rom. 16:25).
We have now to enquire whether or not this secret is outside
the scope of Moses and the prophets.
If we examine the structure of Romans, it becomes clear that
the complete epistle demands the inclusion of Romans 16. 25-
27; otherwise the opening salutation of Romans 1. 1-7 is
without its corresponding member. In verses 1-7 we have the
gospel, `which He had promised afore by His prophets in the
Holy Scriptures', concerning Christ as the Seed of David and
Son of God, `for obedience of faith among all nations'. In the
corresponding passage at the end of the epistle, Romans 16.25-
27, we have, not the `preaching' of the gospel or its `power unto
salvation', but a reference to `Him that is of power to stablish
you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept
secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by
the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of
the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the
obedience of faith'. In Romans 16 we have an advance on
Romans 1, but not something entirely different. The secret
`now' made manifest (that is, at the time of Paul's writing) is said
to have been `silenced' in aionion times. Let us give this
statement our careful attention. Where the Authorised Version
reads `kept secret' we have substituted `silenced', What is the
justification for this alteration and what does it imply? The