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If Paul had uttered one word that associated any believing Jew or Gentile with the
seated Christ at the right hand of God, in the holiest of all, he would most certainly have
gone beyond the limits of the inspired testimony of Moses and the Prophets and have
revealed truth that was exclusive to the dispensation of the Mystery. It is this that makes
the Apostle's claim so important to all who would appreciate the distinctive nature of the
Mystery. The heavenly calling, with its city the New Jerusalem, is not related to the
Mystery, and rightly falls within the limits set by the Apostle.
The mention of the Mystery may perhaps cause some reader to remember that, long
before the prison epistles were written, Paul spoke of several "mysteries". Can these
mysteries possibly fall within the limits of "Moses and the Prophets", or will their
investigation prove that the Apostle was, after all, wrong in claiming that he had said
"none other things than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come"? To a
consideration of this question we hope to devote the closing articles of this series.
#7. The Mysteries.
The mysteries of Israel's blindness (Rom. 11: 25)
and the mystery that was silenced (Rom. 16: 25)
considered in the light of our title.
pp. 64 - 69
We have already seen that the gospel, the inclusion of the Gentile, the hope
entertained by the early church, and the possession of spiritual gifts, all fall within the
testimony of the law and the prophets. There remains, however, one other subject which
at first sight may seem to upset all our previous arguments--the subject of the
"mysteries" of which Paul was a steward long before the "mystery" of the prison epistles
was made manifest.
There are five mysteries specified in the epistles written before Acts 28: that must
claim our attention:
(1)
The
MYSTERY
of Israel's blindness (Rom. 11: 25).
(2)
The
MYSTERY
that had been kept secret (Rom. 16: 25).
(3)
The
MYSTERY
of the wisdom of God (I Cor. 2: 7).
(4)
The
MYSTERY
in relation to resurrection (I Cor. 15: 51).
(5)
The
MYSTERY
of iniquity (II Thess. 2: 7).
Let us examine these five mysteries, and see whether we find them in agreement with
the O.T. Scriptures, or whether we shall have to admit that they go beyond them.
The mystery of Israel's blindness (Rom. 11: 25).
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery lest ye should be
wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness
of the Gentiles be come in" (Rom. 11: 25).