What was the secret of Christ in Ephesians 3?
The secret was the mystery of Christ: God's previously unrevealed plan of grace for the Gentiles, made known to Paul by revelation. No one before had any inkling of it. It concerned the dispensation of grace given to Paul for the Gentiles, as recorded in Ephesians 3.
Les teaches that in Ephesians 3 Paul, writing predominantly to Gentiles, explains that the dispensation of the grace of God was given to him by revelation. This mystery, or secret, of Christ had never been revealed before; it was something no one else had ever had an inkling of. Les connects this to the principle that the everlasting God has the sovereign capability of keeping things secret until His time to reveal them, as illustrated by the Hebrew term olam. Paul made known this secret so that readers could understand his knowledge in the mystery of Christ.
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
More Questions
Why did Paul write about the mystery in a few words in Ephesians 3?
Paul wrote about the mystery in a few words so that when his readers read it, they could understand his knowledge of it.
What word does Ephesians 3:3 use that Paul also used in Galatians?
In Ephesians 3:3 Paul uses the same word "revelation" that he used in Galatians, saying the Lord Jesus Himself made the mystery known to him.