What does the word revelation mean in this passage?
Revelation denotes an unveiling: something previously kept under wraps is suddenly made known. It refers to the Lord making known the mystery, the secret, that had been hidden in God from the beginning and was not made known in other ages, now revealed concerning Gentiles coming under God's grace.
Les explains that the word revelation means an unveiling. It is something that has been kept under wraps and is suddenly unveiled. In the passage, Paul says that by revelation the Lord made known unto him the mystery, the secret, as he wrote before in a few words, so that when readers read they may understand his knowledge in the mysteries, or the secrets of Christ. Les points out that this mystery was not made known in other ages or generations unto the sons of men as it is now revealed. It concerns the Gentiles coming in under God's grace. Later, verse 9 speaks of making all see the fellowship of this mystery, or secret, which from the beginning of the world, from Adam, had been hid, veiled, and covered up in God—the same God who created everything through Jesus Christ. Les says this tells us there was a time when no one knew these things.