How do you do a Bible study on the word 'mystery' in Paul's epistles?
A Bible study on 'mystery' in Paul's epistles is done by taking a good concordance and looking up every occurrence, then compiling all the concepts Paul associates with this revelation of a mystery. Such a study takes two or three hours and shows these truths were previously hidden, not found in the Old Testament, Christ's earthly ministry, or early Acts.
Les explains that if you want to do a good Bible study some evening, take a good concordance and simply look up the word mystery wherever it appears in Paul's epistles. That can make a two or three hour Bible study, and it will be interesting. Then put together all of the concepts Paul associates with this revelation of a mystery. Les stresses that all these things coming from Paul's epistles were never revealed previously in any of God's dealing with mankind. Many of Paul's doctrines cannot be found in the Old Testament, in Christ's earthly ministry, or in the early parts of Acts. They were revelations God had kept secret since the beginning of human history, or even before. Les likes to start with Deuteronomy 29:29, where the secret things belong unto the Lord our God, because He is sovereign and the Creator of everything.