What does it mean that Paul's gospel is 'according to the revelation of the mystery'?
It means Paul's gospel rested on secret truths God had kept hidden throughout human history and revealed only when He called Paul as apostle of the Gentiles. Paul's preaching was part and parcel of those revelations, not something made known before; once revealed, people are responsible to believe.
Les explains that these secrets were held by God all the way up through human history and were revealed only when He called the Apostle Paul to be the Apostle of the Gentiles. In Romans 16:25, Paul speaks of "my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery." Les says this means the gospel Paul preached is part and parcel of revelations of secret things that had never been revealed before. The verse goes on to say this was kept secret since the world or the ages began. Les connects this with Deuteronomy 29:29, that God can see fit to keep things secret as long as He wants, but once He reveals it, it becomes human responsibility to believe it. These mysteries are basic to all the Pauline doctrines, and while they are different concepts, they are all part of that revelation of the mystery.
Now 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,
More Questions
What is the first mystery revealed in Paul's writings if you go chronologically?
Romans 16:25 is one of the first mysteries you find if you go through Paul's writings chronologically.