How did Paul receive the mystery he wrote about?
Paul received the mystery by revelation from the ascended Lord in heaven. God made known to him a body of truth that had been kept secret and previously unrevealed, though latent in the Old Testament. This revelation was not humanly derived but came directly from the glorified Christ.
Les teaches that Paul writes “by revelation” the ascended Lord revealed these things from heaven, making known the mystery—a revealed body of truth no one ever before had any concept of. It had been in the Old Testament in latent form, but God had not revealed it as it was kept secret. Les suggests Paul, steeped in Judaism, likely needed time to have his thinking and behavior cleansed. He notes God led Saul of Tarsus down to Mount Sinai in Arabia for three years, a training time to give him a clear-cut understanding of things never revealed before and to prepare him to proclaim them among Gentiles. Paul then took responsibility to pass this revelation to the whole world.
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
More Questions
Where did Paul get the revelation of the mystery he preached?
Paul received the mystery by direct revelation from the ascended Lord in heaven, not from any human source.
Was Paul bragging when he wrote about receiving revelation?
Paul's account of receiving revelation is Holy Spirit-inspired; he is not bragging or taking credit for himself but writing as the Holy Spirit prompts him.