were the doctrines revealed through Paul kept secret in God's mind until Paul?
Yes. The doctrines and revelations that came through the apostle Paul were, for the most part, kept secret in the mind of God until He revealed them to Paul. Paul describes this as a mystery, meaning it had never been revealed before.
Les explains that God has the prerogative to keep things secret and hidden until it is time to reveal them. This is illustrated when the Twelve did not understand Jesus' plain words about His death and resurrection because the saying was hidden from them. Les then points to 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul says he is going to reveal a secret, or a mystery, which means it has never been revealed before. Les emphasizes that all the doctrines and revelations that have now come through this apostle were for the most part kept secret in the mind of God until He revealed them to the apostle Paul.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Where were the doctrines and revelations given through Paul kept before God revealed them to him?
The doctrines and revelations that came through the apostle Paul were for the most part kept secret in the mind of God. They remained hidden there until God chose to reveal them to Paul, showing that He keeps things secret until the time He reveals them.
what does Paul mean when he says he is revealing a mystery or secret?
Paul means the mystery is truth God had kept hidden in His own mind and had not previously revealed. It remained secret until God chose the appointed time to disclose it through Paul, so the doctrines and revelations given through the apostle were largely unknown before that revelation.