Romans 16:25 reveals that the mystery was a secret kept hidden since the world began and now revealed through Paul's gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.
Paul calls this the 'revelation of the mystery.' Les Feldick explains that the Greek word mysterion simply means 'secret.' This secret had been kept in the mind of God and was not made known until it was revealed to the apostle Paul.
Romans 16:25 — This is the verse in question; it explicitly calls the mystery something kept secret since the world began and ties it to Paul's gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:25 (KJV) reads: '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.' This verse tells us that the mystery was kept secret since the world began. Paul connects this mystery to his gospel and to the preaching of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:26 adds that the mystery 'hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.' These verses together show that the mystery is a truth hidden in the past but now revealed.
Les teaches that the word mystery simply means 'secret,' coming from the Greek mysterion. He says this secret was held in the mind of God and was never revealed until God called the apostle Paul. Romans 16:25, he explains, is Paul writing to a Gentile congregation in Rome, telling them that his gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ are in keeping with the revealing of a secret kept since the world began. Even Peter did not know this secret because it had not yet been revealed. Les also connects Romans 16:25 to what he calls the Pauline mysteries. He teaches that the church and all events connected with the church were kept secret in the mind of God, and that the revelation of the mystery is basic to all Pauline doctrines. He emphasizes that these truths were never prophesied but were revealed only to Paul, making Romans 16:25 foundational for understanding Paul's gospel and the body of which Gentile believers are a part.
Romans 16:25 speaks of 'the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.' Les explains that the Greek word mysterion is translated 'secret,' so the word points to something hidden in the mind of God.
The verse says the secret was kept 'since the world began.' Les notes that he prefers the wording 'since the age began.' He also reminds readers of Deuteronomy 29:29, where secret things belong to the Lord our God. He says Paul was preaching something God had kept secret; even Peter did not know it.
Les explains that the mysteries were revealed to Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. He says these Pauline truths were held in the mind of God and that God revealed the secrets to Saul of Tarsus after saving him by grace. Les adds that Paul calls this body of truth 'the mystery' after speaking of Gentile believers as part of a body.
Les says the mystery is basic to all of the Pauline doctrines. He teaches that the church and all the events connected with the church were secret, kept in God's mind until God saw fit to reveal them. In Colossians 1:25-26, Paul speaks of the body of which all Gentile believers are now a part and calls it the mystery. Les also uses Romans 11:25 as another example of a mystery revealed to Paul concerning Israel's future.
Les urges viewers not to dismiss Romans 16:25 as unimportant. He says it is basic to all of the Pauline doctrines. He explains that the basic doctrines Paul associates with the revelation of the mystery are different concepts, but they are all part of that same revelation.
The Secret Held in the Mind of God
Les uses Romans 11:25 to show that the mystery was a secret kept in God's mind until it was revealed to the apostle Paul, setting up the same idea Paul writes about in Romans 16:25.
Romans 16:25 and the Greek Word Mysterion
Les directly explains that the revelation of the mystery in Romans 16:25 means the revealing of a secret, and that this secret was kept since the age began.
A Secret Not Revealed Even to Peter
Les stresses that Paul preached something God had kept secret and that Peter did not know it because it had not yet been revealed.
The Mystery Hid From Ages and Generations
Les connects Colossians 1:26 with Romans 16:25, showing that these Pauline truths were hidden from Israel and the Twelve and revealed only to Saul of Tarsus.
The Church a Secret Kept in God's Mind
Les teaches that the mystery is a word unique to Paul's writings and that the church and everything connected with it were kept secret in the mind of God.
Never Prophesied and Kept Secret Since the World Began
Les repeats the KJV wording of Romans 16:25 and notes this secret was never prophesied, pointing to Deuteronomy 29:29.
Fundamental to All Pauline Doctrine
Les tells viewers not to treat Romans 16:25 as unimportant because it is basic to all the doctrines Paul associates with the revelation of the mystery.
Revelation of a Secret Never Revealed
Les defines revelation as the revealing of something that had never been revealed before and confirms mysterion means secret.
Romans 16:25: 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,
The verse central to the question; it literally calls the mystery a secret kept since the world began.
Romans 11:25: For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Paul uses 'mystery' here too, and Les cites it as another mystery revealed to him.
Colossians 1:26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Paul describes the mystery as hidden from ages and generations and now made manifest.
Deuteronomy 29:29: The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Les references this verse to show that secret things belong to God.
Romans 16:25 calls it 'the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.' Les explains the Greek word mysterion means 'secret.' It is a hidden truth that God kept in His mind and later revealed through the apostle Paul.
Les says the secret was held in the mind of God and had not been revealed before; even Peter did not know it. God revealed it to Paul, whom He saved by grace and called as the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Les teaches the mystery includes the church and all connected events, and that it is basic to all Pauline doctrines. He points to Colossians 1:25-26 and Romans 11:25 as part of the same revealed secrets.
Watch the Teaching: The Mysteries Paul Revealed — Secrets Hidden Since the World Began