Revelation in Paul's writings is God's unveiling of the secret mystery of Christ—truths He had hidden from earlier ages.
Paul received these truths directly by revelation from the ascended Lord, not from human teachers. Through this revelation God made known the mystery which had been kept secret since the world began. Les Feldick emphasizes that this was a revealing of something never before disclosed.
Ephesians 3:3 — Paul directly states that the mystery was made known to him by revelation.
Colossians 1:26 — Paul describes the same mystery as hidden from ages but now made manifest.
Romans 16:25 — Paul ties the revelation of the mystery to his gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 3:3 Paul writes, "How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery." In verse 5 he explains that this mystery "in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." Paul also describes it in Colossians 1:26 as "the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints." In Romans 16:25 Paul calls it "the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began." Thus Scripture presents revelation in Paul's writings as God's direct disclosure of truths that had been hidden.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul uses the word "revelation" to mean an unveiling—something that had never been revealed before. He emphasizes that Paul received these truths directly from the ascended Lord in heaven, not through any human institution like a seminary or theologian. Les explains that the word "mystery" means a secret, and this secret was not made known to earlier generations; God kept it hidden, though it existed in latent form in the Old Testament. Les also points out that this revelation was given not only to Paul but also to God's holy apostles and prophets. He stresses that neither Israel nor the Twelve had any concept of these truths; Paul was the one to whom God revealed the secrets of Christ. This revealed body of truth included the dispensation of God's grace given to Paul for the Gentiles, and the Body of Christ of which all Gentile believers are now a part.
Les Feldick says the word "revelation" means an unveiling—something that has been kept under wraps is suddenly unveiled. It is a revealing of something that has never been revealed before. In Paul's writings, it is not a human discovery but a direct disclosure from God.
Paul writes that the mystery "in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men" (Ephesians 3:5). Les Feldick explains that God had these truths in mind even in the Old Testament, but only in latent form; He had not revealed it, keeping it secret. Neither Israel nor the Twelve had any concept of these truths.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul did not receive this revelation by going to a seminary or from a theologian. Instead, he received it by direct revelation from the ascended Lord in heaven. This is why Paul could write with authority about truths no one before him had known.
Paul writes as a recipient of revelation
Les shows that Paul, unlike Peter before Pentecost, writes as one who has personally received revelations from the Lord.
Revelation of something never before shown
Les defines Paul's 'by revelation' as a revealing of something that no one else before had ever had any inkling of.
Mystery not made known in other ages
Les highlights Ephesians 3:5 to show the mystery was not made known to sons of men in earlier ages, but is now revealed to God's apostles and prophets.
Revelation from the ascended Lord
Les teaches that Paul's revelation came from the ascended Lord in heaven, unveiling a body of truth never before conceived by anyone.
Revelation means an unveiling
Les explains that the word 'revelation' means an unveiling of something kept under wraps, directly applied to the mystery made known to Paul.
Not from seminary but by revelation
Les stresses Paul did not learn this by going to a seminary or from theologians; it came directly by revelation.
Mystery hid from ages, now revealed
Les cites Colossians 1:26 to show the mystery was hidden from ages and generations, and that God revealed these secrets to Paul.
The revelation of the mystery kept secret
Les connects Romans 16:25 to Paul's gospel and the revelation of the secret that was kept since the world began.
Ephesians 3:3: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Paul directly states that the mystery was made known to him by revelation.
Ephesians 3:5: Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
This verse shows the mystery was hidden in earlier ages but is now revealed by the Spirit.
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 same mystery as hidden for ages but now made manifest.
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,
Paul ties the revelation of the mystery to his gospel and its long-hidden nature.
Les Feldick says the Greek word mysterion is translated 'secret.' In Paul's writings, this secret is the mystery that God revealed to Paul, which had been kept hidden.
Les teaches that the mystery existed in latent form in the Old Testament, but God had not revealed it. It was kept secret until the time of Paul.
Paul says it was revealed to God's holy apostles and prophets. Les notes that others followed Paul, such as Barnabas and Silas, during the apostolic age.
Les explains that the mystery is a body of truth no one before had any concept of. It includes the Body of Christ, of which all Gentile believers are now a part.
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