The concept was new because God had kept this secret hidden in Himself from the beginning of the world and did not reveal it until Paul.
Ephesians 3:9 says the fellowship of the mystery was 'hid in God' from the beginning of the world, and Colossians 1:26 says it was 'hid from ages and from generations.' Les Feldick teaches that Israel, and even the Twelve, had no concept of this truth. God revealed it to the apostle Paul, who announced that Gentiles are fellow heirs with Christ — not by the Law, but by His finished work.
Ephesians 3:9 — This verse explicitly says the fellowship of the mystery was hidden in God from the beginning of the world, showing it was not revealed before.
Colossians 1:26 — This verse states that the mystery was hid from ages and from generations, making clear that the Gentile joint-heir revelation was new.
Paul writes in Ephesians 3:9, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." Earlier in the same chapter, he states plainly, "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6). Colossians 1:26 makes the same point: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints." The Scripture itself, then, presents this truth as something that had been concealed and was now being revealed for the first time.
Les Feldick teaches that the joint heirship of Gentile believers with Christ was "a whole new concept in Scripture." A Jew had never even heard of such a thing, and Les says Jews would have thrown up their hands in horror if the subject had been raised [Clip 0, Clip 1]. God kept these mysteries in His mind through all previous ages; Israel and the Twelve had no concept of them [Clip 4]. The truth was not found in the Old Testament or in the four Gospels — it appears only in Paul's epistles [Clip 5]. Paul reveals that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and of the same body, partakers of His promise in Christ, not by Judaism or the Mosaic law, but by Christ's finished work [Clip 2]. The revelation was intended so that "all men" — not just Israel — would see the fellowship of the secret [Clip 1].
Ephesians 3:9 says the fellowship of the mystery was "hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." Colossians 1:26 adds that it was "hid from ages and from generations." So the secret was not merely unrevealed; it was deliberately kept in God's mind from the beginning of the world until His chosen time.
Les Feldick says Israel never had a concept of these truths and the Twelve had no concept of them either. He also says a statement like the one in Colossians 1:27 — "Christ in you, the hope of glory" among Gentiles — is found nowhere in the Old Testament, the four Gospels, or any other part of the Bible except Paul's epistles. The Jews, Les says, would have been horrified at the very idea.
Les explains that all these Pauline truths were held in the mind of God, and then God saved "this renegade, this Saul of Tarsus, by grace" and revealed the mysteries to him. God did not reveal things until His own timing, and He did not expect people to believe something He had never said before. Paul's own words in Ephesians 3:3 say he received this "by revelation."
The revealed mystery is that Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. They are no longer "far off" but have been "made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Ephesians 2:13). Les also emphasizes that in this Body, Jews and Gentiles stand on equal ground when it comes to personal salvation — both are sinners who need the same Christ.
The Secret Hid in God
Les explains from Ephesians 3:9 that the mystery of Gentile joint heirship was 'hid in God' from the beginning of the age and was something a Jew had never heard of.
Jews Had No Concept
Les says Jews would have thrown up their hands in horror at the idea of Gentiles being fellow heirs; the revelation was given to make all men see the fellowship of the secret.
Not by Judaism, but by Christ
Les teaches that the new truth is that Gentiles become one with Christ through His finished work, not through the Law; such a thing had never been heard of in the Old Testament.
Equal Ground in the Body
Les explains that the mystery includes Jews and Gentiles being brought into the Body on equal ground, so a Jew's personal salvation is on the same level playing field as a Gentile's.
Kept in God's Mind, Revealed to Paul
Les points to Colossians 1:26: this mystery was hid from ages and generations; Israel and the Twelve had no concept, but God revealed it to Paul.
Not in the Gospels or Old Testament
Les says the riches of the mystery among the Gentiles — 'Christ in you' — appears nowhere except Paul's epistles; God dealing with Gentiles this way had never been heard of before.
God's Timing for Revelation
Les reminds us that God does not reveal things until His own timing and did not expect people to believe something He had never said before.
Revealed to Paul, Not Former Ages
Les explains from Ephesians 3 that the mystery of Gentile fellow heirship was not made known in other ages, but is now revealed to God's holy apostles and prophets.
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
This verse directly states the new revelation that Gentiles would be joint heirs with Christ.
Ephesians 3:8: Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
This shows Paul was the one given grace to preach this new Gentile mystery.
Ephesians 3:9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
This is the key verse saying the mystery had been hidden in God from the beginning of the world.
Colossians 1:26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
This confirms the secret was hidden from previous ages and now disclosed.
Colossians 1:27: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
This reveals the content of the mystery among the Gentiles: Christ in you.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
This describes the new position of Gentiles who were once outside the covenants.
No. Les Feldick says statements like this are not found in the Old Testament or the four Gospels — they appear only in Paul's epistles. Colossians 1:26 says the mystery was hid from ages and from generations.
God revealed it to the apostle Paul through revelation. Les explains that Israel and the Twelve had no concept of it, and Paul was given grace to preach this secret among the Gentiles.
According to Paul and Les Feldick, it is not by Judaism or the Mosaic law, but by Christ's finished work. Ephesians 2:13 says those who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Watch the Teaching: The Mysteries Paul Revealed — Secrets Hidden Since the World Began