Definition: The secret or specialized practices ritual peculiar to an occupation or a body of people.
Jesus used the word mystery in Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Mark 4:10 And he said unto them, unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
Paul used the word mystery in respect of Church Age doctrine:
Ephesians 3:2-6 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Church age Mysteries were not revealed in the Old Testament:
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, Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Blindness of Israel during the Church Age is a mystery
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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
Mysteries revealed by Paul were ordained by God:
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
The Pastor/Teacher is responsible for communication of the Mysteries to the Church and is called the stewardship:
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
The rapture of the church is a Mystery Doctrine
1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
The Mysteries are for the church age only:
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words)
Mystery Doctrine is understood by Grace:
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
1 Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
The definition of Mystery (See above) is that a mystery is a Secret. See the “Mysteries of God” and the “Secrets of God”.
