Revealed Mystery - Mr. Surender D

‘Which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus’ (Eph.3:5-6)

The revelation of God took its shape in different phases of human history. It did not happen just like that, but God used His people with different events to reveal. One question that the Jews had was of ascertaining others as equal to themselves. The revelation of God was just confined to themselves and they did not allow others at any means to having possession or claim. Paul educates Ephesians that God is far beyond.

He is not just God for us but brings in the concept of universalism and calls it as ‘Mystery’. Here, the ‘Mystery’ that Paul refers is with inclusive purpose that has its ultimate goal – the uniting of all things in heaven and earth in Christ. Here a more limited dimension of the mystery focuses on the gentiles, along with Jews, being incorporated into the body of Christ and their participation in the divine salvation.

The ‘Mystery’ in Ephesians stands for the Gospel made known to Paul according to his revelation. It indicates a shift in emphasis to a Salvation- historical and ecclesiological Dimension as compared with the Christological gospel of Galatians 1. Before the content of the Mystery is elaborated attention is drawn to its eschatological character by means of a once-now contrast the so-called Revelation Schema.

Until then the mystery of Christ had not been made known to human beings in earlier generations. It was wholly in acceptable to human understanding until the time when God chose to reveal. In essence the same point is affirmed in the concluding doxology of Romans and in Colossians. Where, the word of God which has to be complete is the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations. ‘And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ’ (Eph 1:9).

This revelation has occurred in the immediate present, according to Eph 1:9 soon after the death and resurrection of Lord Jesus. Here in Eph 3:5 the receptors of this revelation by the Spirit is to the Holy apostles and prophets. The divine secret was revealed to the apostles and prophets for they were the ministers through whom the truth of the gospel was communicated to their fellow believers. The apostles represent the authority of Primary witness while the prophets represent the living guidance of the spirit.

The Mystery now manifested in the divine revelation is the central message of Christ Mission that Christ came not only for the Jews and their descendants (earlier the Chosen people) but primarily for the Gentiles. In the context of Gods open secret Paul assembles three parallel composite adjectives: Heirs of the same Blessing: The Gentiles are fellow heirs of the same blessing God promised Abraham that he would bless his descendants. ‘I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’ (Gen.12:2-3). Now the divine plan as revealed is that through the gospel all the families of the earth should not only be blessed in Abraham’s offspring but also counted as his children. Fellow-members of the same Body: ‘Fellow-members’ is a compound term and nowhere else found in the New Testament. Paul emphasizes of Gentile Christians unification into the same body as Jewish believers which is also Christ’s purpose of creating a new humanity and reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles into one body of Christ.

Sharing together the same Promise: It affirms the covenant of Promise that the gentiles had been earlier excluded before being brought near to God in the death of Christ, and the promise of the Holy Spirit with which they are sealed, the epitome of Gods Promise. Each of this marvelous promise in which the Gentiles participate signifies the sphere in which Christ as the Messiah can alone make the Gentiles inherit the promise made to Abraham. If as God’s people if we are to partake in the realization of God’s plan for Universal peace and harmony we should be instrumental to remove all barriers that discriminate Caste, Class, Race or Gender. We no more need to struggle for the solution, the solution is found in the Mystery revealed, which was never given to earlier generations. Has, now been given to us by our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Amen.