This is required reading for all, as we are the stewards of these Mysteries.
Matthew 13:11
Greek:
μυστήρια is the plural of μυστήριον.
Parallel passages:
Romans 11:25
Greek:
This verse explicitly identifies Israel’s partial and temporary hardening as a mystery.
1 Corinthians 15:51
Greek:
This is the explicit mystery of the instantaneous transformation of living believers.
Ephesians 1:9
Greek:
The following verse explains the content: God will ultimately gather or sum up all things in Christ.
This mystery is mentioned repeatedly in Ephesians.
Ephesians 3:3
Greek:
Ephesians 3:4
Greek:
Ephesians 3:6 gives its content:
However, Ephesians 3:6 itself does not contain the word mystērion. It explains the mystery introduced in verses 3–4.
Ephesians 3:9
Greek:
Ephesians 3:3 explicitly contains τὸ μυστήριον.
Ephesians 5:32
Greek:
The marriage union of man and woman serves as the revealed pattern illustrating the union of Christ and His Church.
Colossians 1:26
Greek:
Colossians 1:27
Greek:
The content is explicitly:
1 Timothy 3:16
Greek:
This concerns Christ manifested in flesh, vindicated, witnessed, preached, believed upon and received into glory.
There is a textual variant concerning whether the verse begins with “God,” “He who,” or “Who,” but all major Greek forms retain the noun mystērion.
2 Thessalonians 2:7
Greek:
More literally:
This describes the concealed operation of lawlessness before its open manifestation in the lawless one.
Revelation 17:5
Greek:
Also:
Revelation 17:7
Greek:
Revelation 17:7 confirms that a revealed mystery concerns both the woman and the Beast.
Revelation 1:20
Greek:
Christ immediately interprets it:
This is unquestionably an explicitly named mystērion.
List of the eleven mysteries of God.
- Mysteries of the Kingdom — Matthew 13:11
- Israel’s partial blindness — Romans 11:25
- Transformation of living saints — 1 Corinthians 15:51
- Mystery of God’s will — Ephesians 1:9
- Jew and Gentile in one Body — Ephesians 3:3–6, 9
- Christ and the Church — Ephesians 5:32
- Christ in believers — Colossians 1:26–27
- Mystery of godliness — 1 Timothy 3:16
- Mystery of lawlessness — 2 Thessalonians 2:7
- Seven stars and lampstands — Revelation 1:20
- Mystery Babylon and the woman — Revelation 17:5, 7
1. Mysteries of the Kingdom
Matthew 13:11
Greek:
μυστήρια is the plural of μυστήριον.
Parallel passages:
- Mark 4:11 — “the mystery of the kingdom of God”
- Luke 8:10 — “the mysteries of the kingdom of God”
2. The Mystery of Israel’s Partial Blindness
Romans 11:25
Greek:
This verse explicitly identifies Israel’s partial and temporary hardening as a mystery.
3. The Mystery of the Rapture and Transformation
1 Corinthians 15:51
Greek:
This is the explicit mystery of the instantaneous transformation of living believers.
4. The Mystery of God’s Will
Ephesians 1:9
Greek:
The following verse explains the content: God will ultimately gather or sum up all things in Christ.
5. The Mystery of Jew and Gentile in One Body
This mystery is mentioned repeatedly in Ephesians.
Ephesians 3:3
Greek:
Ephesians 3:4
Greek:
Ephesians 3:6 gives its content:
However, Ephesians 3:6 itself does not contain the word mystērion. It explains the mystery introduced in verses 3–4.
Ephesians 3:9
Greek:
Ephesians 3:3 explicitly contains τὸ μυστήριον.
6. The Mystery of Christ and the Church
Ephesians 5:32
Greek:
The marriage union of man and woman serves as the revealed pattern illustrating the union of Christ and His Church.
7. The Mystery of Christ Indwelling Believers
Colossians 1:26
Greek:
Colossians 1:27
Greek:
The content is explicitly:
8. The Mystery of Godliness—the Incarnation
1 Timothy 3:16
Greek:
This concerns Christ manifested in flesh, vindicated, witnessed, preached, believed upon and received into glory.
There is a textual variant concerning whether the verse begins with “God,” “He who,” or “Who,” but all major Greek forms retain the noun mystērion.
9. The Mystery of Lawlessness
2 Thessalonians 2:7
Greek:
More literally:
This describes the concealed operation of lawlessness before its open manifestation in the lawless one.
10. Mystery Babylon
Revelation 17:5
Greek:
Also:
Revelation 17:7
Greek:
Revelation 17:7 confirms that a revealed mystery concerns both the woman and the Beast.
11. The Mystery of the Seven Stars and Lampstands
Revelation 1:20
Greek:
Christ immediately interprets it:
This is unquestionably an explicitly named mystērion.
