Verse of the Day (November 6, 2019)

Verse of the Day (November 6, 2019) #BMSeminary – [9] The mystery religions of Paul’s day use “mystery” (Greek mystērion) to refer to an esoteric truth that is known only to its initiates. Paul, however, uses it to refer to a divine reality that was once hidden but is now revealed by God to his people (3:3-5,9; Rom 16:25-26; Col 1:26). The most significant references to Paul’s use of “mystery” occur in Ephesians and Colossians. Both letters maintain that the central focus of God’s mystery is the fulfillment of his plan of salvation in Christ; Ephesians, however, highlights the uniting of all things in Christ. See notes on v. 10; 3:3-6; 5:32; 6:19. [10] bring unity, Greek anakephalaioō. A significant term that conveys three emphases in this context: (1) Christ is the head or ruler (v. 22), (2) Christ “sums up” or brings things into a coherent and meaningful whole, and (3) Christ restores harmony to a universe that has come into chaos because of sin (Col 1:20). In essence, the content of the “mystery” (Eph 1:9) is God’s will to sum up and unify all creation, both the animate and inanimate, under Christ’s headship.