2:7-8 What is the "wisdom of God in a mystery" to which Paul refers here?
2:7-8 What is the "wisdom of God in a mystery" to which Paul refers here?
(CP also Ro 16:25-26). The mystery in V25 here is also the wisdom of God in a mystery in 1Cor 2:7-8. It is God's plan to redeem fallen man through Christ's propitiatory death - The Gospel - which was hidden even from the angels and the old testament prophets (CP 1Cor 1:18, 21-23 and 2:1-2 with 1Pe 1:10-12).
A mystery in the context of New Testament teaching is a divine truth once hidden, but now revealed. There are fourteen such mysteries revealed in the New Testament, which are as follows: (1) The mystery of the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God (CP Mt 13:11; Mk 4:11; Lu 8:10). kingdom of heaven and kingdom of God are interchangeable terms - they both refer to the realm of God's rule, both in its present earthly aspect and the future eternal kingdom (CP Mt 19:23-24). (2) The mystery of Israel's blindness to the gospel (CP Ro 11:25 with 11:1-24 and Ac 28:23-29).
We learn from this that the Jews rejected the Gospel of their own volition and blinded themselves to its glorious light. (3) The mystery of the Gospel of Christ (CP Ro 16:25; 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 6:19 with Ro 1:16-17 and Col 4:1-3). (4) The mysteries of God (CP 1Cor 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; Col 2:2). The mysteries of God here is God's full revealed truth which Paul was responsible for proclaiming (CP Ac 20:20-21, 27). (5) The mystery of the rapture of the church (CP 1Cor 15:51-58 with Jn 14:1-3 and 1Th 4:13-18). (6) The mystery of God's will (CP Eph 1:9-12 with 2:4-10 and Ro 8:28-30).
The mystery of God's will are again revealed doctrines, like the mysteries of God in 1Cor 4:1 (Mystery 4) which we have already studied. (7); The mystery of Jews and Gentiles being brought together in one body - the church - in Christ (CP Ro 16:25-26; Eph 3:1-11 with 2:11-22). Isaiah prophesied that salvation would come to the Gentiles, but as we learned earlier in 1Pe 1:10-12 he did not understand the prophecy. It was not revealed in scripture until Paul did so in Ac 13:46-47 (CP Isa 49:6 with Ac 13:44-48; 1Cor 12:12-14 and Ga 3:26-28). (8) The mystery of marriage as a symbol of Christ and the church (CP Eph 5:22-33).
This passage of scripture is used by many in the contemporary church as a proof text to teach that the church is the bride of Christ, but that is not correct as scriptures plainly teach (CP Rev 19:7-9 with 21:2, 9-10). These scriptures clearly teach that New Jerusalem is the bride of Christ, not the Church. New Jerusalem is allegorically the progenitor, or ancestor of all Christians, being called the mother of us all in scripture (CP Ga 4:25-27). New Jerusalem is the Lamb's wife that "made herself ready" in Rev 19:7, and was "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" in 21:2 (CP 19:7 with 21:2). She will be adorned as a bride for her husband with the jewels of Rev 21:18-21 (CP 21:18-21). It is granted to her that she be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, which is the righteousness of saints because New Jerusalem will be the eternal home of all the saints of God - Old Testament and New Testament alike - from Abel to the very last soul saved in the Great Tribulation (CP 19:8 with 21:24-27).
In Eph 5:25-27 Paul is teaching us of Christ's infinite love for the church. He compares the relationship of Christ and the church to that of a husband and wife. He is not teaching that the wife symbolises the church or that the husband symbolises Christ. He simply teaches that the relationship of Christ and the church is more easily understood through the dynamics of the marriage relationship between a husband and wife (CP again Eph 5:25-32). See also comments on Ro 7:4; 2Cor 11:2; Eph 2:15-16(B), 4:13, 5:25-32; Rev 19:7-9, 21:2 and 22:17, and author's study The Bride of Christ in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1). (9) The mystery of Christ indwelling believers (CP Col 1:23-28 with 3:11 and Ro 8:8-11). (10) The mystery of the spirit of lawlessness (CP 2Th 2:7 with Mt 24:10-12; 2Ti 3:1-5 and 4:3-4). (11) The mystery of faith (CP 1Ti 3:9 with 1Ti 1:19). (12) The mystery of Christ's incarnation (CP 1Ti 3:16 with Jn 1:14; 1Pe 1:20; 1Jn 1:1-3 and 3:5,8). (13) The mystery of the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (CP Rev 1:10-16 with V20).
The general consensus among Christians is that the angels of the seven churches here are the "pastors" because of the common belief in the contemporary church that "pastors" are the local New Testament church leaders. But that is not correct as scriptures clearly attest (CP 1Cor 12:28 with Eph 4:11-12). Apostles have been placed first in the divine order of leaders in the New Testament church and it is to them that the letters are addressed (CP Eph 2:19-22). Apostles and angels are both messengers, or sent ones, but angels are never leaders in the church, whereas apostles are. (See also comments on Ac 11:27, 13:1-4; Ro 11:13; Eph 4:11-12; 1Ti 3:1-7; 1Pe 5:1-4 and author's study The Church in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1)). (14) The finished mystery of God (CP Rev 10:7 with 11:15 and 12:7-17). The mystery here is the final consummation of all things as God establishes His eternal kingdom.
(For more indepth teachings on the revealed mysteries see also comments on (1) Mt 13:3-9 and 13:10, and author's study The Kingdom of God in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1). (2) Ac 28:23-29; Ro 9:14-18, 9:30-33 and 11:7-10. (3) Ro 1:16-17, 16:25-26; 1Cor 2:9 and author's studies The Old Covenant - Fulfilled in Christ and Completely Abolished and The Old Testament Day of Atonement and God's Plan of Salvation in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1). (4) and (6) Ro 8:28-30; 1Cor 2:9, 4:1; Eph 1:9-12, 2:5, 2:8-10; Col 2:2-3. (5) Jn 14:1-3; 1Cor 15:51-58; 1Th 4:13-18; 2Th 2:1-3, 2:6-8; Rev 3:7-13 and author's study The Rapture in his book Foundational Truths of the Christian Faith. (7) Ro 16:25-26; Ga 3:28; Eph 2:14, 2:15-16(B), 3:9-12; 1Pe 1:2, 1:10-12. (8) 2Cor 11:2 and Eph 5:25-32 and author's study The Bride of Christ in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1). (9) 1Cor 3:8-10, 3:16-17(A) and Col 1:26. (10) 2Th 2:1-3. (12) Mt 1:18-21, 3:16-17; Lu 1:35(B); Jn 1:1(A) and (B), 12:41; Ac 13:33, 20:28; Php 2:5-8; 1Ti 3:16; He 1:5, 5:5; 1Jn 1:1-4 and author's study Jesus - Eternally God in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), The Doctrine of the Trinity,
Jesus and Old Testament Messianic Prophecies - their New Testament Fulfilment in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2). (13) Rev 1:19. (14) Rev 10:1-7, 11:14-19 and author's studies Armageddon, Judgement of the Nations, Christ's Millennial Reign and the Eternal Kingdom, Old Testament Prophecies Awaiting Fulfilment at Christ's Second Coming, New Testament Prophecies Awaiting Fulfilment and Prophecies Predicting the Fact, Time, Manner and Purposes of Christ's Second Coming in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2)).