Paul and Jesus

Paul mentions “the mystery” in passing only six times in his authentic letters, but without explaining much about what he means.² We are most fortunate to have Romans 8, since it is the only place he offers a full and systematic exposition of the revelation he had received. Without this chapter we would be hard-pressed to make much sense of the other passing references, where he assumes a familiarity on the part of his readers. For example, he writes the Corinthians that he did not come to them “proclaiming the mystery of God in lofty words of human wisdom,” but he assumes, and does not say, what that mystery is (1 Corinthians 2:1). We have to remember that Paul’s letters are occasional documents, written at various times and places to address specific issues. Much of the time he is handling emergencies, addressing practical problems and misunderstandings, responding to threats, and defending himself against enemies. He often assumes, but does not explain, the details of his teachings. His letter to the Romans is a fortunate exception to this general rule. It comes close to a formal treatise, expounding Paul’s view of his gospel message.

The word “gospel” in Greek, euangelion, like the word “salvation,” is another one of those words that have come to have an exclusively theological sound to our modern ears. It is commonly said to mean “good news” or “glad tidings,” which is correct, but a more fresh translation might be an announcement, in the sense of a welcome proclamation. There are several Greek inscriptions and papyri dated before the Christian era where an announcement of the birthday of the emperor Augustus is proclaimed, using the word “gospel.” These texts show that the word was commonly used in Koine and that it had no special religious meaning.³

I already pointed out in the introduction to this book that Paul uses the word “gospel” in a most proprietary way. He refers to “my Gospel,” and it is clear he has something very specific in mind (Romans 2:16; 16:25; Galatians 1:11-12). As I mentioned, of the seventy-two occurrences of the term gospel in the entire New Testament, sixty are in Paul’s letters!⁴ A better modern translation would be, again, “the Announcement,” referring most specifically to Paul’s revelation of the hidden mystery. As we will see, this is not the same as the gospel preached by the Jerusalem apostles but a revelation Paul insists was given to him alone, completely independent of them, not from the earthly Jesus they had known, but from the heavenly Christ who had chosen him even before his birth (Galatians 1:11–15). Notice Paul’s very specific language about the timing of this revelation. He is speaking of what he calls “my Gospel” and says it is “the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now being disclosed” through his preaching to the nations (Romans 16:25).

All the various aspects of “the Announcement” had further been confirmed to him by a series of subsequent “visions and revelations of the Lord,” including being taken into heaven to see and hear “things unutterable” (2 Corinthians 12:1–4). When he uses the formula “I received from the Lord,” he refers to a rich body of “revelations” that he has received, including direct sayings from Jesus, teachings about the Lord’s Supper, and details about how the end of the age will unfold.

THE HIDDEN MYSTERY REVEALED

At the core of the mystery announcement that Paul reveals is God’s secret plan to bring to birth a new heavenly family of his own offspring. In other words, God is reproducing himself. These children of God will represent a new genus of Spirit-beings in the cosmos, exalted in glory, power, and position far above even the highest angels.