Paul and Jesus

That is part of the reason the plan was kept secret. Reflecting a common Greco-Roman view of the cosmos, Paul believed in a universe thickly populated by a vast hierarchy of angelic beings, demonic spirits, and spiritual forces both good and malevolent.⁵ As a Jew he also believed in forces of darkness led by Satan and his angelic minions, whose entire concerted efforts were concentrated on opposing the ways of God in his dealings with humankind. For Paul, Satan was a very real entity with whom he has had personal dealings, not a metaphor for evil. Paul calls Satan “the god of this age” and refers to human history, under Satan’s control, as “this present evil age” (2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4). Various human kings, emperors, and potentates rule the visible world, but the invisible power behind the scenes is Satan. When Paul says the mystery was hidden from the “rulers of this age,” or else they would not have crucified Jesus, he refers to Satan and his forces as much as the human rulers, Jewish or Roman, that they inspired (1 Corinthians 2:8). The death of Jesus was all part of God’s secret plan, in order for Jesus to become the “firstborn” Son of this new heavenly family. Jesus’ crucifixion looked like a defeat but it was actually God’s surprise strategy to defeat the Satanic forces.

For Paul this cosmic birthing process is not a metaphor: it is as literal as the birth of a human child. In his letter to the Romans he offers a tightly worded sequential outline of what he calls God’s purpose or plan of salvation:

For those whom God foreknew he also predetermined to share the likeness of the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:29–30)

The plan is laid out clearly here and its implementation involves five sequential steps: to foreknow, to predestine, to call, to justify, and finally to glorify. It is the final stage, that of glorification, that is the heart of the mystery: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery (musterion) that has been hidden that God decreed before the ages, for our glorification” (1 Corinthians 2:7). This glorification involves, as Paul says, “sharing the likeness of the image of his Son,” referring to Jesus’ exalted glorified state, and thus becoming part of the new heavenly family.

Paul says the first step is the selection of a special group of chosen ones whose call to participate in the plan was determined before their birth. In other words, God both knew them and chose them in ages past. They are the ones “called” by God at the present time to participate in the plan. Paul refers constantly to his followers being “called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6). He trusts that the selection process is in God’s hands and his role is only to proclaim the Announcement:

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23–24)

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1:26–27)

This is a common motif throughout Paul’s letters. God does what is least expected; it is all part of the mystery. While those in society are impressed with the powerful, the wise, and the mighty, hidden from their view is this tiny chosen group that is destined by God to be exalted to the highest place in the universe. Just as Christ was despised, rejected, and crucified, those who follow him will experience similar suffering that in turn will lead to their glorification:

If we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be co-glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:17–18)