Original Word: μυστήριον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: mustérion
Pronunciation: moos-TAY-ree-on
Phonetic Spelling: (moos-tay'-ree-on)
KJV: mystery
NASB: mystery, mysteries
Word Origin: [from a derivative of muo "to shut the mouth"]

1. a secret or "mystery"
{through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites}

mystery.

From a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) -- mystery.

3466 mystḗrion (the root of the English term, "mystery") – mystery. In the Bible, a "mystery" (3466 /mystḗrion) is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it.

Word Origin
from mustés (one initiated); from mueó
Definition
a mystery or secret doctrine
NASB Translation
mysteries (5), mystery (22).

STRONGS NT 3466: μυστήριον

μυστήριον, μυστηρίου, τό (μύστης (one initiated; from μυέω, which see)), in classical Greek a hidden thing, secret, mystery: μυστήριον σου μή κατειπης τῷ φιλῶ, Menander; plural generally mysteries, religious secrets, confided only to the initiated and not to be communicated by them to ordinary mortals; (cf. K. F. Hermann, Gottesdienstl. Alterthümer der Griechen, § 32). In the Scriptures:

1. a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding: 1 Corinthians 13:2; 1 Corinthians 14:2; (of the secret rites of the Gentiles, Wis. 14:15, 23).

2. a hidden purpose or counsel; secret will: of men, τοῦ βασιλέως, Tobit 12:7, 11; τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ, Judith 2:2; of God: μυστήρια Θεοῦ, the secret counsels which govern God in dealing with the righteous, which are hidden from ungodly and wicked men but plain to the godly, Wis. 2:22. In the N. T., God's plan of providing salvation for men through Christ, which was once hidden but now is revealed: Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7 (on this see ἐν, I. 5 f.); Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26f; with τοῦ θελήματος αὐτοῦ added, Ephesians 1:9; τοῦ Θεοῦ, which God formed, Colossians 2:2; (1 Corinthians 2:1 WH text); τοῦ Χριστοῦ, respecting Christ, Colossians 4:3; τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, which is contained and announced in the gospel, Ephesians 6:19; ἐτελέσθη τό μυστήριον τοῦ Θεοῦ, said of the consummation of this purpose, to be looked for when Christ returns, Revelation 10:7; τά μυστήρια τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν or τοῦ Θεοῦ, the secret purposes relative to the kingdom of God, Matthew 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10; used of certain single events decreed by God having reference to his kingdom or the salvation of men, Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:51; of God's purpose to bless the Gentiles also with salvation through Christ (cf. Lightfoot on Colossians 1:26), Ephesians 3:3, cf. Ephesians 3:5; with τοῦ Χριστοῦ added, Ephesians 3:4; οἰκονόμοι μυστηρίων Θεοῦ, the stewards of God's mysteries, i. e. those intrusted with the announcement of God's secret purposes to men, 1 Corinthians 4:1; used generally, of Christian truth as hidden from ungodly men: with the addition of τῆς πίστεως, τῆς εὐσεβείας, which faith and godliness embrace and keep, 1 Timothy 3:9, 16; τό μυστήριον τῆς ἀνομίας the mystery of lawlessness, the secret purpose formed by lawlessness, seems to be a tacit antithesis to God's saving purpose, 2 Thessalonians 2:7.

3. Like רָזָא and סוד in rabbinic writers, it denotes the mystic or hidden sense: of an O. T. saying, Ephesians 5:32; of a name, Revelation 17:5; of an image or form seen in a vision, Revelation 1:20; Revelation 17:5; of a dream, (Theod.) Daniel 2:18f, 27-30, where the Sept. so renders רָז. (The Vulg. translates the wordsacramentum in Daniel 2:18; Daniel 4:6; Tobit 12:7; Wis. 2:22; Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 3:3, 9; Ephesians 5:32; 1 Timothy 3:16; Revelation 1:20.) (On the distinctive N. T. use of the word cf. Campbell, Dissertations on the Gospels. diss. ix. part i.; Kendrick in B. D. American edition under the word ; Lightfoot on Colossians 1:26.)

Essence of the New Testament “Mystery”

The term denotes a divine secret once concealed, now disclosed by God to His covenant people. It is never an esoteric riddle for an elite; rather, it is revelation granted through the Spirit and centered in Jesus Christ. Knowledge of any “mystery” therefore issues in worship, obedience, and proclamation.

Old Testament Anticipation and Progressive Revelation

While the word μυστήριον never appears in the Hebrew Scriptures, the idea of hidden counsel later unveiled is embedded in passages such as Deuteronomy 29:29 and Daniel 2:28. The New Testament writers inherit this framework, presenting the gospel as the climax of God’s long-kept counsel.

Mysteries of the Kingdom in the Gospels

Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11, and Luke 8:10 introduce “the mysteries of the kingdom.” Through parables Jesus both conceals and reveals. Outsiders hear stories; insiders perceive “the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 13:11). The kingdom’s presence in the King Himself is the concealed reality, comprehended only by faith.

Pauline Theology of the Mystery

1. Salvation-Historical Scope

Paul proclaims “God’s wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden” (1 Corinthians 2:7). This wisdom is the crucified Christ (1 Corinthians 2:1, 8), unknown to the rulers yet ordained for the saints’ glory.

2. Jew–Gentile Unity

“The mystery made known to me by revelation” (Ephesians 3:3-6) is that Gentiles are “fellow heirs” in one body. Romans 11:25 warns Gentile believers not to boast, for Israel’s partial hardening is itself a mystery within God’s saving plan.

3. Christ Indwelling Believers

Colossians 1:26-27 celebrates “the mystery hidden for ages… Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This indwelling Presence guarantees future conformity to Christ.

4. Cosmic Headship and Consummation

Ephesians 1:9-10 speaks of the unveiled “mystery of His will” to sum up all things in Christ—heavenly and earthly—at the fullness of time.

5. Marriage and Ecclesiology

The union of husband and wife mirrors “a profound mystery” concerning “Christ and the church” (Ephesians 5:32), grounding marital ethics in redemptive history.

6. Pastoral Stewardship

Ministers are “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1). Deacons must “hold to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9), and the church confesses “the mystery of godliness” centered on the incarnate, exalted Christ (1 Timothy 3:16).

7. Eschatological Transformation

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51). The resurrection body is a revealed secret, securing hope amidst mortality.

The Mystery of Lawlessness

In contrast to gospel mysteries stands “the mystery of lawlessness” already at work (2 Thessalonians 2:7). Though presently restrained, this hidden rebellion will climax in the man of lawlessness and be destroyed by Christ’s appearing, underscoring God’s sovereign timetable.

Apocalyptic Mysteries in Revelation

Revelation unveils symbolic realities:
• “The mystery of the seven stars” (Revelation 1:20) interprets the vision of Christ among His churches.
• “The mystery of God will be accomplished” at the seventh trumpet (Revelation 10:7), signaling final judgment and reward.
• Babylon bears “a name written, a mystery: ‘Babylon the great…’ ” (Revelation 17:5-7), a cryptic title exposing her spiritual harlotry and inevitable fall.

Ministry Implications

1. Proclamation with Clarity

Paul requests prayer “to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:19-20). The revealed secret must be spoken plainly.

2. Dependent Illumination

Understanding is granted, not achieved. Hence believers pray “that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3).

3. Humble Stewardship

Knowledge of divine mysteries produces humility, not arrogance (Romans 11:25). Spiritual gifts, even those able to “fathom all mysteries” (1 Corinthians 13:2), are meaningless without love.

4. Ethical Transformation

The mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16) binds doctrine to conduct. To know Christ is to reflect His holiness.

Historical Trajectory

Early Christian writers quickly adopted μυστήριον to describe the gospel, baptism, and the Eucharist, emphasizing the sacramental disclosure of salvation history. Yet the New Testament usage anchors the word in revelation, not secrecy. The church’s liturgy and mission therefore stand upon what God has made known, inviting all nations to the open secret of Christ crucified and risen.

Summary

Μυστήριον signals God’s sovereign disclosure of redemptive truth: hidden in ages past, revealed in Christ, entrusted to the church, and consummated at His return. Believers live, worship, and witness in the light of this unveiled glory.

μυστηρια μυστήρια μυστηριον μυστήριον μυστηριου μυστηρίου μυστηριω μυστηρίω μυστηρίῳ μυστηριων μυστηρίων musteria mustēria musterio mustēriō musterion mustērion mustēriōn musteriou mustēriou mysteria mystēria mystḗria mysterio mystēriō mysteríoi mystēríōi mysterion mysteríon mystērion mystēriōn mystēríōn mystḗrion mysteriou mysteríou mystēriou mystēríouInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts