What is the mystery that Paul speaks about in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 6?

Answer 1

The word mystery is not in Eph 3:6.

Paul had alluded to the mystery briefly in 1:9-14, 22, 23; 2:11-22. But chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 give us the most complete definition we have of the mystery.

First, it is a truth which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men.

Second, it is a truth which has now been revealed by the Holy Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

The central truth of the mystery, is, that in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, believing Gentiles are fellow heirs, with the Jews, of all the blessings of grace, of lasting salvation, and of the eternal, incorruptible, and never fading inheritance in heaven. Gentile believers are also heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ Jesus on account of their special adoption through him, and their justification by his righteousness.

Answer 2

To understand the epistles, we need to know that many scholars believe they came from a different branch of Christianity than did the gospels. They say that the epistle authors seem unaware of Jesus' mission, as described in the gospels.

Whereas the gospels say that the twelve apostles learnt about Christ from personal experience, the statement in Ephesians 3:5 appears to state that the apostles learnt about Christ from the Holy Spirit:

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit

Verse 6 refers to the gospel, but not in the sense of the four books we call Gospels, nor in the sense of a historical account of Jesus' life, but in the sense of the Christian gospel, or good news. When Ephesians chapter 3 refers to the mystery and the promise of Jesus Christ, this means the gospel known by Paul and the epistle authors.