This book explores the biblical conception of mystery as an initial, partially hidden revelation that is subsequently more fully revealed, shedding light not only on the richness of the concept itself, but also on the broader relationship between the Old and New Testaments. As such, it is a model for attentive and faithful biblical theology.

G. K. Beale;Benjamin L. Gladd

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Preface

Abbreviations

Introduction

1 The Use of Mystery in Daniel

Mystery in Daniel

The Hymn of Daniel 2:20-23

Form of the Mystery

The End-Time Component of the Mystery

Conclusion

Excursus 1.1: The Greek Old Testament's Interpretation of Daniel 4

2 The Use of Mystery in Early Judaism

Mystery in the Dead Sea Scrolls

Mystery in the Targums

Excursus 2.1: Mystery in First Enoch and Other Jewish Texts

3 The Use of Mystery in Matthew

Immediate Context

Hiddenness in Daniel and Matthew

Psalm 78:2 in Matthew 13:35

Mysteries of the Kingdom

The Presence of Mystery in the Synoptics

Excursus 3.1: Expectation of the Latter-Day Kingdom in the Old Testament and Early Judaism

4 The Use of Mystery in Romans

Mystery in Romans 11

Mystery in Romans 16

Excursus 4.1: The Old Testament Context of Deuteronomy 32:21

Excursus 4.2: The Possible Old Testament Context of Deuteronomy 29:22–30:10

5 The Use of Mystery in 1 Corinthians

The Mystery of the Cross in 1 Corinthians 2:1, 7

Paul as a "Steward of Mysteries" in 1 Corinthians 4:1

Mysteries of Prophecy and Tongues in 1 Corinthians 13:2; 14:2

The Mystery of the Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:51

Excursus 5.1: Messianic Expectations and the Idea of the Messiah in 1 Corinthians 2:1-8

Excursus 5.2: Eschatological Transformation in Early Judaism

6 The Use of Mystery in Ephesians

Cosmic Mystery in Ephesians 1

The Ethnic Mystery in Ephesians 3

Marital Mystery in Ephesians 5

The Mystery of the Gospel in Ephesians 6

Excursus 6.1: End-Time Conversion of the Gentiles in the Old Testament and Judaism

7 The Use of Mystery in Colossians

Kingdom, Gentiles and the Unveiled Mystery of Christ in Colossians 1:26-27

Daniel 2 and the Mystery of God in Colossians 2:1-4

Imprisoned for the Mystery of Christ in Colossians 4:3

8 The Use of Mystery in 2 Thessalonians

Daniel 11–12 and the "Man of Lawlessness"

Content of the Mystery

Permanent Hiddenness

Excursus 8.1: The Book of Daniel and Israel's Latter-Day Antagonist

Excursus 8.2: Other New Testament References to the Antichrist

Excursus 8.3: The End-Time Opponent in Early Judaism

9 The Use of Mystery in 1 Timothy

Mysteries of Faith and Godliness

The Hymn

Christ's Resurrection as the Beginning of the New Creation

Excursus 9.1: The Origins of Christ's Divinity and the Mystery in 1 Timothy 3:16

10 The Use of Mystery in Revelation

The Mystery of the Seven Stars in Revelation 1:20

The Mystery of God in Revelation 10:7

Mystery and Babylon the Great in Revelation 17:5, 7

11 Mystery Without Mystery in the New Testament

Resurrection

The Christological Understanding of the Old Testament

Jesus, the Temple and the New Creation

Inaugurated Eschatology

The Gospel

Excursus 11.1: Possible Old Testament Anticipations of a Two-Stage Resurrection

12 The Christian Mystery and the Pagan Mystery Religions

Brief Introduction to the Mystery Religions

Examples of Mystery Religions

The Biblical Mystery and the Mystery Religions

A Polemic Against the Pagan Mysteries?

13 Conclusion

The Revealed Mystery of the Old Testament and the Person of Christ

Mystery of the Cross and Cruciform Lifestyle

Hermeneutical Implications of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

Practical Implications

Appendix: The Cognitive Peripheral Vision of Biblical Authors

Modern-Day Examples of Explicit and Implicit Meaning

The Concept of Cognitive Peripheral Vision

E. D. Hirsch's Concept of a "Willed Type"

Michael Polanyi's Notion of Tacit or Subsidiary Knowledge

Some Old-Testament-in-the-New Examples of Tacit Knowledge, Willed Type or Cognitive Peripheral Vision

The repeated refrain of Psalm 136 is that God's love endures forever. In the words of Samuel Francis's hymn, the 'deep, deep love of Jesus' is 'vast, unmeasured, boundless, free ... rolling as a mighty ocean ... full of blessing'. Indeed, 'God is love' (1 John 4:8, 16). This is one of the most wonderful statements in the Bible. It is a revelation of the very heart of God. However, it is also a statement that can be misunderstood or distorted when it is made to conform to cultural assumptions. With wrong definitions of love pressing in upon us, it is urgent that we rightly discern the true, biblical revelation of God's love. Garry Williams offers a form of inoculation against mistaken accounts that flatten the differences between divine and human love. He sets out these differences by interpreting God's love in the midst of his trinitarian life and other divine attributes. In each chapter, doctrinal exploration is followed by a meditation that asks questions and invites spiritual reflection, and then by a closing prayer.

Hidden But Now Revealed

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