μυστήριον

μυστήρισν, -ου, τό

(μυέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Daniel 2:18 ff. (רָז), Tob.12.7, 11, Jdt.2.2, Wis.2.22; 6:22; 14:15, 23, Sir.3.18; 22:22; 27:16-17, 21, 2Ma.13.21 * ;]

1. that which is known to the μύστης (initiated), a mystery or secret doctrine, mostly in pl., τὰ μ. (Æsch., Hdt., al.).

2. In later writers (Menand., Incert., 168), that which may not be revealed (not, however, as in the modern sense, intrinsically difficult to understand), a secret or mystery of any kind (To, Jth, 2Mac, ll, with).

3. In NT, of the counsels of God (cf. Th.: Job 15:8, Psalm 25:14 for סוֹד), once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof;

(a) of the Christian revelation generally : Romans 16:25, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Colossians 1:26-27, Ephesians 3:3, 9; τ. βασιλείας τ. θεοῦ, Mark 4:11; τ. θεοῦ, 1 Corinthians 2:1, Revelation 10:7; τ. θ., Χριστοῦ, Colossians 2:2; τ. Χριστοῦ., Colossians 4:3, Ephesians 3:4; τ. θελήματος αὐτοῦ, Ephesians 1:9; τ. εὐαγγελίον, Ephesians 6:19; τ. πίστεως, 1 Timothy 3:9; τ. εὐσεβείας, 1 Timothy 3:16;

(b) of particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation : Romans 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:51, Ephesians 5:32, 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Revelation 1:20; 17:5, 7; pl., τὰ μ., 1 Corinthians 13:2; 14:2; θεοῦ, 1 Corinthians 4:1; τ. βασιλείας τ. οὐρανῶν (θεοῦ), Matthew 13:11, Luke 8:10 (cf. Westc., Eph., 180 ff.; AR, Eph., 234 ff.; Lft., Col., 165 f.; Hatch, Essays, 57 f.; DB, iii, 465 ff.; DCG, ii, 213 ff.).