Mystery in 1 Corinthians

 

Mystery occurs 5 times in 1 Corinthians! That’s a lot! First, let’s look at the mystery Paul explains and then the four he doesn’t explain.

The Mystery Paul explains – The Mystery of the resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The prophets had clearly taught the resurrection of the dead (Dan 12:2, Hosea 13:14). And of course, in order to be raised from the dead you must first die. But the mystery, that which God had not revealed to the prophets, was we shall not all sleep or die, but we shall all still be changed. When the Lord Jesus returns in glory the dead will be raised. This is the resurrection. Then, after the dead are raised, those who are alive at His return will be changed, translated, given resurrection bodies without passing through death. This sounds like it will take quite a while, but it will all be done in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. Oh the power and glory of our resurrected Lord!

This change or translation of the living is what is commonly called the rapture. But please notice, the mystery is the being changed without dying first, not the timing. The timing is clearly said to be at the last trump. When Jesus comes again, well, let Paul himself explain it: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Maranatha!!

There is a great song which captures the joy of His coming, “What A Day That Will Be”, written by Jim Hill in 1955. You can listen to it sung beautifully here.

Mysteries which Paul does not explain or define:

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

The wisdom of God was revealed to Paul by the Holy Spirit which he taught using words that the Holy Spirit taught him; and it can only be understood by spiritual people (see the rest of ch 2). This describes the revelation and inspiration of the Bible, and how the Holy Spirit helps the believer understand the Word.

1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

NEXT: Mystery in Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians