Section 259
17E. J. Goodspeed, The Meaning of Ephesians (Chicago, 1933), p. 42.
18According to H. Merklein, the μυστήϱιον here corresponds to the εὐαγγέλιον of Gal. 1:12, 15-16. “The content of the mystery of Eph. 3:6 is the ecclesiological interpretation of the revelation of Jesus Christ in its outworking in salvation history. When the author makes the outworking in salvation history of the ἀποϰάλυψις of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1) the subject-matter of the ἀποϰάλυψις itself, his mystery acquires ecclesiological content” (Das kirchliche Amt nach dem Epheserbrief [Munich, 1973], p. 208).
19That is to say, in τῷ μυστηϱίῳ τοῦ χϱιστοῦ the genitive τοῦ Xϱιστοῦ is epexegetic (genitive of definition).
20In 1 Cor. 2:1 the textual evidence is rather evenly balanced between τò μυστήϱιον τοῦ θεοῦ (i.e., the gospel itself) and τò μυστήϱιον τοῦ θεοῦ, “the testimony of God” (i.e., the proclamation of the gospel).
21 Compare “the mystery of his will” (Eph. 1:9); on its relation to the present exposition of the divine mystery see p. 319 below.