Third, Romans 16[:25]: “The Gospel is the mystery which was kept silent for long ages.”
Third, Romans 16[:25]: “The Gospel is the mystery which was kept silent for long ages.”
(III) [They say,] “In Rom. 16:25–26 the Gospel is said to be ‘the mystery which was kept silent for long ages but is now disclosed’—that is, in the time of the New Testament—and therefore it was unknown in the Old Testament.”
We respond. In the same passage it is clearly added that the Gospel was revealed “through the prophetic writings.” Therefore it was published earlier, but less clearly and for fewer people. The apostle removes so great and so clear a manifestation of the Gospel from the Old Testament, but not the entire manifestation. Eph. 3:[4–]5 should be assigned here: “The mystery of Christ” or the Gospel “which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it now has been revealed.” Thus the apostle is dealing with the degrees of its knowledge and the breadth of its preaching.