μυστήριον

μυστήρισν, -ου, τό

(μυέω), [in LXX: Dan LXX TH Dan 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, Sl 25,14 for סוֹד), once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof;

(a) of the Christian revelation generally : Rom 16,25, 1 Kor 2,7, Kol 1,26-27, Ef 3,3, 9; τ. βασιλείας τ. θεοῦ, Mark 4,11 τ. θεοῦ, 1 Kor 2,1, Åb 10,7; τ. θ., Χριστοῦ, Kol 2,2 τ. Χριστοῦ., Kol 4,3, Ef 3,4; τ. θελήματος αὐτοῦ, Ef 1,9 τ. εὐαγγελίον, Ef 6,19 τ. πίστεως, 1 Tim 3,9 τ. εὐσεβείας, 1 Tim 3,16

(b) of particular truths, or details, of the Christian revelation : Rom 11,25, 1 Kor 15,51, Ef 5,32, 2 Thess 2,7, Åb 1,20; 17,5, 7; pl., τὰ μ., 1 Kor 13,2; 14,2; θεοῦ, 1 Kor 4,1 τ. βασιλείας τ. οὐρανῶν (θεοῦ), Matt 13,11, Luk 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.).†