When is mystery used in KJB?

In Paul's epistles (KJV), "the Body of Christ" is a major doctrinal truth revealed as part of the Mystery. It refers to the Church — all true believers in Jesus Christ, regardless of Jew or Gentile, who are spiritually united to Christ as members of one organism, with Christ Himself as the Head.

Key Definition & Passages

1. Christ is the Head; the Church is His Body

   Ephesians 1:22-23 "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

   Colossians 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."

   • The Body of Christ = the universal Church (not a building, denomination, or local assembly alone, but every born-again believer from Pentecost onward).

2. One Body — Jews and Gentiles Made One

   Ephesians 2:15-16 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity... to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross..."

   Ephesians 3:6 (part of the Mystery) "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel."

   This was hidden in past ages (the Mystery) — God is now forming one new spiritual body where believing Jews and Gentiles are equal members.

3. Many Members, One Body

   1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles... Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

   Romans 12:4-5 "For as we have many members in one body... So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

   • Every believer is a member (like a hand, foot, eye, etc.) with different gifts and functions, but all joined together under Christ the Head.
   • The Holy Spirit baptizes us into this Body at the moment of salvation.

4. How the Body Grows & Functions

   Ephesians 4:15-16 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth... maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

   Colossians 2:19 "And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God."

Summary of Paul's Teaching

• The Body of Christ is the Church, the new spiritual organism created at Pentecost and continuing today.
• It is not Israel (Paul distinguishes the two).
• Christ is the Head — He directs, nourishes, and has authority over it.
• Believers are members joined to Christ and to one another.
• This truth is central to the Mystery Paul received: Gentiles as full fellow-heirs in one Body (Ephesians 3).
• It is connected to the current dispensation of the grace of God — Paul’s stewardship to reveal and build up this Body.

This is one of the highest privileges of the believer: to be “in Christ” as part of His very Body.

In Paul's epistles (KJV), "dispensation" translates the Greek word oikonomia, meaning stewardship, administration, management, or a plan/commission to dispense or carry out something. It refers to how God arranges or entrusts His purposes—often a specific responsibility or era in God's dealings with humanity.

Paul uses the word in these key places:

1. "The dispensation of the grace of God" (Ephesians 3:2)

"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward..."

• Meaning: This is the primary "this dispensation" likely referred to. It is the special stewardship or commission God gave Paul to administer/preach the gospel of grace to the Gentiles.
• Paul received this by revelation as part of the mystery (the Church age truths hidden in past ages—Gentiles as fellowheirs in one body with Jews in Christ). It connects directly to the previous discussion on mysteries.
• Paul is a "steward" dispensing God's grace (the unsearchable riches of Christ) to the Ephesians and other Gentiles.

2. "The dispensation of the fulness of times" (Ephesians 1:9-10)

"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will... That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."

• Meaning: This refers to God's future administrative plan or period when He will sum up/head up all things under Christ's rule (a coming time of universal reconciliation and fulfillment). It is broader than the current age and points to the ultimate goal of God's purposes.

3. "The dispensation of God" (Colossians 1:25)

"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God."

• Meaning: Again, Paul's God-given stewardship to minister the gospel (especially the mystery of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" to the Gentiles) to complete God's revelation.

Summary in context: In Paul's writings, "this dispensation" most often points to the current administration of God's grace through the gospel—specifically Paul's apostolic role in revealing and dispensing truths about the Church (the body of Christ) that were previously hidden. It is not primarily a long "age" or era (though dispensational theology builds on this idea), but a divine entrustment or management of God's program.

Paul contrasts this with prior ages (law, prophets, etc.), emphasizing that this is a new stewardship of grace for the Church until the "fullness of times."

In Romans 16:25 and a Caution from Peter 3:15-16

" Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began

2 Peter 3:15-16  And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

In other words, get your out of the sand. This is a fact Jack!

In the King James Bible (KJB), the Apostle Paul uses the term "mystery" (from the Greek mystērion, meaning a secret or hidden truth now revealed by God) several times across his epistles. These refer to divine truths that were hidden in past ages but revealed through Paul (and sometimes other apostles/prophets) for the Church age.

Paul does not provide a single numbered list, but the key mysteries he explicitly names or describes are as follows, with direct KJV verses:

1. The mystery of the Gospel / the mystery of Christ (often central to Paul's message)
   • Romans 16:25-26: "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest..."
   • Ephesians 6:19: "...to make known the mystery of the gospel."
   • Colossians 4:3-4: "...to speak the mystery of Christ..."
   • Colossians 2:2: "...the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ."
   • Colossians 1:26-27: "...the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: ... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." This encompasses the full revelation of salvation through Christ's death and resurrection, including Christ indwelling believers.
2. The mystery of His will (God's plan to unite all things under Christ)
   • Ephesians 1:9-10: "Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ..."
3. The mystery of the Gentiles' inclusion / the fellowship of the mystery (Gentiles as fellow heirs with Jews in one body, the Church)
   • Ephesians 3:3-6: "...by revelation he made known unto me the mystery... Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel..."
   • Ephesians 3:9: "...to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God..."
4. The mystery of godliness (the incarnation and work of Christ)
   • 1 Timothy 3:16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."
5. The mystery of the partial blindness/hardening of Israel (until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in)
   • Romans 11:25: "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."
6. The mystery of the Rapture / the change at Christ's coming (believers' bodies transformed)
   • 1 Corinthians 15:51: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed..."
7. The mystery of lawlessness / iniquity (already at work, leading to the man of sin)
   • 2 Thessalonians 2:7: "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."
8. The mystery of marriage / Christ and the Church (as a profound union, illustrated by husband and wife)
   • Ephesians 5:31-32: "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Paul also refers generally to "mysteries of God" (1 Corinthians 4:1: "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God") and "the wisdom of God in a mystery" (1 Corinthians 2:7).

Many interpreters (especially in dispensational teaching) view these as interconnected aspects of one overarching "mystery" revealed uniquely to Paul—the gospel of grace, the Church as Christ's body, and related truths hidden from prior generations. The core emphasis is that these were not fully revealed in the Old Testament or earlier New Testament writings but made known through Paul for the Church.

What I have to say is that if you don't understand the mysteries that Paul teaches for us in this dispensation. then Gods word will be confusing in your reading of any other part of Gods Word.

I went to another AI which I won't use again. These mysteries are not accepted. This is what mans religion does to the Word of God when they don't like what it says. The Bible is all the Word of God. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, US!