holding to the mystery of the faith ¹  with a clear conscience.

One ¹  should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Listen, ¹  I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, ²  but we will all be changed –

that ¹  by revelation the divine secret ²  was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. ³ 

For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. ¹ 

He did this when he revealed ¹  to us the secret ²  of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth ³  in Christ, ⁴ 

When reading this, ¹  you will be able to ²  understand my insight into this secret ³  of Christ.

This mystery is great – but I am actually ¹  speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

For the hidden power of lawlessness ¹  is already at work. However, the one who holds him back ²  will do so until he is taken out of the way,

He replied, ¹  “You have been given ²  the opportunity to know ³  the secrets ⁴  of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

He said to them, “The secret ¹  of the kingdom of God has been given ²  to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,

¹ Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages,

When I came ¹  to you, brothers and sisters, ²  I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony ³  of God.

Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory.

and to enlighten ¹  everyone about God’s secret plan ²  – a secret that has been hidden for ages ³  in God ⁴  who has created all things.

Pray ¹  for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak ²  – that I may confidently make known ³  the mystery of the gospel,

My goal is that ¹  their hearts, having been knit together ²  in love, may be encouraged, and that ³  they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ⁴ 

At the same time pray ¹  for us too, that ²  God may open a door for the message ³  so that we may proclaim ⁴  the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁵ 

On ¹  her forehead was written a name, a mystery: ²  “Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.”