SYMBOLS IN BIBLE INTERPRETATION

1. MYSTERIES
1. Nature of Bible Mysteries
1. Not previously known (Ephesians 3:4-5,9; Matthew 13:35)
2. Beyond human understanding (1 Corinthians 2:7-10)
3. Selectively revealed (Matthew 13:10-11; Ephesians 3:10)
4. Meant to be taught (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)
2. Kingdom Age Mysteries
1. Found in Matthew Thirteen
2. They are parables (Matthew 13:3,10,13) but they are also “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” (verse 11)
1. The kingdom of heaven is God’s apparent kingdom on earth.  As such, it includes both those who are true believers and those who are false professors.
2. This set of parables provides a warning to the Jews who reject Christ and a preview of the coming church age.
3. The eight mystery parables
1. The sower (verses 3-9)
2. The tares (verses 24-30)
3. The mustard seed (verses 31-32)
4. The leaven (verse 33)
5. The treasure (verse 44)
6. The goodly pearls (verses 45-46)
7. The drag-net (verses 47-50)
8. The scribe (verse 52)
4. Eight is usually a type of new beginnings.  This fits in with the warning of change to the Jews
5. The truth of these parables was still hidden from the multitudes (Matthew 13:11-15,34-35)
3. Grace Age Mysteries
1. Mystery of Israel’s blindness (Romans 11:25)
2. Mystery of translation (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; see Hebrews 11:5)
3. Mystery of Christ: all one in Christ (Ephesians 3:3-6; Ephesians 5:29-32; Colossians 4:3)
4. Mystery of Christ in you (Colossians 1:26-27; Galatians 2:20)
5. Mystery of godliness: God incarnate (1 Timothy 3:16; John 1:14) –probably the same as the mystery of the Father (Colossians 2:2; Matthew 11:27; John 10:30)
6. Mystery of iniquity: the devil incarnate (2 Thessalonians 2:7; Genesis 3:15)
7. Mystery of the gospel: the gospel of the grace of God (Ephesians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
8. Mystery of the faith: that the word is the source of salvation and all doctrine (1 Timothy 3:9; Titus 1:9; Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 1:23-25)
9. Mystery of His will: God’s purpose (Ephesians 1:9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28)
10. Mystery of God: God’s plan (Colossians 2:2; Revelation 10:7)