Which Old Testament prophecies connect with the "revelation of the mystery" in Romans? Unpacking Romans 16:25–27 “Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for ages past but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God…” (Romans 16:25-26) What Paul Means by “Mystery” • Something once hidden in God’s plan, now disclosed through Christ and His apostles • Centres on two inseparable truths: 1. Messiah would die and rise (Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:10) 2. Jew and Gentile would be gathered into one redeemed people (Ephesians 3:4-6) Old Testament Threads That Point Ahead 1. Global Blessing Promised to Abraham • Genesis 12:3 — “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” • Genesis 22:18 — “Through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” → Paul sees the gospel to the nations as the fulfillment of these promises (Galatians 3:8-9). 2. Messiah Given the Nations • Psalm 2:7-8 — “‘You are My Son… Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.’” • Daniel 7:13-14 — “…One like a Son of Man… was given dominion… that those of every people, nation, and language should serve Him.” → The worldwide reign of Jesus brings the mystery into view. 3. Israel’s Servant Becomes a Light to Gentiles • Isaiah 42:6 — “I… will give You as a covenant for the people and a light for the nations.” • Isaiah 49:6 — “It is too small a thing… to restore the tribes of Jacob… I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.” • Isaiah 60:1-3 — “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” → Luke cites these verses to describe Jesus’ ministry (Luke 2:32; Acts 13:47). 4. Gentiles Sprinkled, Kings Silenced • Isaiah 52:15 — “So He will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of Him.” → Paul links Isaiah 52-53 to Christ’s atonement (Romans 10:15). 5. A People Once “Not My People” Now God’s People • Hosea 1:10 — “In the place where they were told, ‘You are not My people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’” • Hosea 2:23 — “I will say to those called ‘Lo-ammi,’ ‘You are My people.’” → Quoted in Romans 9:25-26 to show Gentile inclusion. 6. David’s Fallen Tent Rebuilt for All Nations • Amos 9:11-12 — “I will restore the fallen booth of David… so that they may possess… all the nations that bear My name.” → James cites this passage at the Jerusalem Council to affirm Gentile salvation (Acts 15:15-17). 7. Provoking Israel to Jealousy Through a “No-Nation” • Deuteronomy 32:21 — “I will make them jealous by those who are not a people.” • Isaiah 65:1 — “I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek Me.” → Quoted in Romans 10:19-20 as part of the mystery’s unveiling. 8. The Cornerstone Rejected, Then Exalted • Psalm 118:22 — “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” → Signals that salvation would extend beyond those who rejected the stone (Matthew 21:42; Acts 4:11). 9. Promise of a New Covenant • Jeremiah 31:31-34 — “I will make a new covenant… I will forgive their iniquity.” → Opens the door for all who believe, Jew or Greek, to receive the Spirit (Hebrews 8:8-12). 10. Worldwide Pilgrimage to the LORD • Micah 4:1-3 — “Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD…’” • Zechariah 2:11 — “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people.” • Zechariah 8:22-23 — “Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD… ten men from the nations… will grasp the cloak of a Jew…” How These Prophecies Converge in Romans • Romans 1–11: Paul weaves Abraham’s promise, Hosea’s “not-my-people,” Deuteronomy’s jealousy, Isaiah’s light to Gentiles, and the Suffering Servant into one tapestry. • Romans 16:25: He calls this integrated storyline “the revelation of the mystery hidden for ages past but now revealed.” Living Out the Unveiled Mystery • Confidence — God keeps every promise, down to each detail. • Unity — Jew and Gentile, every ethnicity and language, stand on equal footing at the cross. • Mission — The Old Testament’s global vision propels today’s proclamation of the gospel “to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations” (Romans 16:26). |
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