Every Mystery in the Bible: Complete List
The Greek word mystērion appears approximately 28 times in the New Testament (the exact count varies slightly by textual tradition). Below is a comprehensive reference table listing every occurrence, grouped by book. Each entry includes the verse reference, a brief description of what the "mystery" refers to in context, and a link to the relevant study page on this site.
For background on what mystērion means and how to read these passages, start with What Does "Mystery" Mean in the Bible?
The Synoptic Gospels
| Reference | Description | Study Page |
|---|
| Matthew 13:11 | The secrets/mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, given to the disciples but not to the crowds. | Mystery of the Kingdom |
| Mark 4:11 | "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God." Parallel to Matthew 13:11. | Mystery of the Kingdom |
| Luke 8:10 | "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God." Parallel to Matthew 13:11. | Mystery of the Kingdom |
These are the only times Jesus uses the word mystērion in the Gospels. See Did Jesus Use the Word Mystery? for more on why this matters.
Romans
| Reference | Description | Study Page |
|---|
| Romans 11:25 | The mystery of Israel's partial hardening until the full number of Gentiles comes in. | Mystery of Israel's Hardening |
| Romans 16:25 | The mystery kept secret for long ages but now disclosed through the prophetic writings. | Mystery of the Gospel |
1 Corinthians
Ephesians
| Reference | Description | Study Page |
|---|
| Ephesians 1:9 | God made known the mystery of His will — to unite all things in Christ. | Mystery of God's Will |
| Ephesians 3:3 | The mystery made known to Paul by revelation. | Mystery of Christ |
| Ephesians 3:4 | "The mystery of Christ" — that Gentiles are fellow heirs. | Mystery of Christ |
| Ephesians 3:9 | The plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things. | The Mystery Hidden for Ages |
| Ephesians 5:32 | "This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." | Mystery of Marriage |
| Ephesians 6:19 | Paul asks for prayer to proclaim "the mystery of the gospel" boldly. | Mystery of the Gospel |
Colossians
| Reference | Description | Study Page |
|---|
| Colossians 1:26 | The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed. | The Mystery Hidden for Ages |
| Colossians 1:27 | "Christ in you, the hope of glory" — the content of the mystery among the Gentiles. | Mystery of Christ |
| Colossians 2:2 | Reaching the full riches of understanding the mystery of God, namely Christ. | Mystery of Christ |
| Colossians 4:3 | Paul asks for prayer that God would open a door for "the mystery of Christ." | Mystery of Christ |
2 Thessalonians
| Reference | Description | Study Page |
|---|
| 2 Thessalonians 2:7 | "The mystery of lawlessness is already at work." | Mystery of Lawlessness |
1 Timothy
| Reference | Description | Study Page |
|---|
| 1 Timothy 3:9 | Deacons must hold "the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience." | Stewards of the Mysteries |
| 1 Timothy 3:16 | "Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness." | Mystery of Godliness |
Revelation
A Note on Counting
The exact count of 27 or 28 occurrences depends on the Greek manuscript tradition used. For example, in 1 Corinthians 2:1, some manuscripts read
mystērion ("mystery") while others read
martyrion ("testimony"). Most modern critical editions prefer "testimony" at that verse, which would bring the total closer to 27. The differences are minor and do not affect the overall theology.