The Mystery of God's Will
In the opening chapter of Ephesians, Paul makes one of the most sweeping theological statements in all his letters. He describes a mystery of God's will that encompasses the entire created order — a plan to bring everything together under one head: Christ.
The Key Passage: Ephesians 1:9-10
"...making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."— Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV)
The Greek word translated "unite" here is anakephalaiosasthai, which literally means "to bring under one head" or "to sum up." It is related to the word for "head" (kephalē). God's will, Paul says, is to gather all of reality — things in heaven and things on earth — under the headship of Christ. This is the cosmic scope of the mystery.
The Broadest Mystery
While other Pauline mysteries focus on specific aspects of God's plan — the inclusion of Gentiles, the transformation of the body, the union of Christ and the church — the mystery of God's will is the umbrella under which all the others fit. It is the grand plan. Every other mystery is a particular expression of this one unifying purpose.
Planned Before Time
Paul emphasizes that this plan is not a reaction to events. It was set forth "according to his purpose" and prepared for "the fullness of time." The mystery of God's will is something God had in mind before creation. The phrase "fullness of time" (plērōma tōn kairōn) suggests that history is moving toward a culmination point that God has determined in advance. See also The Mystery Hidden for Ages for the theme of divine planning across ages.
"All Things"
The scope of "all things" (ta panta) in this passage is notable. Paul does not limit the mystery to human salvation. He says "things in heaven and things on earth." This has led interpreters to see in this passage a vision of cosmic reconciliation — not just that individual humans are saved, but that the entire created order is being drawn into a restored relationship with God through Christ. This is related to Paul's language in Romans 8:19-22, where creation itself "waits with eager longing" for redemption.
Connection to Revelation
The theme of God's mystery being completed finds its endpoint in Revelation 10:7, where an angel declares that when the seventh trumpet sounds, "the mystery of God would be fulfilled." If Ephesians 1:9-10 describes the plan, Revelation 10:7 describes its completion. The mystery of God's will stretches from before time to the end of time.
The Mystery of Lawlessness as Counterpoint
If the mystery of God's will is the unifying of all things under Christ, the mystery of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:7) represents the opposing force: the hidden working of evil that seeks to fragment and rebel against God's plan. These two mysteries — God's will and lawlessness — operate simultaneously in the present age, and both will reach their resolution at the return of Christ.