Note 5 at Eph. 3:5: Paul's statement here raises new questions. Why wasn't this truth of Jew and Gentile united in one new body revealed in the Old Testament? He doesn't explain here. However, in 1 Corinthians 2:14 Paul said, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Surely one reason this mystery was not revealed to Old Testament men was because they were not born again (see note 2 at Jn. 3:3, p. 92) and therefore could not grasp spiritual truth as readily as a New Testament believer is able to (see notes 1-3 at 1 Cor. 2:14, p. 869).

Note 6 at Eph. 3:5: Revelation knowledge (see note 1 at Lk. 2:26, p. 56; notes 1-2 at Mt. 13:11-12, p. 191; and note 9 at 1 Cor. 14:26, p. 949) comes from the Holy Spirit. One of the primary ministries of the Holy Spirit is to give us understanding (see note 35 at Jn. 14:26, p. 493). A person who does not have the Holy Spirit, or does not yield to the Holy Spirit, is cut off from revelation knowledge.