This passage, and related comment, were posted in another thread (posted by Ben, but used here only as an example to begin this post)---
Romans 16.25-27 NASB:
"25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [μυστηρίου] which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested [φανερωθέντος], and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen."
… it is through the prophetical writings that that the mystery is made known to the nations.
Yes, but it also seems that this NASB translation leaves the mode of manifestation of the long-secret mystery as unstated.
Some other bible translations, as well as some investigators, authors and commentators (though seemingly in the minority), use a different translation --- one similar to the NIV ---
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith — 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. (Romans 16:25-27, NIV)
This NIV translation seems more encompassing --- with the prophetic writings serving as the mode for BOTH the revelation of the long-hidden mystery, and for the Gentiles (nations) to come to the obedience of faith.
Here’s the extant Greek ---
25 Τῷ δὲ δυναμένῳ ὑμᾶς στηρίξαι κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου καὶ τὸ κήρυγμα Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, κατὰ ἀποκάλυψιν μυστηρίου χρόνοις αἰωνίοις σεσιγημένου, 26 φανερωθέντος δὲ νῦν διά τε γραφῶν προφητικῶν κατ’ ἐπιταγὴν τοῦ αἰωνίου Θεοῦ εἰς ὑπακοὴν πίστεως εἰς πάντα τὰ ἔθνη γνωρισθέντος, 27 μόνῳ σοφῷ Θεῷ, διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων· ἀμήν.
To anyone interested in commenting, based on the extant Greek, does it seem that the prophetic writings were intended by the author to apply to ---
--- only making the mystery known to the nations? Or,
--- both the revelation of the long-hidden mystery and to making the mystery known to the nations? Or,
--- is it just too unclear?
Certainly, the wording is confusing enough to have generated significantly different translations.