«Tὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο μέγα ἐστίν» (Ef 5:32) alla luce dei testi del Mar Morto

In the Epistle to Ephesians we find six occurrences of the term μυστήριον, a rendering of Aramaic רז or רזא. There are several points of view about the unitary use of μυστήριον in Ephesians. In this article I focus on the expression τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο μέγα ἐστίν (Eph 5:32), which can be more deeply appreciated through a comparison with some occurrences of רזא/רז in the Dead Sea Scrolls (4Q416 2ii 7b-2iv; 1QS 9:18b-19a; 1QS 11:3b-4a; 1QHa 16:6b-12; 1QpHab 7:4-5a; 1Q27 1i 1-8). Though we cannot find a perfect parallel in Second Temple apocalyptic literature, we can identify texts that may have inspired the author of Ephesians. The knowledge and contemplation of mystery show that human relationships are shaped on the relationship between God and mankind, according to God’s eternal plan, as enclosed, for instance, in the רז נהיה of 4QInstruction. Moreover, like the Teacher of Righteousness, the author of Ephesians, too, knows and reveals the mystery of Scriptures and «ancient matters».