At several points in this investigation references have been made to the appearance of Gen. 2: 24 in Eph. 5: 21–33 as well as to the occurrence of that OT quotation in other related passages. Apart from what may be said about Gen. 2: 24 in Jewish traditions and in other NT documents, its occurrence in Eph. 5: 31 must be examined in its own context. Its function in 5: 21–33 has been a matter of considerable debate. In 5: 21–33, Gen. 2: 24 (v. 31) must be considered with v. 32 since a special set of problems clusters around those two verses. They consist of the quotation of Gen. 2: 24 and one other verse: ‘“for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery (μυστήριον), and I take it to mean Christ and the church.’

What is the function of μυστήριον in 5: 32? There are several clues in its context that should be considered. The demonstrative pronoun οὖτος in the phrase, τὸ μυστήριον τοῦτο, modifies μυστήριον and limits the reference of μυστήριον to something ‘comparatively near at hand’ or ‘immediately present to the thinking of the writer’. Thus, τοῦτο does not designate the specific referent of μυστήριον, but could conceivably refer to any part or parts of the section beginning with 5: 21.