Bereansearching Bible Studies

Understanding God’s Word, the Bible: God’s Word is a Mystery!

In 1 Corinthians 2 (the whole chapter) we can gain insights on the means of understanding God’s Holy Word, the Bible:

a) in verse 2, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

b) in verse 5, “that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.“

c) in verse 7+8, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew:…“

d) in verse 10, “But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.“

e) in verse 13, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.“

f) in verse 14, “But the natural man (everyone in the unsaved state) 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.“

In John 6:63 we read, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.“

e) in verse 13, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.“

f) in verse 14, “But the natural man (everyone in the unsaved state) 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.“

In John 6:63 we read, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are spirit, and [they] are life.“

We should also take a look at Job 32:8, that reads in the King James English translation as, “But [there is] a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.“ Man is a living being with the spirit of life that goes back to Genesis 2:7, “¶And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.“ The original Hebrew word that is translated into English as both “inspiration” and “breath” is the same word, נְשָׁמָה (nᵊšāmâ)^H5397. So what Job 32:8 is really saying is that man has the spirit of life as a physical living soul, but, and only if, someone is given The Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost from God Almighty can they then also have “Understanding”, and by implication, Eternal Life. This also brings to mind what we read in John 20:21&22, “¶Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:“

Although Jesus Spoke in Parables to the Multitudes, Jesus Expounded/Explained the Parables to His Disciples

Jesus expounded/explained the parables to His disciples. In Mark 4:34, we read, “But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.”

Moreover, Jesus explained to His disciples WHY He always spoke in parables to the multitudes.  In Mark 4:11&12, we read: “And he (Jesus Christ speaking to His disciples) said unto them, Unto you (the elect) it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without (the non-elect),all [these] things are done in parables:  That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and [their] sins should be forgiven them.“(God reiterates this explanation in Isaiah 6:9&10, John 9:39&40, and Acts 28:26-28… PLEASE read these verses to see the perfect reinforcement that they provide).

The point being that, when Jesus spoke, the “plain” earthly meaning was insufficient for the vast majority of his hearers (those who were not to be counted among God’s Elect) to understand the “spiritual” or “heavenly” meaning.  What Jesus said was effectively given in the form of a “riddle”, and hence having a “hidden” or “secret” meaning. The exposition of the Bible’s parables comes from God Alone, and through His Holy Spirit Alone, and not from the wisdom of men.  

The Word of God is “Plain” to the Believer, but “Hidden” to the Non-Elect (and that is a “Mystery” in itself)

For the believers, God makes His words (the Bible) “plain”, as we find in Proverbs 8:8, “All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.  They [are] all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.”  For the non-elect, God’s words are “hidden”.  2 Corinthians 4:3 states, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”  Ephesians 3:9, “And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Colossians 1:25, “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;  [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest (made known or revealed)to his saints:”  Colossians 2:2&3, “That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;  In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.“

NOTE to the Reader: Regarding the issue of Election, please remember that Jesus also prayed in John 17:9, “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.”  While it is correct to understand that Jesus was referring specifically to His disciples at that point, we later read in the same chapter, in John 17:20, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”  For more on this issue, please read Romans, chapter 9, particularly verses 11-24; and Romans, chapter 11, particularly verses 5-8.

In Proverbs 1:5&6, we read, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.”  And in Psalm 49:3&4 we read, “My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and  the meditation of my heart [shall be] of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.”

Conclusion

             The conclusion of the matter is, only if (by the grace of God, alone) we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in our hearts (because we are called and chosen by God, and are therefore spiritually raised from the dead…and hence are “born again” by the Spirit), then our spiritual eyes and ears can be opened to the hidden Truth of God (in concurrence with being given the necessary faith hope and love and the desire to be obedient to Him!).  Because that Truth is of God, and about God…then “spiritual” discernment (not carnal, earthly, human) is required. 

In Romans 7:14 we read, “For we know that the law (the whole word of God, the Bible) is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.“ and in Romans 8:9&10, “¶But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.“

Therefore, only if we are being guided by God the Holy Spirit, as a Gift according to God’s Sovereign Will and Good Pleasure, and by God’s Grace Alone, using the process of prayerfully searching and comparing scripture with scripture (comparing spiritual with spiritual) within the context of the whole Bible, can the veil be removed, such that we can begin to see Jesus Christ and His work of salvation for His people that God has inextricably interwoven throughout all His word, the Bible.  Jesus really is the Child of Promise and The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  May all who read this be as the Greeks in John 12:20&21 that came up to the feast to worship and say, “we would see Jesus.”

And please, dear reader, never forget that “Salvation is of the Lord” (Please see the study of Jonah), and “salvation” means being saved from the just penalty for one’s sins, and that penalty would, apart from salvation, require an eternity in Hell come Judgment Day.

POSTSCRIPT #1: “Spiritual Gifts”

We know from other studies that Jesus opens the book and Jesus closes the Book, so likewise God gives different spiritual gifts to each of His chosen according to His Own Will. But it is all to God’s Glory and our collective benefit as we read in Ephesians 4:11, “¶And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”

POSTSCRIPT #2: “Mysteries in the Bible”

Having written the above it has become clear over the years that the Bible (in the New Testament) discusses a number of different “Mysteries”. Every verse that mentions the word “mystery” (there are 22 of them) can be found here. These can be enumerated as follows:

1. We can see that there is the Mystery of the Gospel that is concealed in parables as has already been addressed here and elsewhere in the Bereansearching.com website. Mark 4:11+12, Rom 16:25, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Colossians 1:26, Colossians 4:3, Ephesians 6:19, 1 Timothy 3:9, Revelation 10:7
2. The God Head is a mystery: Colossians 2:2, 1 Timothy 3:16
3. Among the other “mysteries” is the fact that National Israel remains in unbelief: Romans 11:25
4. Another mystery is that the Gentiles would also be fellow heirs with Christ, and not just the remnant of the Jews. Ephesians 3:3-11, Colossians 1:27
5. The mystery of the relationship between Jesus Christ and His church: Ephesians 5:32
6. The mystery of the Rapture: 1 Corinthians 15:51
7. The mystery of the seven stars representing the seven churches in Revelation 1:20
8. The mystery of iniquity: 2 Thessalonians 2:7
9. The mystery of the apostate church that we read about in Revelation 17:5&7
10. But one of the most important ones (knowing that they are all important) is the one being “Christ in you” for the believer, as we read in Colossians 1:27, “To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” and Romans 8:9&10, “¶But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.” 1 John 3:24, “¶And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” The indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, within the believer was also addressed in great detail above, but it is also included here as one of the identified “mysteries“.

POSTSCRIPT #3: Speaking Plainly Versus in an Allegory

We should also remember what Jesus said to His disciples in John 16:25-29, “¶These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs (παροιμία (paroimia))^G3942: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs (παροιμία (paroimia))^G3942 , but I shall shew you plainly (παρρησία (parrēsia))^G3954 of the Father. At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. ¶His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly (παρρησία (parrēsia))^G3954, and speakest no proverb (παροιμία (paroimia))^G3942.”

The original Greek word that is translated into English as “proverb“, παροιμία (paroimia)^G3942, means “speaking in allegory or metaphor“. The original Greek word that is translated into English as “plainly“, (παρρησία (parrēsia))^G3954, means “openly, frankly, i. e. without concealment“.

This, amazingly, brings to mind, 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” The original Greek word that is translated into English as “glass” is ἔσοπτρον (esoptron)^G2072 means “mirror“. The original Greek word that is translated into English as “darkly” is αἴνιγμα (ainigma)^G135 means “obscure saying, enigma, riddle“, and is derived from the Greek root word αἶνος (ainos) ^G136 which means “laudatory or praising proverb“!

Finally, we also have this admonition from God through the Apostle Paul to those who are made stewards of such mysteries that they must be faithful to God in handling His Word….from 1 Corinthians 4:1&2, “¶Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.“

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