The Mystery
“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” I Timothy 3.14-16
I don’t know about you, but I really enjoy a good mystery – a “Who dun it” book or other presentation. There was a time when I was a child that I would sit with my mom and watch Perry Mason. Actually, I had little choice if I wanted to watch TV because we had only one set – a tabletop of about fourteen or fifteen inches.
Back in the day, our television time was available for us after our homework was done, our chores were done, and when Walter Cronkite, Harry Reasoner and the Huntley-Brinkley Report were done. Oh, and of course there was championship “’rastling” with Johnny Weaver and Georgy Becker (the good guys) that Dad watched and someone I am actually drawn to – Perry Mason.
I’ve developed a desire to keep up with the News even though honest and well-documented reporting has come to appear more fabricated and fanciful than factual. The reports have become something of a mystery as one tries to make sense of how world events might be explained in God’s Word.
My favorite mystery shows probably don’t excite the average mystery lovers; however, they each have something in common. Whether it is Perry Mason, Matlock, Monk or a more modern, The Closer; they each have something in common: they seek the truth. Staying within the stretched limits of the law, using sound research and exhaustive detective work, they never quit searching until the truth is revealed.
The word “mystery” is never used in the Old Testament, but appears often in the New Testament. Sometimes the excitement of those old murder mysteries pale after having seen them a couple of times because we know the secret. Old Testament believers didn’t see clearly the coming glory of God’s Messiah and His wonderful salvation. They knew there was something better than the sacrificial system and the ritualistic form of approach to God. Their faith rested in the thought that God would one day reveal it all to them. It was all a mystery.
“In the ordinary sense a “mystery” implies knowledge withheld; its Scriptural significance is truth revealed.” (Vine)
“The truth is called a mystery because it was, historically, hidden, until revealed in the person and work of Christ; also because it is concealed from human wisdom, and apprehended only by faith in the revelation of God through Christ.” (Vincent)
To know and to have Christ is to understand this great Mystery, the “Mystery” is Christ – revealed to the Old Testament saints in types and shadows – yet, revealed to the New Testament believers in the Person of Jesus Christ. (Romans 16.25-27; Hebrews 12.1-3) Copyright © 2025 Dr. John H. Hill, All rights reserved.
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