Mystery and Intimacy in God's Nature and Character

The nature and character of God encompass both profound mystery and intimate accessibility, a paradox central to Christian theology. The Bible frequently speaks of God's unsearchable wisdom and ways, while simultaneously revealing His deep personal involvement with humanity ^{[4, 8]}.

One prominent aspect of God's mysterious nature is highlighted in passages describing His "deep things" and "unsearchable judgments." The apostle Paul exclaims, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" ^[4]. Similarly, the prophet Job speaks of God discovering "deep things out of darkness," referring to His own hidden thoughts and purposes that would remain unknown unless He chose to reveal them ^[12]. These "deep things of God" are understood to be known only by the Spirit of God, who then reveals them ^[12]. This concept extends to God's foreknowledge, an attribute whose full import humans cannot comprehend, though it is infinite in scope ^[9].

The incarnation of Christ is presented as a prime example of this divine mystery. The Geneva Bible renders 1 Timothy 3:16 as, "And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie" ^[1]. The King James Version similarly states, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh" ^[5]. This event, where Christ took on human nature while retaining His divine person, is considered a "mystery" that, though revealed, cannot be fully grasped by human reason ^{[6, 11]}. It is a mystery of godliness that encourages both internal and external piety ^[11]. The union of divine and human natures in Christ is described as "hypostatical," meaning personal, with the two natures remaining distinct yet perpetually united ^[6].

Beyond the incarnation, the term "mystery" also applies to the Gospel itself and its various doctrines, such as the Trinity, the union of natures in Christ, and the calling of the Gentiles ^[16]. The name of the Lord is also considered a divine secret, indicating that the true essence of the infinite cannot be fully expressed or understood by finite beings ^{[13, 15]}.

Despite this profound mystery, God also reveals an intimate side of His character. His love is described as a fundamental part of His being, characterized as sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting ^[8]. This love is manifested towards perishing sinners, His saints, and the destitute, often irrespective of merit ^[8]. The "loving-kindness of God" is portrayed as great, excellent, marvellous, multitudinous, and everlasting, and is experienced through Christ ^[10].

God's intimacy is also seen in His relationship with those who fear Him. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him," meaning that His purposes, including election, redemption, and calling, are made known to them ^[14]. This suggests a personal disclosure of divine plans to His faithful. Furthermore, the Bible speaks of a "hidden character of the heart" or "hidden person of the heart" that is precious in God's sight, characterized by a "gentle and quiet spirit" ^{[2, 3]}. This emphasizes that God values the inner disposition and character of individuals, indicating a deep awareness and appreciation of their innermost being. The name Zephaniah, meaning "the Lord is my secret," further underscores this idea of a personal, hidden connection with God ^[7].

Thus, while God's nature contains elements that remain beyond human comprehension, such as His unsearchable wisdom and the mystery of the Incarnation, He simultaneously offers a profound and personal relationship, revealing His love and purposes to those who seek Him ^{[4, 8, 14]}.

Sources

I Timothy “I Timothy 3:16 (Geneva1599) — And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.”
I Peter “I Peter 3:4 (Rotherham) — But the hidden character, of the heart,—in the incorruptible [ornament] of the quiet, and meek, spirit, which is, in presence of God, of great price.”
1 Peter “but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious. -- 1 Peter 3:4”
Romans “Romans 11:33 (Tyndale) — O the depnes of the aboundaunt wysdome and knowledge of God: how vnserchable are his iudgementes and his wayes past findyng out.”
King James Version “[KJV] 1 Timothy 3:16 — 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.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Incarnation — That act of grace whereby Christ took our human nature into union with his Divine Person, became man. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are predicated of him, and he of whom they are predicated is God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature (Acts 20:28; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:8; Heb. 2:11-14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Gal. 4:4, etc.). The union is hypostatical, i.e., is personal; the two natures are not mixed or confounded, and it is perpetual.”
Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Zephaniah — the Lord is my secret”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Foreknowledge of God — Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:29; 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2), one of those high attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which we cannot comprehend. In the most absolute sense his knowledge is infinite (1 Sam. 23:9-13; Jer. 38:17-23; 42:9-22, Matt. 11:21, 23; Acts 15:18).”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness,.... What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery, which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great one, next, if not equal, to the doctrine of a trinity of persons in the divine essence; and is a mystery of godliness, which tends to encourage internal and external religion, powerful and practical g”
Job (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Job 12:21: He discovereth deep things out of darkness,.... The deep things of God, his own deep things which lie in his heart, wrapped up in darkness impenetrable to creatures, and which could never be known unless he had discovered them; such as the thoughts of his heart, which are very deep, Psa 92:5; the deep things of God, which the Spirit of God only knows, searches, and reveals, Co1 2:10; even his thoughts of peace, and good things for his people, which are many and precious, are known to himself, and made known to them, or otherwise must have remained in darkness, and out o”
Judges (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Judges 13:18: And the angel of the Lord said unto him,.... Being so importunate, and pressing upon him: why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret? and not to be known; as his nature and essence as a divine Person, which may be meant by his name, is what passes knowledge, is infinite and incomprehensible; see Pro 30:4 or "wonderful" (p); which is one of the names of Christ, and fitly agrees with him, who is wonderful in his person, as God and man; in his incarnation, in his offices and relations, in his love to his people, and in all he is unto them, and has done fo”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 25:14: The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him,.... The secret of his purposes with them; as his purpose according to election; his resolution to redeem his chosen ones by his Son; his design to call them by his grace; his predestination of them to the adoption of children, and eternal life; which are the deep things of God the Spirit of God reveals; and all which are made manifest to them in effectual calling; and the secret of his providences is with them; some are made known to them that fear the Lord before they come to pass; as the destruction of Sodom and Go”
Jude (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jude 13:17: 13:17-18 The Lord’s name is a divine secret (Gen 32:29; Exod 3:13-14). God knows our names, but in addressing him we are limited to terms of wonder and adoration, for the true essence of the infinite cannot be expressed or understood by the finite.”
Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 1:9: Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,.... The Gospel, which is a mystery, a hidden mystery, the mystery of God and of Christ, and the mystery of the Gospel; the several doctrines of it are called the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven; such as are concerning the trinity of persons in the Godhead, the union of the two natures in Christ, his sonship and incarnation, the saints' union and communion with him, the work of the Spirit of God upon the soul, the calling of the Gentiles, and the conversion of the Jews, the resurrection of the dead, and the change”

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