Mystery and Otherness in Understanding God's Nature and Awe
Understanding God's Nature and Awe
The concept of mystery and otherness is central to understanding God's nature, as it acknowledges the limitations of human comprehension in grasping the divine. The biblical text itself highlights this mystery, with Job 11:7 rhetorically asking, "Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" [1]. This verse underscores the idea that God's nature and ways are beyond human understanding.
The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 11:33, marveling at the "depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God" and noting that God's judgments are "unsearchable" and His ways "inscrutable" [2]. The mystery of God's nature is further emphasized in 1 Timothy 3:16, which describes the incarnation of Christ as a "great mystery of godliness" [3].
Theological traditions have long grappled with the concept of God's mystery. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's foreknowledge is "one of those high attributes essentially appertaining to him the full import of which we cannot comprehend" [4]. The dictionary also defines "mystery" as a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, citing examples such as the calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church and the union between Christ and His people [5].
In interpreting these concepts, theologians have emphasized the awe-inspiring nature of God's mystery. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed theologian, notes that the mystery of godliness, including the incarnation of Christ, is "not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason" [7]. Similarly, Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, observes that God's law contains "wondrous things" that are "strange" and "excellent," and that the gospel, where Christ is "all in all," is a greater mystery [8].
The unsearchable nature of God's wisdom is a recurring theme in biblical commentary. Torrey's Topical Textbook describes God's wisdom as "infinite," "unsearchable," and "beyond human comprehension" [6]. John Gill comments on Psalm 139:5, stating that God's knowledge is "too wonderful" for human understanding, and that the manner in which God knows all things is "amazing" and "impenetrable" [9].
Sources
- Job ““Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty? -- Job 11:7”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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).”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mystery — The calling of the Gentiles into the Christian Church, so designated (Eph. 1:9, 10; 3:8-11; Col. 1:25-27); a truth undiscoverable except by revelation, long hid, now made manifest. The resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:51), and other doctrines which need to be explained but which cannot be fully understood by finite intelligence (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 11:25; 1 Cor. 13:2); the union between Christ and his people symbolized by the marriage union (Eph. 5:31, 32; comp. 6:19); the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); and the woman clothed in scarlet”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wisdom of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- 1Sa 2:3; Job 9:4. Described as Perfect. -- Job 36:4; 37:16. Mighty. -- Job 36:5. Universal. -- Job 28:24; Da 2:22; Ac 15:18. Infinite. -- Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33. Unsearchable. -- Isa 40:28; Ro 11:33. Wonderful. -- Ps 139:6. Beyond human comprehension. -- Ps 139:6. Incomparable. -- Isa 44:7; Jer 10:7. Underived. -- Job 21:22; Isa 40:14. The gospel contains treasures of -- 1Co 2:7. Wisdom of saints is derived from -- Ezr 7:25. All human wisdom derived from -- Da 2:1. Saints ascribe to him -- Da 2:20. Exhibited in His works. ”
- 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”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:18: Observe here, 1. That there are wondrous things in God's law, which we are all concerned, and should covet, to behold, not only strange things, which are very surprising and unexpected, but excellent things, which are to be highly esteemed and valued, and things which were long hidden from the wise and prudent, but are now revealed unto babes. If there were wonders in the law, much more in the gospel, where Christ is all in all, whose name is Wonderful. Well may we, who are so nearly interested, desire to behold these wondrous things, when the angels themselves ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 139:5: Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,.... Meaning either the knowledge of himself, such as God had of him, which was vastly superior to what he had of himself; and especially the knowledge of other persons and things, whether visible or invisible, in heaven, earth, or hell; things past, present, and to come; or else the manner in which God knew all this was amazing to him, and quite impenetrable by him; that he did know him, his thoughts, his words and actions, and so those of all others, was easy of belief; but how he should know all this was past his conception, ”