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The Doctrine of Examples and God's Hiddenness in Scripture

The concept of God's hiddenness and the use of examples in Scripture are intertwined, reflecting both the divine nature and the means by which God reveals himself to humanity. Proverbs 25:2 states, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out" [3]. This verse encapsulates a theological tension: God's wisdom is described as unsearchable and beyond human comprehension, yet he also provides revelation [1].

God's wisdom is characterized as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, and underived [1]. Despite these attributes, which suggest an inherent inscrutability, God has chosen to make himself known through various means. Revelation, in a biblical sense, is the "uncovering" or "bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen" [5]. This supernatural revelation of God's purposes and plans has been committed to writing under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, forming the Scriptures [5]. The Scriptures are not merely a record of revelation but are the revelation itself in written form, ensuring its accurate preservation and propagation [5].

The "mystery" of God's ways is a recurring theme. The Gospel, for instance, is frequently referred to as "the mystery" because it contains truths that, though revealed, remain profound to the natural mind [11, 14]. Even to those who are enlightened, the modus of many doctrines within the Gospel remains a mystery [14]. This includes doctrines such as the Trinity [14]. The apostle Paul speaks of the "mystery of godliness" concerning Christ's person, emphasizing that "He who was manifested in the flesh" was "justified in the Spirit," highlighting the profound dignity of Christ's nature [9]. John Gill, commenting on Colossians 1:26, explains that this mystery refers to the Gospel, which was "hid from ages and generations" [11]. Similarly, on Ephesians 3:9, Gill notes that the "fellowship of the mystery" refers to the communication of grace through the Gospel, and the participation in its truths and doctrines, which naturally remain obscure to humanity [13].

The idea that God conceals matters is not meant to frustrate human understanding but to highlight the limitations of human knowledge and to encourage diligent inquiry [10]. Keil & Delitzsch interpret Proverbs 25:2 as indicating that God's glory consists in presenting mysteries that make humans conscious of their limited knowledge, thereby compelling them to acknowledge divine sovereignty [10]. This divine concealment serves to distinguish God from human kings, whose glory lies in their ability to uncover and understand matters [3, 10].

While God's nature includes hidden aspects, he also provides clear examples and instructions for humanity. The Scriptures themselves are described as "wonderful" because they testify of God, his will, and contain accounts of creation, providence, miracles, and prophecies [12]. These elements serve as examples of God's character and actions. For instance, Christ is presented as an ultimate example of meekness, demonstrated in his suffering and teaching [7]. Saints are encouraged to seek and put on meekness, receiving the word of God with it, and exhibiting it in their conduct [7]. Ministers are also called to follow after meekness and instruct opposers with it [7].

The use of parables by Jesus is another instance where divine truth is both revealed and, in a sense, concealed. Matthew Henry notes that Christ preached in parables because "the time was not yet come for the more clear and plain discoveries of the mysteries of the kingdom" [8]. This method allowed Christ to keep people "attending and expecting," demonstrating his varied approaches to instruct and influence souls [8].

The doctrine of predestination, for example, is acknowledged as being "beset with many difficulties" and belonging to the "secret things" of God [6]. Yet, the revealed word of God serves as the guide for understanding such complex doctrines [6]. Similarly, the efficacy of prayer is presented as a mystery in Scripture, with no theoretical explanation provided for its operation [4]. Despite this, Scripture offers directions on the time, place, and manner of prayer, along with types and examples of prayer [4]. This demonstrates a pattern where God provides practical guidance and examples even when the underlying mechanisms remain hidden or mysterious.

The Scriptures are given by the inspiration of God and the Holy Spirit [2]. Christ himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them [2]. They are referred to as "the Word," "the Word of God," "the Word of Christ," and "the Word of truth," emphasizing their divine origin and authority [2]. This divine word, though containing mysteries, is also the primary means through which God reveals himself and his will. The prophets, and even angels, diligently inquired and searched into the salvation revealed in Scripture, indicating the profound depth of these divine truths [15]. However, more has been manifested to believers through later revelation than what the prophets attained through their diligent inquiry [15].

Sources

  1. 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. ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  3. Proverbs “Proverbs 25:2 (BSB) — It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Revelation — An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. God has been pleased in various ways and at different times (Heb. 1:1) to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. (See WORD OF [532]GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate presevation and propagation of the truth. Revelation and inspiration differ. Rev”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
  8. Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 13:24: In these verses, we have, I. Another reason given why Christ preached by parables, Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35. All these things he spoke in parables, because the time was not yet come for the more clear and plain discoveries of the mysteries of the kingdom. Christ, to keep the people attending and expecting, preached in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them; namely, at this time and in this sermon. Note, Christ tries all ways and methods to do good to the souls of men, and to make impressions upon them; if men will not be instructed and influenced by ”
  9. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 3:16: And--following up Ti1 3:15 : The pillar of the truth is the Church in which thou art required to minister; "AND (that thou mayest know how grand is that truth which the Church so upholds) confessedly (so the Greek for 'without controversy') great is the mystery of godliness: (namely), HE WHO (so the oldest manuscripts and versions read for 'God') was manifested in (the) flesh (He who) was justified in the Spirit," &c. There is set before us the whole dignity of Christ's person. If He were not essentially superhuman (Tit 2:13), how could the apostle ”
  10. Proverbs (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Proverbs 25:2: It is characteristic of the purpose of the book that it begins with proverbs of the king: It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; And the glory of the king to search out a matter. That which is the glory of God and the glory of the king in itself, and that by which they acquire glory, stand here contrasted. The glory of God consists in this, to conceal a matter, i.e., to place before men mystery upon mystery, in which they become conscious of the limitation and insufficiency of their knowledge, so that they are constrained to acknowledge, Deu 29:28, that "”
  11. Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations,.... This is said, as explanative of the word of God; signifying that he did not mean the Scriptures in general, which are the word of God, and every part of them; some part of which is historical, another prophetical, another practical, and another doctrinal; nor the law, which also is the word of God, but the Gospel, called "the mystery", as it often is; because it contains things, which, though revealed, are mysteries to a natural man; and even to enlightened persons, who have the clearest view of t”
  12. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”
  13. Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 3:9: And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery,.... Or "the dispensation of the mystery" as the Complutensian, and several copies, and the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions, read. The mystery is the Gospel; the fellowship of it is the communication of grace by it, a participation of the truths and doctrines of it, communion with Father, Son, and Spirit, which the Gospel calls and leads unto, and that equal concern and interest which both Jews and Gentiles have in the privileges of it. Now men are naturally in the dark about these things, and the minis”
  14. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 3:9: Holding the mystery of the faith,.... The doctrine of the Gospel, called the "faith", because it contains things to be believed; proposes Christ the object of faith; is the means by which faith comes, and is unprofitable without it: it is called "the mystery", because it is of divine revelation, and could have never been discovered by human reason; and now it is revealed, the modus of many things contained in it remains a mystery; several of the doctrines of it are mysterious ones, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity; and which the ancient Jews call by this ver”
  15. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:10: The magnitude of this "salvation" is proved by the earnestness with which "prophets" and even "angels" searched into it. Even from the beginning of the world this salvation has been testified to by the Holy Spirit. prophets--Though there is no Greek article, yet English Version is right, "the prophets" generally (including all the Old Testament inspired authors), as "the angels" similarly refer to them in general. inquired--perseveringly: so the Greek. Much more is manifested to us than by diligent inquiry and search the prophets attained. Still i”
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