1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory: The word "mystery" has a twofold meaning as used by the apostle. It means that which is concealed from men until the due time for its disclosure has come; and it also means that which in itself, by reason of its own inherent greatness, surpasses human comprehension. Both meanings are involved here. God's wisdom in the gospel, though foreordained before the worlds, had been "hidden" from the ages and generations of the past. As it would seem to be with many of the secrets of nature, there was the proper, the "appointed" time for it to be brought to light. The men of the earlier ages were as ignorant of it as our fathers even of the last generation were of many of the marvellous things that are now among the familiar facts of our social life, or as we are of what the triumphs of scientific discovery a hundred years hence shall be. Not that the discovery of this Divine wisdom is like a mere step in scientific development. It is a supernatural revelation. And now that it has been revealed, it is still a "mystery," too profound for any power of man to fathom. The apostle "speaks" it, handles it, deals with it, as a mystery - a mystery which even he himself cannot penetrate and solve (see also Romans 16:25, 26; Ephesians 3:5; Colossians 1:26). Having special regard now to this inherent characteristic of the gospel, note - I. WHEREIN THIS ELEMENT OF MYSTERY CHIEFLY LIES. It lies in matters such as these. 1. The person of Christ (1 Timothy 3:16). 2. The efficacy of his atoning sacrifice (Ephesians 3:9, 10; 1 Peter 1:12). 3. The operation of his Spirit on the souls of men (John 3:8). 4. The nature of the union between himself and his people (John 6:53-63; Ephesians 5:32). 5. The ultimate issues of his redemption (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 John 3:2; Acts 3:21). II. CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS THAT VINDICATE AND EXPLAIN IT. 1. That which is Divine must needs transcend the limits of human intelligence. 2. It shows Christianity to be in harmony with every other form of Divine revelation. 3. It accords with the progressive character of our present state of existence. 4. It serves to develop in us some of the noblest moral qualities. 5. It heightens our impression of the simplicity of those truths which are vital to our salvation. 6. It stimulates our longing for the brighter and better future (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12). - W. Parallel Verses KJV: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: |
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