The Godhead – The Mystery or The Obvious?

1Timothy 3:16

1Ti 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.

Romans 1:18-20

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

From the earliest days, humanity was faced with a call to know God, His Essence, and His Godhead. From the creation of the world, God has desired to reveal Himself to humanity in all of His power, all of His glory and all of His love. During all ages God called men and women with whom He could have close relationship and with whom He could share His secrets and mysteries. Great heroes of Faith such as Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, Peter, John and others had the privilege to know Him personally, intimately and to such an extent that God called them: friend of God, man after God’s own heart, a disciple whom Jesus loved, etc. To many of these patriarchs, God appeared personally, revealed to them His Name, Essence and Godhead. Thank God for the great men of God!

But how about us? What about simple saints and church members? Can everyone know God? Can all know the invisible God and have understanding about His eternal power and Godhead? Can this be obvious to all Christians or is this still left as a great mystery and privilege for only few saints and those that lived long ago: patriarchs, apostles and prophets? Let the Holy Scriptures answer this questions for us.

Contradiction?

From the first brief look at the two scriptures we read (1Timothy 3:16 and Rom 1:18-20) it seems there’s a contradiction in the Bible on this subject.

Each of us, who answers to this call – to know the True God, His Essence and Godhead – immediately comes face to face with two decisions:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->To count God and His Godhead as a great and unattainable mystery for mankind, or

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->To delve deep into the Holy Scriptures and It’s everlasting truths and allow the Spirit of Truth to instruct us and lead us into all truth in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

Often in discussion and close study about the Godhead, and normally while trying to explain the teaching of the Trinity, faced with illogical explanations and supports of this doctrine, many come to a conclusion that the Godhead is a mystery. Also, many think that it’s impossible to know for sure or understand completely with human reasoning and frailty how One God can be in three persons. But what does Scripture teach about this?

Godhead clearly seen and is without excuse:

Bible teaches in epistle to Romans 1:19-20 that “that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Rom. 1:19-20)

From this verse of scripture we not only understand that God, His power and Godhead are clearly seen, but that they are actually without excuse. We would not be able to say in the day of Judgment that His Godhead was closed and unattainable mystery for us. In fact Scripture seriously warns us in the following verse that: “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;” or as the Amplified Bible says: “God's [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.” Or yet another translation: “holding the truth in captivity through a lie.”

We must be very careful to not hold Biblical Truth about absolute Oneness of God in captivity of a false teaching; even if that teaching is traditional in the history of the Church or Christianity. If our understanding about God doesn’t match up with Scripture, but is mostly held up and confirmed by teaching of the church or traditional writing of so called Church Fathers, then we are suppressing the truth in captivity of unrighteousness and we must at any cost remove ourselves from that teaching.(2 Timothy 3:5, Colossians 2:8,9, 2 John 1:8-11, 2 Thessalonians 3:6)

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

2Th 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Peter would have never answered correctly when Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do men say that I the Son of Man am?,” if he would have upheld that same false and traditional understanding about God as the rest of then religious Israel.

We must know who He is!

"Hymn to the Praises of God".
From the album `Quiet reflections' by John Michael Talbot
(Based on Rom 1:18-20, and Psalm 19:1-6)

Whatever can be known about God, is clear,
since He Himself made it so.

Since the creation of the world,
the invisible realities, God's eternal power and divinity
have become visible,
recognized through the things He has made.

The name of God,
which is spoken by every creature,
and by all people,
even before they believed in Christ,
could not have been unknown in every way.

Such is the energy of the divinity,
that it cannot be utterly and entirely hidden
from any rational creature,
which makes use of it's reason.

So because God made this world,
that is visible in the sky and on earth,
He was known to all nations,
in this regard at least,
even before they were imbute by the faith of Christ.

In addition to Paul telling us in Romans 1:18-20, that knowing God is without excuse, Jesus Himself warned us that if we don’t believe that he is the Father that we would die in our sins.

Joh 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Joh 8:27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

Athenians’ Inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD:

Act 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

Act 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Act 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

Act 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Act 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Therefore hence we cannot be justified by our lack of understanding. We must know who God is, the Incarnation and what His Godhead is.

The impossibility to know God completely

- Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? Job 11:7
- The world through its wisdom did not come to know God 1 Cor 1:21
- The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Cor 1:25
- Rom 11:33-36. Ps 92:6b

- There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God. Ps 14:2, 53:2
- For we know in part. 1 Cor 13:9a
- If anyone supposes that he knows anything,
he has not yet known as he ought to know. 1 Cor 8:2
- Even though man should seek laboriously, He will not discover; and though the wise man should say, `I know,' he cannot discover. Eccl 8:17b

Godhead Is a Mystery, but it’s explained

Bible really does say that “without controversy great is the mystery of godliness”, but Paul goes on further to explain this great mystery: “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.” (1 Tim 3:16)

In the Bible, the word “mystery” means a certain plan of God, which was hidden in the Old Testament, but now revealed for us in the New Testament through the Spirit.

Mystery (3466) (musterion from mustes = one initiated [as into the Greco-Roman "mystery" religions] from mueo = to close or shut)  in the NT is a truth never previously known, and a truth which human intellect could never discover, but one which has now been made known by divine revelation.

Musterion - 28x in 28v In Paul's day musterion was a technical term utilized by the "mystery religions" which referred to a secrets concealed by strange customs and ceremonies and confided only to those initiated into the "mystery cult".   Musterion embraced ideas such as "a secret rite," "secret teaching," and "a divine mystery which is beyond human comprehension." The "mystery-religions" had their secrets and signs just as seen in modern secret societies. Those initiated into these pagan cults, knew these secret signs. In summary, a mystery in the context of the Greek Mystery Religions was a secret rite which was administered to the person being initiated.

Mystery in modern usage is similar to this ancient use for it usually means a secret for which no answer can be found (cf "mystery novel"). In contrast to this contemporary use of "mystery", Scripture uses musterion to indicate truth which was previously unknown but which now has been made known through revelation mediated by God.

Musterion in the Bible means those truths which are part of God's plan and can only be understood as He reveals them by His Spirit through His Word. As discussed further below, musterion refers to truth previously hidden, which when revealed, is understood by the believer. Stated another way musterion is "a secret purpose of God which when uncovered is understood by the Spirit-taught believer." It refers to a truth which without special revelation would have been unknown and thus is commonly used with words denoting revelation or knowledge (e.g., "to know the mysteries", (Mt 13:11), "revelation of the mystery", (Ro 16:25-note) , "made known...the mystery", Ep 3:3-note)

Actually, there’s nothing mysterious about a musterion. The word simply refers to something that cannot be known unless it is revealed, that is, a "secret."

Three Things That Bring Revelation

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Creation Brought the Revelation

<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]-->Knowledge and desire to know and understand God bring Revelation through Creation:

Rom 1:18-20

Jer 29:13 And you will seek Me and find me, when you search for me with all your hearts Jer 29:13

Jer 33:3 NIV Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Prov 2:1-6 My son, if you will receive my sayings, And treasure my commandments within you,Make you ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver, And search for her as hidden treasure; Then you will discern the fear of the Lord, And discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->The Incarnation Brought the Revelation

<!--[if !supportLists]-->- <!--[endif]-->The coming of Christ brought revelation.

2 Cor 4:6 For God, who said, `Light shall shine out of darkness', is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ 2 Cor 4:6

1 John 5:20a And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding in order that we might know Him who is true. 1 John 5:20a

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

Rom 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

1 Tim 2:5,6. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->The Regeneration Brought the Revelation

Eph 2:2-5

Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Eph 3:5