Mystery of God's Hidden Will in Scripture
The concept of the mystery of God's hidden will is rooted in biblical teachings, particularly in the Pauline epistles. The apostle Paul writes about "the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory" [1]. This mystery refers to a divine truth that was previously hidden but is now revealed through the Gospel.
In Ephesians 1:9, Paul speaks of God "having made known unto us the mystery of his will" [4]. According to John Gill, this mystery is the Gospel itself, which contains doctrines such as the trinity, the union of Christ's two natures, and the calling of Gentiles [4]. The mystery is not just a vague or unknown concept but a specific revelation of God's plan, which was hidden in the past but is now made manifest.
The biblical concept of mystery is closely tied to the idea of God's secret or hidden will. In Psalms 44:21, the psalmist asks, "would not God discover this, for he knows the secrets of the heart?" [2]. This highlights God's omniscience and His ability to know and reveal hidden truths. The term "mystery" (μυστήριον, mysterion) in the New Testament refers to a truth that was previously unknown or hidden but is now revealed through divine disclosure.
The Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill, understands the mystery of God's will to be closely related to the doctrine of predestination and the calling of God's people [4, 5]. According to Gill, the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and this includes the revelation of His purposes, such as election and redemption [5].
The biblical concept of mystery is not limited to the Gospel or God's will but is also associated with other divine truths, such as the union between Christ and His people (Ephesians 5:31-32) and the resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:51) [3]. The mystery of God's hidden will is a complex and multifaceted concept that is deeply rooted in biblical teachings and has been interpreted and developed throughout Christian tradition.
The understanding of this concept has significant implications for Christian theology, particularly in the areas of soteriology and the doctrine of God. It highlights the tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility, as well as the limitations of human understanding in comprehending divine truths. As the biblical writers and Christian theologians have noted, the mystery of God's hidden will is a profound and awe-inspiring concept that underscores the complexity and richness of God's nature and plan [6].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] 1 Corinthians 2:7 — But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:”
- Psalms “Psalms 44:21 (LEB) — would not God discover this, for he knows the secrets of the heart?”
- 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”
- 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”
- 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”
- 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”