The Mystery of Godliness vs. The Great Mystery
1 Timothy 3:16 And great is the mystery of godliness, which is universally acknowledged: He appeared in the flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed in all nations, was believed among the world, and was taken away in glory.
Ephesians 5:32 This is a very great mystery, but I am speaking of it as to Christ and the church.
|
Item |
The Mystery of Godliness (1 Tim. 3:16) |
The Great Mystery (Eph. 5:32) |
|
Meaning |
God manifested in the flesh |
Christ and the church becoming one |
|
Reason |
To make the invisible God visible |
To fulfill God’s eternal economy (to gain a bride) |
|
Metaphor |
God putting on human flesh as His expression |
Husband and wife becoming one flesh |
|
Explanation |
The Divine Trinity mingled with humanity in Christ |
Christ as the Head and the church as His Body and Bride |
|
Operation |
Through the Spirit operating in believers to live out God |
Through life growth producing and building up the church |
|
Result |
God is expressed among men |
God gains a corporate bride |
|
Relationship |
The foundation of the great mystery |
The completion of the mystery of godliness |
|
Examples |
Christ in incarnation; the church living Christ today |
Adam and Eve; Christ and the church |
|
Application |
We live Christ to express God |
We live in the Body to be one with Christ |
|
Burden |
Not outward godliness but God manifested in us |
Not individual salvation but the building of the Bride |
|
Prophetic Direction |
Declare: God is manifested in the church today |
Declare: Christ and the church are one spirit |
|
Conclusion |
God became man that man may live God |
God and man become one to gain a bride |
|
Related Verses |
1 Tim. 3:16; John 1:14; Rom. 1:3–4 |
Eph. 5:32; 1 Cor. 6:17; Gen. 2:21–24 |
Spiritual Integrated View (Key Points)
|
Aspect |
Mystery of Godliness |
Great Mystery |
|
God’s side |
God is manifested |
God gains a bride |
|
Christ’s side |
Christ is God’s expression |
Christ is the Head and Bridegroom |
|
Church’s side |
The church continues God’s manifestation |
The church is Christ’s Body and Bride |
|
Ultimate fulfillment |
New Jerusalem as God-man expression |
New Jerusalem as the Bride of Christ |
*One-Sentence Prophetic Summary
Mystery of Godliness:
God is manifested not only in Christ but also in the church today.
Great Mystery:
Christ and the church are one spirit, fulfilling God’s eternal economy.
*Ultimate Conclusion
The mystery of godliness is that God became man to express Himself.
The great mystery is that God and man become one to produce a Bride.
The former is
manifestation; the latter is union.
The former is
the process; the latter is the goal.
The former begins with life; the latter
consummates in building.
*Please refer to the 2025 Winter Training: Experience, Enjoy, and Manifest Christ (Part 4), Week 6: Christ, the Eternal King, Comes to Possess the Whole Earth and Complete the Mystery of God.
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