The Mystery of Godliness vs. The Great Mystery

 

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.