Mystery and Biblical Foundations CS/TS 650 Theological Foundations of Christian Spirituality

Mystery and Biblical Foundations

CS/TS 650 Theological Foundations of Christian Spirituality

Mystery

A marvelous plan or purpose that God has revealed for creation – Eph 3:3

A “mystery” is almost always something that has been made known or “revealed” – Col 1:26

Yet the mystery remains a mystery but is not a “secret” – Rom 11:33

Mystery in the New Testament

•Rom 11:25•1 Cor 15:51•Eph 1:9•Eph 3:4

•Eph 3:9•Eph 5:32•Col 1:27•Col 2:2-3

Mystery (Boyer and Hall)

A revelational mystery is one that remains a mystery even after it has been revealed. It is precisely in its revelation that its distinctive character as mystery is displayed.

The affirmation that God is a mystery depends, not on what we do not know (this would be investigative), but on what we do know.


Scripture and traditional Christian theology provide important tools for understanding how the gulf between finite knowers and the infinite God can be faced with good hope.


While the mystery of God is by definition beyond rational comprehension, the appeal to mystery need not be.

Victor White, “God the Unknown” 1956

So soon as we become satisfied with any picture or image of God, we are in danger of idolatry: of mistaking the comprehensible image for the

reality, of losing the numinousness, the mystery, the transcendent majesty of God. So soon as, consciously or unconsciously, we suppose we

have grasped God, he must elude us, for he is always beyond the furthermost advance we make in knowledge about him.

The Study of Scripture

A balanced approach between• A merely cognitive apprehension of the truth, and

• The temptation to divorce doctrine, teaching, and study from transformation

Thomas Aquinas - God destines us for an end beyond the

grasp of reason

Paul - God destines us for a relationship with the living God by the indwelling Spirit that goes

beyond the pages of Scripture and what can be taught to a love that surpasses knowledge by being

filled with the fullness of God (see

Eph 3:17-19)

The Goal of Christian Teaching, Study of the Scriptures, and the Spiritual Life (Coe)

Love God and neighbor (1 Tim 1:5)

Be complete or mature in Christ (Col 1:28-29)Be trained in righteousness (1 Tim 4:7-8)

Glorify God in all things (1 Cor 10:31)

Old Testament Foundations

Genesis• Introduction of God as the Creator• Source and Origin of all things• Absolute and independent God• Exists without beginning or support• Exists without rivals or associates• Creates with a word of command


Genesis• Introduction of humanity as vice-regents• Fellowships with God in caring for creation• Created as the “Crown of Creation”• Human nobility is rooted in humanity’s

subordination to God• Authority derives from status as God’s

“image”• Commanded to rule and subdue


Job• God of Creation is the God beyond

knowledge• Job 38:4-7 – God’s activity as Creator is the

very foundation upon which the divine mystery is built and the point at which the mystery is most evident

• Job 42:3 – To understand God the Creator aright is always to confess that he is exalted beyond our understanding

God is not just a creator, but the Creator—the ontological absolute that cannot be classified, upon which all depends, beyond which there is nothing. It is this incomparable supremacy, this unfathomable

uniqueness and finality, that draws from us the recognition of inviolability and supreme worth—that

compels us to worship with awe and in reverence (B&H, 36).

“We worship reasonably, not just because of what we can grasp of the glory [of God], but also because of the revealed mystery of a glory too deep for any grasping.”

Major Old Testament Themes (Boda)

• Torah Genesis provides orientation to the

broader drama of relationship between God and humanity and the foundational steps taken to make possible a redemptive community

Gen 4 – 11 reveals two fundamental human genealogies—one typified by rebellious independence (Cain) and the other by relational intimacy (Seth to Noahic covenant)


• Torah Through Shem to Abraham, Isaac,

and Jacob, a way was provided for restoration of relationship between God and humanity.

Gen 12 – 50 reveals the initial steps in the formation of this redemptive community

Key to this story is the relationship between God and these families.


• Torah Covenant is key to this relationship Initiated by God but demanded human

reciprocation Abraham’s faith is foundational to the

establishment of covenant, yet Abraham struggles to trust

Jacob typifies Israel as a nation in his nocturnal struggle with God, foreshadowing future challenges to the fulfillment of the redemptive purposes of God through this community

Genesis 15:1-8 (1) After these things, the word of the Lord was (came) to Avram in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Avram, I am a shield to you—your reward. You will be exceedingly great. (2) And Avram said, “Adonai Yahweh (Sovereign Lord), what will you give to me and I give (die) childless; for a son of acquisition (heir) of my house is Eliezer the Damasak.” (3) And Avram said, “Behold, you gave me no seed, and, look, a son of my house will inherit with me.” (4) And, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one will not be heir to you but he who will go out from your inward parts—he will be heir to you.” (5) Then he caused to go out with him outside (he brought him outside) and said, “Pray, look toward the skies and count the stars if when in order to count them (if you can count them).” So he said to him, “Thus shall your seed be.” (6) And he (Avram) trusted in the Lord, and he (the Lord) counted it to him righteousness. (7) Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of Kasdim (Chaldea) to give this land to you to take possession of it.” (8) And he said, “Adonai Yahweh (Sovereign Lord), by what will I know that I will take possession of it?”

1. This formula occurs only here and in v. 8 in Genesis, Wenham, 327. 2. Wenham is unclear how to translate but suggests, “My heir is Eliezer of Damascus,” 328. 3. Rare in Genesis. Translators must be careful not to read into the text what is not there (i.e., Eliezer is not said to be a slave but a member of the household; nor does the text say that he has been adopted. Perhaps Abram will have to adopt him, if he has no son of his own, Wenham, 329. 4. “Abram is not described as doing righteousness. Rather faith is being counted for righteousness. . . . This faith leads to righteous action, but only here in the OT is it counted as righteousness,” Wenham, 330.


• Torah Exodus depicts the formative redemptive

and revelatory events that provide structure for the relationship between God and the redeemed community

The salvation of Israel from Egypt in 1 – 15 leads to the purpose of this salvation for the community—the covenant relationship to be established at Sinai


• Torah In Exodus, the name of the Almighty God of

Genesis, Elohim, is specifically revealed—YHWH. The relationship develops at least two dimensions

Ethical – encompasses humanity’s relationship with God, one another, and all of creation

Missional – salvation and covenant enable Israel to function as priests among the nations and make possible a relationship with God for all humanity


• Torah The spatial shift from 19 – 40 is that of a God

who moves from the transcendent place on top of the mountain to an immanent place at the heart of the camp in the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle, revealing God’s enduring passion to be present among the redeemed community


• Torah The revelation of YHWH—the name of God—

has significant implications for spiritual theology in the Old Testament as it reappears throughout the Old Testament witness as the foundation for praise and penitence (Num 14:18; Ps 86:5; Joel 2:13)


• Torah A priestly ritual aesthetic dominates the

spiritual theology of Leviticus and Numbers Designed to ensure the enduring presence of

YHWH in the midst of the camp Extended into all of life (covenant

relationship)


• Torah Deuteronomy brings closure to the Torah but

also functions as an important segue into the rest of the OT

Dominates the theological landscape Communion with God is based on internal

and external covenantal response—love with all one’s heart, soul, and might and obedience to Torah


• Torah In Deuteronomy, there is great concern for

the who, where, and how of worship Worship must be restricted to the one God,

YHWH, alone Worship must be expressed at one place of

YHWH’s choosing Worship must be practiced in appropriate

ways


• Prophets Former Prophets – Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and

Kings The Deuteronomic theology of relationship

with YHWH dominates the Former Prophets Filled with Israel’s struggle to remain faithful in

relationship with YHWH God consistently calls the people back to

covenant relationship


• Prophets Latter Prophets consistently express concern

over the violations of the basic stipulations articulated in Torah, especially idolatry and social injustice

Isaiah – Trust in YHWH alone Jeremiah – Respond in repentance Ezekiel – Focus on relationship with God that

heightens his glory in the world


• Prophets Minor Prophets – Respond to the invitation of

grace or receive God’s discipline With Jeremiah and Ezekiel – This response will

be heightened by the Spirit (Ez 36:27)


• Writings Proverbs

Orients the reader to a spirituality designed to function in everyday life

Articulates a pragmatic spirituality, as the fear of YHWH is applied to relationships, commerce, and leadership


• Writings Psalms

Liturgical spirituality, diverse in its expression Orientation – the experience of those living in

equilibrium Disorientation – when equilibrium has been

disturbed New Orientation – occurs in the wake of

disorientation


• Writings Individual and corporate or communal Dominated by the voice of humanity expressed

to a listening God from a variety of life settings At times, however, the voice of God breaks in,

thus encouraging a dialogic spirituality in which human and divine converse and meet


• Writings Qoheleth showcases the frustrating search of

an ancient sage to exhort the young to remember their Creator and keep Torah

Job reveals a form of intimacy with God—accessible when humanity reaches its intellectual limits


• Writings Chronicles provides an intricate depiction of

the spirituality practiced within the temple The spirituality articulated by the chronicler is

showcased in the key restoration narratives of Ezra-Nehemiah

The Old Testament clearly provides diverse perspectives on spiritual theology and a variety of ways to relate to God. Yet, at

its center, is God’s passionate pursuit of a people who would love him with all of their heart, soul, and might—Mark Boda

The New Testament portrays spirituality as the human journey toward deeper participation with and experience of God in Christ, initiated and infused by God’s Holy Spirit—Jeannine Brown

New Testament Foundations

Messiah-

shaped

Already/not yet principl

e

Spirit’s outpouring and work

Messiah-

shaped

Centered on Jesus, revealer and redeemer

Enacts God’s restoration of

humanity

Represents humanity as the utterly faithful one

John’s Gospel and Letters

John 15:1-27

1 John 1-3

How to live – remaining in Jesus, practicing

righteousness, walking in the light, loving

Already/Not Yet

• The reality of the kingdom• Coming – Mt 4:17; Mk 1:15; Lk 4:43• Already here – Lk 11:14-20

• For New Testament authors, spirituality flows from understanding and living in this time of “already and not yet”• Beatitudes – Matthew 5• New Creation – 2 Corinthians 5:16-21• Suffering – 1 Peter 1:3-9

Spirit’s Outpouring (Joel 2:28-29)

Three occasions of the Baptism of the Spirit – the promised outpouring after the Feast of Pentecost among the Jews in Jerusalem – Acts 2:2-13• Samaritans – Acts 8:14-17• Gentiles in Judea – Acts 10:44-46 • Gentiles in other parts - Acts 19:1-7

Spirit’s Work

Arrabon – downpayment of future restoration - 2 Cor 1:22; 5:5; Eph 1:13-14

Leader and director – Rom 8:4; Gal 5:25 Guides believers as they learn to show the evidence

of his work – Gal 5:22-23 Empowers holy and just living – Gal 5:16-18 Leads the church into witness and mission – Acts

1:8; 10:18-20, 44; 16:6-7

Spiritual giftedness Spiritual disciplines Spiritual practices

New Testament spirituality is a journey of discernment as the church learns to keep in step

with the Spirit between the time of the not yet and the already.

Documents

Mystery and Biblical Foundations CS/TS 650 Theological Foundations of Christian Spirituality