There was a time when I thought I knew everything there was to know about the person, nature and character of God. I had read creeds and confessions, accepting or denying them depending on the particular theological viewpoint of the church I had aligned with. Systematic theology seemed to make a lot of sense. That was then, now I am almost back to the beginning – except that I know Jesus to be my Lord and Saviour. That knowledge is far and away the most important truth that can be known and experienced by anybody. It is such a simple truth that it can be understood by a young child. “Of such is the kingdom of heaven”.
The book of Job may be the oldest scripture we have been given. In Job 11:7-9 we read (TLB): “Do you know the mind and purposes of God? Will long searching make them known to you? Are you qualified to judge the Almighty? 8 He is as faultless as heaven is high—but who are you? His mind is fathomless—what can you know in comparison? 9 His Spirit is broader than the earth and wider than the sea.” That quotation speaks for itself.
My late wife loved to read A.W. Tozer. With typical insight, Tozer wrote the following: “Christian theology teaches that God in His essential nature is both inscrutable and ineffable. This by simple definition means that He is incapable of being searched into or understood, and that He cannot tell forth or utter what He is. This inability lies not in God but in the limitations of our creaturehood. “Why inquire after my name, for it is secret?” Only God knows God in any final meaning of the word know. “Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2 11).”
In Romans 11:33, Paul stated: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Dictionaries define “inscrutable” as something that is not readily investigated, interpreted, or understood”, in other words, it is mysterious.
Tozer also suggested that God is ineffable . Per dictionary definition, He is “too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.” Paul writes about the ‘Mystery of God’: “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2–3).
I am not suggesting that all attempts to explain or clarify what we read in the scriptures are a waste of time. Writing to Timothy, Paul exhorts: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15). I love to engage in a discussion, even an argument, as eagerly as any others in this forum, pitching knowledge and wits against knowledge and wits, but to what purpose? To display my knowledge of scripture? To demonstrate my ability to argue? Not very commendable reasons! Far better that we be encouragers of others who are seeking to glorify God in their daily struggle of trying to live as Jesus commanded we should.
I don’t mind debating topics such as trinitarianism versus unitarianism from my limited perspective. Since I grew up under teaching that had adopted trinitarianism, I had always accepted that view as being the correct one. Quite honestly, I now couldn’t give a fig which, if either, is the right one. I feel the same way about other subjects, e.g. eschatology. So, what is it that I believe to be important?
In 1 Cor. 2 1-2, Paul wrote: “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul’s sole emphasis was on Jesus, primarily His saving work but also the directions Jesus gave for how His followers should live their lives. The other NT writers wrote along much the same themes. A major emphasis was on how we should demonstrate our love of Jesus by the way we treated others. In particular, how we love – the “more excellent way” as Paul called it in the same letter to the church in Corinth. John, especially, emphasised the command to love one another. Twice in his first letter, John states unequivocally that God is Love.
To conclude by paraphrasing 1 Tim. 4:8 “For intellectual debate profits a bit, love for and of Jesus is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”
. I respect your candour.