THE MYSTERY OF DIVINITY

HEBREW HONEYCOMB

William Andrew Dillard
THE MYSTERY OF DIVINITY

In the words of Paul to Timothy: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” I Timothy 3:16. God is presented to us as a trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Yet, in Christ Jesus, the Son, dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily! Since a Bible mystery is that which is unknown by the uninitiated, but known by the initiated, there are some things about God that are revealed to us. Think with me!
People are generally known as persons. It is normal to think of persons as material beings such as “he had no money on his person.” But the identity of person goes far beyond that thinking.
Consider that man is made in the image of God. If one understands man, he will have a better idea about God, and vice versa. The trinity of man is in the similitude of the Holy Trinity: Father corresponds to intellect; Son corresponds to physical body; Holy Spirit corresponds to the spirit of man. Moreover, these three are one, and yet three persons. It is concluded that the idea of “person” must be expanded upon in general thinking. A quick look at common dictionaries will reveal that “person, personality, and persona” are intricately related. The earthly idea springs from an actor’s mask by which a different persona is portrayed. These terms then are understood to denote the nature, and unique nuance of life force; the unique expression of human life in its total, individual presentation.
While the triune similarities of God and man are common to the race, there are vast and distinct dissimilarities as well. God is not intricately tied to one expression as is man. His thought and ways are higher to those of mankind as the heavens are high above the earth. But the three distinct personalities of God do not live in three distinct bodies. The Holy Trinity references more specifically three Holy Personalities in total unity dwelling in their fullness in Christ Jesus, the bodily form of God. The three may be manifest separately, but simultaneously, as in Jesus’ baptism, yet continuously dwell in the bodily form of the Son! Jesus said, “I and my Father are One!” John 10:30. Again, to Philip He said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” John 14:9. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way: God Who at sundry times, and in divers manners hath spoken unto the father by prophets hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son. . . who is the expressed (pushed-out) image of His person.” Hebrews 1:1-3. Thus in understanding spiritual things by the indwelling Spirit of God, one may know much about God, and be blessed and comfortable in the knowledge of the mystery of Divinity.

166 – June 15 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

 

Yale 1750-CT Hall

 

He Pursued Law Then Preached Jesus Christ

 

Edward Miles Jerome was born on June 15, 1826 and graduated from Yale in 1850. While at Yale, Edward Jerome was not a student in the Divinity School, rather he pursued, and graduated with a law degree. After a few years, Jerome became persuaded that Baptist principles and doctrine were biblical. Though not a divinity student, his legal mind was enlightened by the Holy Spirit. He became a Baptist, was baptized, and united with the First Baptist Church of Hartford, Connecticut. It was there that he began his theological studies and was licensed by that church to teach and preach the Scriptures. He was ordained in 1859 as an evangelist in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and began his ministry preaching and supplying pulpits. He soon settled into a pastorate and served in this office for several years until he suffered an infection in his throat that disabled him. He attempted preaching afterwards, but failing health would not permit him to continue. Fortunately, he had developed excellent writing skills and was able to use these when he lost his ability to preach. Edward Jerome’s preaching and writing were doctrinally clear and were presented in an evangelical, earnest, and effective manner. He entered into the presence of his Lord on June 8, 1891 at sixty-five years of age.

 

Dr. Dale R. Hart: From: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I. (Thompson/Cummins) p. 246.

 

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333 – Nov. 29 – THIS DAY IN BAPTIST HISTORY PAST

“A bold patient Sufferer for ye Lord Jesus”
November 29, 1685 – George Fownes died in the Gloucester, England jail. The faithful clerk of the Broadmead Church in Bristol inserted the event into the records of the church in the following words, “…having been kept there for Two years and about 9 months a Prisoner, unjustly and maliciously, for ye Testimony of Jesus and preaching ye Gospel, Fownes dyed. He was a man of great learning, of  a sound Judgment, an able Preacher, having great knowledge in Divinity, Law, Physic, & c.; a bold patient Sufferer for ye Lord Jesus, and ye Gospel he preacht.” From the Broadmead records we discover that Pastors Thomas Ewins, Tomas Hardcastle, and George Fownes were all imprisoned unjustly for the cause of Christ. But many other Baptist ministers endured imprisonments, and some died in jail merely because of their convictions. Francis Bamfield suffered for eight years in Dorchester jail. Thomas Delaune suffered in Newgate prison. John Miller was a prisoner for ten years in Newgate. Henry Forty was incarcerated for twelve years at Exeter. Joseph Wright, a man of great piety and learning, pastored at Maidstone but was imprisoned in the common jail there for twenty years. Thomas Helwys fled to Amsterdam but in time became convinced that he and the others had been wrong to flee persecution. Believing it was his duty to return to England and witness of the truth, he went to London in 1611 with 12 of his followers and settled at Spitalfields. He appealed to the King to grant liberty of conscience and for his convictions “Newgate Prison” became his home. He died in Newgate, barely forty years of age. The Broadmead church was founded by John Canne. He was the first to prepare and publish the English Bible with marginal references.
Dr. Greg J. Dixon from: This Day in Baptist History Vol. I: Cummins /Thompson/, pp. 497-98.