This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.
Parallel translations
- WEB This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.
- KJV This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
- NKJV This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
- NASB This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
- NLT This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The one-flesh mystery of marriage ultimately speaks of Christ and the church. Human marriage points to a greater union.
Overview
Paul reveals that the 'great mystery' of Genesis 2:24 finds its deepest meaning in 'Christ and the assembly.' Marriage is designed to picture the saving union between Christ and his people. This elevates marriage and shows that its highest purpose is to display the gospel relationship between the Savior and the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Cor 11:2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
- Rev 21:2I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Isa 54:5For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.
- Rev 19:7–8Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.
- Col 2:2that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
- Isa 62:4–5No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
- 1 Tim 3:16By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
- John 3:29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
- Song 1:1–8This is Solomon’s Song of Songs.
- Ps 45:9–17The daughters of kings are among your honored women; the queen stands at your right hand, adorned with the gold of Ophir.
- Eph 6:19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- 1 Tim 3:8Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
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Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
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Original language
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