1 Timothy 3:9

the mystery of the faith Apparently repeated again 1 Timothy 3:16 as -the mystery of godliness." The word -mystery" is significant. Coming from the Greek, -to close the mouth," and so -to initiate," it was originally used of the secret rites of Eleusis in Attica, into which each year the youth of Athens were initiated at the annual celebrations. Thence by the process so loved by St Paul of consecrating old words to higher use it becomes the pregnant expression of the truth, -latet in vetere novum testamentum, vetus in novo patet." It is a truth once hidden but now revealed, a truth which may be apprehended though not comprehended. So the Atonement is a mystery, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:7, the Catholicity of the Church is a mystery, Ephesians 3:3-4; Ephesians 3:9; the Incarnation is a mystery, 1 Timothy 3:16. In St Paul's final thought of revelation in this chapter the -secret now told" embraces the whole of God's saving love, in one or other of its aspects, here as the -creed of creeds," in 1 Timothy 3:16 as the -work of works," here the life of Christ, there -the life in Christ" We are familiar with a somewhat similar use of -mystery" in the -mystery plays"; and compare the word -mystery" in the Prayer-Book Communion Office as the equivalent of -Sacrament," the union of the outward and visible sign and the inward and spiritual grace, the living spirit through the lifeless matter -the dignity of that holy mystery"; -He hath instituted and ordained holy mysteries"; -have duly received these holy mysteries." See further, Appendix, G.