Metaphors of the Mystery - Part 1

The New Testament Is Written in Metaphors

Many Christians know that the Old Testament contains types and shadows. We have been taught to see Joseph as a type of Christ, the Passover lamb as a type of redemption, and the tabernacle as a picture of God’s plan. That is useful. It matters. But many of us stop there.

We become so interested in types and allegories that we miss something even more central to how the New Testament speaks. The New Testament is full of metaphors. If you do not understand that, you will misread some of its most important themes.

This is especially true when we talk about the new creation.

The writers of the New Testament were not careless with language. They used words with precision. They described spiritual realities using familiar human experience. They spoke about birth, growth, building, clothing, warfare, adoption, walking, light, food, seed, harvest, citizenship, slavery, marriage, and the body. These are not decorations. They are the structure of revelation.

The Meaning of “Mystery”

Paul repeatedly speaks of the gospel as a mystery.

In Scripture, a mystery is not something confusing. It is a secret that was hidden and is now revealed.

Ephesians 3 (KJ2000)
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,
4 By which, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Colossians 1 (KJ2000)
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

The mystery is revealed. But notice how it is explained.

It is explained through metaphors.

Christ in you speaks of union and indwelling.
The body of Christ explains unity and function.
The new man speaks of identity and nature.
The household of God speaks of belonging.
The bride of Christ speaks of covenant and love.

So, the mystery is revealed, but it is revealed in pictures.

Why Metaphors Matter

Metaphors shape understanding. They show how something works and how to respond.

Take the phrase born again.

John 3 (KJ2000)
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Nicodemus thought literally and missed the point. Jesus used birth to describe a new kind of life. Birth speaks of origin, nature, and growth.

Other examples follow the same pattern.

1 Peter 2 (KJ2000)
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

1 Corinthians 12 (KJ2000)
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Ephesians 6 (KJ2000)
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Hebrews 12 (KJ2000)
1 Therefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Each one teaches doctrine through imagery.

How the Mystery Is Explained

Many believers focus more on Old Testament types than New Testament metaphors. But the metaphors are where the explanation happens.

Romans 13 (KJ2000)
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Christ is not clothing. But the metaphor shows identity and deliberate action.

Galatians 5 (KJ2000)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Walking shows movement and daily conduct.

Ephesians 1 (KJ2000)
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.

The body explains unity and interdependence.

This is how the mystery is made known.

The New Creation in Metaphors

The new creation is revealed through multiple metaphors.

2 Corinthians 5 (KJ2000)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 4 (KJ2000)
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

John 1 (KJ2000)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1 Corinthians 3 (KJ2000)
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Each metaphor highlights something specific.

• New birth shows origin

• New man shows identity

• Creation shows God’s work

• Sonship shows relationship

• Temple shows indwelling

• Fruit shows results

Together, they explain the mystery.

The Danger of Ignoring Metaphors

Error begins when metaphors are mishandled.

John 10 (KJ2000)
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 15 (KJ2000)
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

These communicate access and dependence.

A metaphor must be read in context.

Learning to Read the New Testament Properly

The apostles gave us living language.

Ask:

• Why this image?

• What does it highlight?

• What response does it call for?

If the church is a body, how should members relate?
If believers are children, how do they grow?
If the word is seed, how does it produce fruit?
If life is a race, what must be laid aside?

These are practical questions.

A Call to Recover This Understanding

This series will explore the major metaphors of the New Testament and show how they explain the believer’s life in Christ.

The New Testament is doctrinal through metaphor.

God revealed the mystery using language we can understand.

So yes, types and allegories matter. But if you want to understand the New Testament, you must learn to read its metaphors carefully.

That is how the mystery is revealed.

And that is how we must read it.

Continue in grace!