The Mystery of God and the Father Meaning in Colossians 2:2?
1) Direct Answer
Colossians 2:2 is pointing to one revealed secret: the mystery of God—who is the Father—made known and unveiled in Jesus Christ. It is not three persons. It is one God, the Father, manifested in the Son, and now known by the Holy Spirit. The “mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ” means the one God (the Father) revealed in Christ.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Now notice how Paul builds it:
- Colossians 1:15,19: Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” and “it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.”
- Colossians 1:26–27: “the mystery… now made manifest… which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
- Colossians 2:2–3: the mystery leads to “full assurance,” and “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
- Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
- 1 Timothy 3:16: “God was manifested in the flesh.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:19: “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.”
- John 14:9–10: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father… the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
The Bible says the Father is the invisible God, and Jesus is His visible image. The Son is the body—born of a woman—while the indwelling is God Himself. That’s the mystery: God, the Father, unveiled in Christ, and then Christ in you by the Holy Spirit.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- If “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,” then there isn’t another equal person of Deity outside of Christ. All the fulness is in Him.
- “God” names the Deity; “the Father” describes His relationship as the source and head; “Christ” is His manifestation in flesh. Not three Gods, not three divine persons—one God revealed.
- Therefore Colossians 2:2 is not dividing God; it is identifying Him: the mystery of God—who is the Father—made known in Christ. You see, Paul is guarding the church from philosophy and traditions (Colossians 2:8) by anchoring them in this revelation of who Jesus is.
4) Reinforcing Statement
The mystery isn’t confusion; it is revelation: the one God, the Father, dwelling bodily in Jesus Christ, and now dwelling in the believer. That’s why Paul says, “all the treasures” are hid in Him. Recognize Him right, and your heart is knit in love and kept from error.
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Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Christ is the mystery of God revealed
63-0728 §86
Therefore, if any Trinitarian here would just let yourself loose a minute, you can see that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is not three gods; it's three attributes of the same God, see. It's expression---Father. He was... He wanted to be a Father. He was a Father, He was a Son, and He is the Holy Ghost. And the Father and the Holy Ghost is the same Spirit. Don't you see? Do you get it?---not three gods. The devil's told you them things to make an idolater out of you, see. It's one God expressed in three attributes: to...
Christ is the mystery of God revealed
63-0728 §56
Now, God had a purpose and a hidden mystery. And that's what I want to speak on to the church this morning: the hidden mystery of God that He had in His mind before the world ever began and how that it's unfolded itself right down to this present hour that we're living, see. Then you will understand clearly then (see?) on, I believe, what is being done.
Show us the Father
61-0521 §71
God in his universe. You believe it? God is in his Word. Do you believe it? Watch how He keeps his Word, confirms it. Look how He told Abraham, look what He told the apostles, look what he told the prophets. Look how He promised in this day. God's in his universe. God is in his Word. Now, God in his Son. Do you believe God was in his Son? (Now we have to hurry.) God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Do you believe that? One comment on God in his Son (so we can hurry). I was talking to a woman not long...
Show us the Father and it will suffice us
62-0722 §65
Now, God in his people. Amen. There you get Father, Son, Holy Spirit, same God all the time, condescending. Once holy, man away from Him, he couldn't come near. Even a sheep touch the mountain, or a ox, must be thrust through. When He stood on top of Sinai and roared out his voice, nothing could come near, because there was no sacrifice but the animal. That was God above us. Then God condescended. He came down and we felt Him. First Timothy 3:16, "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: for God was m...
Christ is the mystery of God revealed
63-0728 §93
God became from God to become me, to take my sin upon Him that He might make me Him. Amen! Back to His great purpose of sons and daughters of God, for He is a eternal Father. That attribute was in Him (see?) so that had to be displayed. Now, see the whole threefold purpose? See, to express Himself. He wants to become... Now, the world is lost. Now, He has to express Himself in a man to become a Saviour through the reconciliation of the blood from His cross. Now, He had to become that to die, in order to save and to...