Bible Quote by James Orr
““It is obvious that the aspects of mystery which gather round the word "election" are not confined to it alone. An important class of words, such as "calling," "predestination" "foreknowledge," "purpose," "gift," bears this same character; asserting or connoting, in appropriate contexts, the element of the inscrutable and sovereign in the action of the Divine will upon man, and particularly upon man's will and affection toward God. And it will be felt by careful students of the Bible in its larger and more general teachings that one deep characteristic of the Book, which with all its boundless multiplicity is yet one, is to emphasize on the side of man everything that can humble, convict, reduce to worshipping silence (see for typical passages Job 40:3, 1; Ro 3:19), and on the side of God everything which can bring home to man the transcendence and sovereign claims of his almighty Maker.””
About This Quote
The passage highlights how certain theological terms convey mystery and divine sovereignty, urging humility and reverence toward God.
In simple terms: Mystery and divine authority in theological language.
Key Takeaway
Divine mystery humbles humanity.
Themes
theology
humility
divine sovereignty
mystery
scripture interpretation
Mood
reverent
humble
awe-inspired
Type
theological exposition
scriptural reflection
devotional insight
When to use this quote
- personal worship
- biblical study
- sermons
- spiritual reflection
- theological education
Key Concepts
election
predestination
foreknowledge
purpose
gift
Practical Applications
- preaching on divine mystery
- writing devotional material
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing divine mystery affect personal faith?
- In what ways can theological language shape worship?
![“I confess [Election] is a hard doctrine, running contrary to our earthly ideas of fair play, but I can see no way around it. Read I Corinthians 6:13 and II Timothy 1:9,10. Also I Peter 1:2,19,20 and Romans 11:7. There you have it. It was good for Paul and Silas and it is good enough for me. It is…” quote by Charles Portis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c13/charles-portis-10753_calvinism_i-confess-election-is-a-hard-doctrine-ru_2510257.jpg)
