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Chapter 1: Mystery of God
If you can talk about it a
It is not the Eternal God
If you can name it b
It is not the Eternal Name
The nameless, is the origin of Heaven and Earth c
The nameable, is the mother of all things d
Free from desire, one observes the Spirit e
Filled with desire, one observes the flesh
The two emerge and become one of the same body f
Yet differ in name
This unity is the Mystery of God
Mystery of mysteries
The gateway to wonders
a John 17:25; Matthew 11:27; Job 36:26;Job 37:5; 1 John 4:7-19; Luke 6:45; b Judges 13:18; Exodus 3:13-15; c Genesis 1:1-2; d Genesis 3:20; e Romans 8:9-18; f Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; 1 Corinthians 6:19.
Chapter 1 of the "Christian Edition of the Tao Te Ching" probes the mystery of God, spotlighting His unknowable, transcendent essence. It opens by asserting that if God can be fully described or named, He is not the Eternal God. This aligns with biblical insights into God’s ineffability. In John 17:25, Jesus notes God is hidden from the world, revealed only to the chosen. Similarly, Matthew 11:27 states, “No one knows the Father except the Son, and no one knows the Son except the Father,” underscoring that God’s nature surpasses human understanding and defies linguistic capture.
The “nameless” is framed as the origin of Heaven and Earth, echoing Genesis 1:1-2, where God, existing beyond creation, initiates all things. This nameless Divine is the eternal source, while the “nameable” is the mother of all things—the tangible world birthed from this origin. This duality contrasts the unseen God with His visible creation, highlighting a profound relational tension.
The chapter then contrasts two states: “Free from desire, one observes the Spirit,” and “Filled with desire, one observes the flesh.” This mirrors Romans 8:9-18, which distinguishes living by the Spirit from living by the flesh—a call to reject worldly cravings for spiritual vitality. The desire-filled focus on flesh reflects the sinful nature pulling one from God’s will, framing Christian life as a transformative shift toward the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Next, it explores unity: “The two emerge and become one of the same body, yet differ in name.” This evokes the Trinity’s mystery—distinct yet one—as seen in Ephesians 4:4-6 (one Spirit, Lord, Father) and 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (one body in Christ). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, though unique, share a unified essence, paralleling the Tao’s insight.
It concludes by naming this unity “The Mystery of God, the gateway to wonders,” reflecting God’s nature—known yet unknowable. Christians see this mystery unveiled in Christ (John 1:14), who reveals God’s love while preserving His transcendence. This “gateway” opens to eternal life through faith in Jesus and the Spirit’s
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