Was the Christ-and-church relationship seen anywhere else in the Bible before Paul?
No. The Christ-and-church relationship was not seen anywhere else in Scripture before Paul. It is called a great mystery, a secret God revealed to this apostle. Even Israel’s relationship with God, Abraham with Jehovah, and Moses with Jehovah did not display this same kind of relationship.
Les explains that in Ephesians 5 Paul uses the marriage relationship to picture Christ and the church. Verse 32 calls it “a great mystery,” one of Paul’s words—a secret God has now revealed to this apostle. Les emphasizes that you never saw any of this anywhere else in Scripture. You never saw this kind of relationship even between Israel and God, nor between Abraham and Jehovah, or between Moses and Jehovah. The church is Christ’s body, cleansed by the washing of water—the water of the Word, not baptismal water—and presented to Himself glorious, without spot or wrinkle. Believers are placed in Christ, and He also dwells in them.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.