1 Timothy 3:16
May 4, 2025
Only a Holy God – Praise and Harmony
L. John Bost
Previous – How Men Ought to Behave in the House of God.
Introduction
Previously, we studied Paul’s teaching on how men ought to behave in the house of God which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim 3:15). We concluded with a reading of Paul’s conclusion in 1 Timothy 3:16:
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness:
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory.
Today, I want us to take a closer look at these amazing words from the inspired writings of the Apostle Paul.
By Common Confession, Great Is the Mystery of Godliness
The Greek word translated, common confession, in the NASB, and without controversy, in the KJV, NKJV, and the original ASV, and beyond all question, in the NIV, means, “by consent of all, confessedly, without controversy,” according to Thayer.
Paul is saying, “Everyone agrees with what I am about to say.
Great Is the Mystery of Godliness
Mystery
The word translated, mystery, means, “a hidden thing, secret, mystery; a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding (Thayer). Vine comments on the word:
In the NT it denotes, not the mysterious (as with the Eng. word), but that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit. (Emphasis mine, LJB).
The word is found twenty-seven times in the New Testament and is only translated, Mystery and mysteries.
But, the “mystery” has been made known.
Paul writes in Ephesians 1:9-10, “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him…” Please read Colossians 1:25-29.
Paul writes:
…the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Please read 1 Peter 1:10-12. The prophets of old made “careful searches and inquiries” into the propesies that they made concerning Jesus suffernings. However, “they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
That which had been a mystery for centuries has now been made known!
Godliness.
Paul says, “Great is the mystery of godliness. Strong defines the Greek word, “piety; specially, the gospel scheme.” Vine has this comment: “In 1 Tim 3:16, “the mystery of godliness” is “godliness” as embodied in, and communicated through, the truths of the faith concerning Christ. So, “godliness” does not refer to living a godly life in this instance, but to the truths of the faith concerning Christ.
Paul says, “Great is the mystery of godliness.”
The New Testament reveals fourteen “mysteries” seven of which are as follows:
- The mystery of Christ and his church (Ephesians 5:32).
- The mystery of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
- The mystery of the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Revelation 1:20).
- The mystery of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51).
- The mystery of the hardening of Israel (Romans 11:25).
- The mystery of the harlot church (Revelation 17:7).
- The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 13:11 (Coffman).
Here, Paul lists the elements of the “great” mystery, much more comprehensive than those mentioned above, and in a sense holding all of them:
- The mystery (Romans 16:25).
- The mystery of his will (Ephesians 1:9).
- The mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4).
- The mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).
- The mystery of God (Colossians 2:2).
- The mystery of the faith (1 Timothy 3:9).
- The mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16).
The Mystery of Godliness.
1. He Who Was Revealed in the Flesh.
The NASB reads, “He who was revealed in the flesh.” Indeed, it was God who was revealed in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, born of the virgin Mary, but the Son of God Almighty.
Please read Luke 1:76-79. This is part of Zacharia’s prophecy concerning his son, John. The NASB reads, “Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us…” The original American Standard Version, the KJV, and the NKJV read, “dayspring from on high.” Either way, Jesus was revealed “TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Paul writes in Galatians 4:4-6:
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Paul writes in writes in Ephesians 1:9-10, “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him…” Please read Ephesians 2:6-11. God was revealed in the flesh so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
2. Vindicated in the Spirit.
Justified, as found in the ASV, KJV, and ASV, is better than vindicated as the word better conveys the meaning, as given by Vine, “to show to be right or righteous.” Jesus was shown to be right or righteous from the beginning of His ministry.
How was God, in the Person of Jesus Christ, justified in the spirit?
