1Timothy 3:14-16
God is an unseen God. Jesus came to make an unseen God visible.
Hebrews 1:1 – 3
ESV: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
GW: In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he received the highest position, the one next to the Father in heaven.
MSG: Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says--powerful words! After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God,
Colossians 1:15-19
He is the radiance of the glory of God, as it is said, God has "shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Messiah," (2 Corinthians 4:6) and His glory is the glory of God, as it is said, "the glory of Christ, who is the image of God," (2 Corinthians 4:4) for Christ Jesus is "the glory of our great God and Savior," (Titus 2:13) "so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:11)
At first glance it seems that verse 16 does not belong or fit in the context of this passage. In verse 15 – talking about how people must behave in the church. Not merely behavior “in a church building.” The church (ekklesia) consists of those who have been called into fellowship with Jesus Christ.
The apostle had spoken of the church in a practical manner. He is not unfolding its heavenly relationship nor entering into particulars as to the presence of the Holy Ghost dwelling there; but he speaks of it as the "house of God." And it is the only house of God that is now recognised on earth. The church is the assembly of a living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The church is never called the truth: Christ is the truth; (John 14:6). He is the embodiment of the ultimate and final revelation of God (Heb. 1:1-2), but the church is the pillar and ground of the truth. The church is that assembly which has the truth. The world has not got the truth — on the contrary is under the power of error; and error as to God is of all things deadly for the soul.
The church is said to be the house of God, the assembly of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth!
He affirms that it is the responsibility of those in the church to be the pillar and support of the truth.
But verses 15 and 16 are grammatically connected by the word "AND". The mystery of godliness must somehow pertain to the Church.
So the pillar and ground of the truth is the great mystery of godliness.
The expression “without controversy” translates the Greek term homologoumenos, which literally denotes that which one confesses, hence, it might be rendered “confessedly, undeniably, most certainly.” It is a declaration of absolute confidence. This means simply "obviously" or "beyond all question."
What is a mystery?
“Mystery” is a rendition of the Greek word musterion. The term does not, as many suppose, refer to that which is mysterious, hence, incapable of being understood. Rather, in Bible parlance, the word denotes that which was formerly obscured, but which has now been announced through the gospel of Christ.
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.
In four passages (Eph. 3:4-5; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26-27; Rom. 16:25-26; and compare Matt. 13:35) the Apostle Paul has clearly and carefully defined a New Testament "mystery." The definition that may be derived from these four references is as follows:
A New Testament mystery is that which was hidden, kept secret, and not made known to men in previous generations [prior to Paul’s generation] but was made manifest and revealed in the New Testament era to and by the New Testament apostles and prophets.
With this definition in mind it is clear that the mystery can not be the six declarations made by Paul in verse 16 because it was foretold long ago in the Old Testament.
Many scholars believe that the mystery is about the plan of salvation but there is one crucial element absent, namely the death of Jesus Christ. The cross and death of Jesus Christ is the centre of our salvation and without it there is no salvation. This mystery can not be about the plan of salvation.
This mystery has something to do with the church and the way the church must conduct itself. It is a mystery of godliness and we have already seen that this is the pillar and base of truth. The question then is: what is godliness?
The word “godliness” in the Greek Testament is the noun eusebia. This term, along with its various cognate forms, suggests piety, devotion, religion, or a disposition of God-towardness.
One version renders the phrase, “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion” (RSV).
The term "godliness" always involves the ideas of piety, reverence and respect which result in God-fearing conduct. The term describes the conduct of believers as they obey God’s Word. Thus the "mystery of godliness" in 1Timothy 3:16 could accurately be paraphrased as "the mystery of God-fearing conduct." The great mystery of godliness must somehow relate to proper conduct and behavior in the church.
It is the religion that the household of God confesses. This is what we as believers confess.
1 Timothy 4:7 – 8
ESV: Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
MSG: Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God--no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.
NASB: But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 6:5 – 6
CEV: and nasty quarrels. They have wicked minds and have missed out on the truth. These people think religion is supposed to make you rich. And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have.
1 Timothy 6:11
CEV: Timothy, you belong to God, so keep away from all these evil things. Try your best to please God and to be like him. Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle.
MSG: But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life--a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy.
The mystery is thus to have a Christlike life; to be like Him; a life of wonder. That is the pillar and base of truth.
The question is how? For the answer we must look at the six statements.
The mystery of godliness is:
1. He who was manifested in the flesh.
John 1:1, 14, 18
The living God became flesh (John 1:14) and made Himself known in and through a body (John 1:18).
The New Testament reveals that Jesus was manifest in the flesh for the following reasons:
a. He became flesh so that men might see, in visible form, a commentary on Deity. John affirmed that Christ came to “declare” (Grk. - exegesato; to give an exegesis of) the Father (1:18). Thus, to view the Lord was to comprehend something of the nature of his heavenly Father (John 14:9).
b. He became flesh to identify with us (Hebrews 5:1-10). Having lived in human form, and thus been subjected to temptation (Hebrews 4:15), he is able to effectively function as our high priest, hence, come to our aid when we are tempted (Hebrews 2:17, 18).
c. He was manifested as man to provide us with a model for living (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6).
d. Since it is impossible for Deity, as a spirit being, to die (cf. 1 Timothy 6:16), Christ became flesh so that he might be subjected to death (Hebrews 2:9, 14), hence qualified to put away sins (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 John 3:5).
e. Finally, the Lord was manifested that “he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), which, of course, will be realized ultimately at the time of his second coming.
Philippians 2:6 – 8
"Being in the form of God" means: being the same as God in essence and nature. "essence" means: "that which makes something what it is, its intrinsic, fundamental nature, its essential being."
"Thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Paraphrased the verse is saying: "Who, though of the same nature as God, did not think this something to be exploited to is own advantage." (Ryrie Study Bible, p. 1684)
Phil. 2:7 ."..made himself of no reputation." Literally it is saying he "emptied" Himself. Emptying, is the Greek word "KENOSIS", which means Jesus "limited" himself to the level of man. He did not lose any attribute of God, but wavered or veiled His Godly attributes, while he was on Earth. Note he came to Earth as a Servant. "Made in the likeness of man" and "being found is the fashion of a man" is references to Christ’s humanity. He was totally a human being.
In John 10:30, Jesus said that "I and my Father are one." One is in the neuter gender. This rules out the meaning that they are one in person. Jesus and God are separate persons, but one God, with the Holy Spirit. The verse says they are in perfect unity in their natures and actions.
The important word here is the word made manifest.
John 17:4
ASV: I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.
EMTV: I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
MSG: I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do.
What work? Vers 6
John 14:8 – 11
John 17:11
Colossians 2:9 – 10
John 17:21
Jesus prayed that we must be one with Them so that the world may believe. What He is saying is that He is no longer in this world but He does have a body, you and me, and He wants to manifest Himself in and through His body.
John 15:5
We are now the branches and we must now bare the fruits that Jesus had.
John 14:12
The mystery of godliness = the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9) = the manifestation of the presence and power of a living God through His body, the church. The mystery is that Jesus is not in the world so the only way an unseen God can be made visible is by manifesting Himself through us.
