Author: Gary Witcher

The Mystery of Godliness
1 Timothy 3:14-16

And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: 

I. Context
	A. 1 Timothy 3:1-5 (14,15)
	B. 1 Timothy 4:6,9-16)
	C. faithful servants
	D. in the midst of false doctrine: “anticreation” - banned material
	E. possibly against cult of Artemis in Ephesus (“great”)

II. Structure
     A. three stanzas (NAB adapted by Karris)
Manifested (aorist completed) in (εν: in) the flesh - A 
vindicated (aorist completed) in (εν: in) the spirit - B 

revealed (aorist completed) to the angels - B 
proclaimed (aorist first phase - has begun to be) in (εν: among) Gentile groups - A 

believed (aorist first phase - has begun to be ) in (εν: throughout) the world - A 
lifted up (aorist ) in (εν: in) glory - B 

     B. two stanzas (NASB)
He who was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Beheld by angels (messengers),

Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world, 
Taken up in glory.

III. Meaning
	A. three stanzas - contrast but harmony
		1. physical / spiritual (goodness of God’s creation)
		2. universality of salvation (not same as universal salvation)
			a. 1 Timothy 1:15
			b. 1 Timothy 2:4-7
			c. 1 Timothy 4:10
	B. two stanzas - progression
		1. stanza one - more powerful than life, death, angelic powers
			a. incarnation - Hebrews 1:6
			b. resurrection - Romans 1:4
			c. ascension
				1) Jude 6
				2) Philippians 2:9-11
				3) 1 Peter 3:22
		2. stanza two
			a. Mark 16:15
			b. Mark 16:16
			c. Mark 16:19

know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.