A:PPENDIX IV REVISED ABSTRACT. The original abstract was misleading and even. that were raised by the dispensationalists who responded to

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1 A:PPENDIX IV REVISED ABSTRACT The original abstract was misleading and even confusing in many respects, as indicated by the objections that were raised by the dispensationalists who responded to the letter. In the first abstract the writer sacificed clarity for the sake of brevity. The emphasis was placed upon the ap9lication of 1 Timothy 3:16 to the church, and as a result several of the men thought that this interpretation failed to see Christ as the subject of the six pbrases of the hymn. Obviously it was Christ who was manifested, justified, seen, preached, believed on and received up! But each of these truths concerning Christ has direct application to the church, which is is body! To clarify these matters, a revised abstract was prepared as part of a series of chaplaincy notes that were distributed to the students of Grace Theological Seminary during the school year of This revised abstract was placed into the hands of the Seminary men and women so that they might be able to see the local assembly as God sees it and so that they might ow what is the riches of the glory of this mystery. This revised abstract appears on the following pages: 127

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4 129 A New Testament mystery is that which has been hidden, kept secret, and not made known to men in previous ages but has now been made manifest and made known and revealed in this present church ase by the N.T. apostles and prophets. In view of this Biblical definition, how can the great mystery of 1 Timothy 3:16 be the incarnation of Christ since the incarnation was clearly revealed in the Old Testament? The fact that the JYiessiah would be manifested in the flesh was no secret to those who understood and believed their Old Testament (Isao 7:14; 9:6; Jer. 23:5-6; Mico 5:2; Mto 2:4-5; etc.). But the fact that in this present age Christ is now manifesting imself in a body is the truth that thrilled tne heart of the Apostle Paul (Col. 1:27; Eph. 1:22-23). The incarnation of Christ as it applies to the church is a great mystery indeed! There are at least six reasons for suggesting that the statements concerning Christ in 1 Timothy 3:16 apply directly to the church: 1) The context of verse 15 seems to demand application to the churcho paul's theme there is the greatness of the local assemblyo 2) Since a N To mystery cannot consist of truths that were revealed in the Old Testament, the "mystery of godliness" must refer to more than the mere objective facts of the incarnation of Christ as set forth in verse l6o Certainly the incarnation of Christ was not a hidden truth in Old Testament times. (Note: If paul were merely setting forth the objective facts of the Lcarnation, then he apparently made a serious omission. In declaring the chief purpose of the incarnation, Dr. Alva McClain made this statement: "God became incarnate in Christ in order that e might die for sinnerso11.a,..'l'l.d yet, in verse 16 nothing is said concerning the death of Christ! would we omit such a tenet from our doctrinal statements?) 3) The term "mystery" as used by Paul almost always involves some aspect of church truth (see Eph. 3:4-6; 5:32; Colo 1:24-27; 1 coro 15:51; etc.) and 1 Timothy 3:16 should be no exception, especially in view of the context of verse 15, which describes the grandeur of the local church. 4) The term ngodliness" (v.l6) relates to the immediate context of verse 15. The term ngodliness11 always involves the idea of piety, reverence and respect which results in God-fearing conduct. Thus the "mystery of godliness11 in 1 Timothy 3:16 could accurately be paraphrased as 11the mystery of God-fearing conduct." The obvious reference is to the previous verse where paul's purpose in writing is stated: 11that tnou mayest know how tnou oughtest to behave thyself (conduct th2.rself) in the house of Godo1 1 Tne answer to the aueslon how men should conduct themselves in the church (verse 15) is answered by the term "godliness11 (verse 16). In other words, the great mystery of godliness must

5 13 somehow relate to proper conduct and behavior in the local assembly o 5) The Apostle Paul, in setting forth great Christological truths, aost always applies them to believers (cf. Phil. 2:5-ll). The doctrine of the. resurrection and exaltation of Christ in Ephesians 1:18-23 is applied directly to the churcho In Colossians 1:15-18 paul declares that Christ is the Creator and sustainer of the universe. Again direct application is made to the church (Col. 1:18). It would therefore be most unlike paul to set forth such great statements concerning the incarnation of Christ in 1 Timothy 3:16 without making direct application to believers, even to the churcho 6) The great mystery of which Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:32 cone erned not Christ alone, but ''Christ and the church." could not the great mystery of 1 Timothy 3TI6 also nave reference to Christ and the church? (:Note: \ie can assume that Timothy was quite ramillar Wlh the contents of the Ephes ian letter--cfo 1 Tim. 1:3) IV. The contextual solution As Dispensationally Applied The six phrases of "the hymn'' in verse 16 may be analyzed as follows: lo Christ was manifested in the flesh! The living God became flesh ( Jn. 1: 14; anq maa.e J..mseJ..r ' Known in and through a body ( Jno 1:18). Likewise, God the son is today manifesting imself in and through is body which is on the earth (Epho 1: 22-23; Colo 1:24-27). As the visible and local body of Christ stays healthy (Epho 4:12-16), conducts itself in a godly way and functions according to the Biblical pattern (1 Timo 3: 1-15), then the following will be true: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) God's life will be manifested in and by the church (col. 1:27). God's wisdom will be manifested in and by the church (Epho 3: 1)o God's power will be manifested in and by the church (Eph. 3:2). God's grace will be manifested in and by the church (Eph. 2:7). God's truth will be manifested in and by the church (1 Tim. 3:15). God's love will be manifested in and by the church ( Jn. 17:23). God's glory will be manifested in and by the church ( Eph. 3:21).

6 Christ was justified (declared righteous, vindicated) in the Spirit! Througnou"t is earthly ministry Christ was vndca"ted by the Spirit of Godo is miracles and signs were performed by the power of the Spirit (t. 12:28), giving umn.istakable evidence that Christ was all e claimed to beo The ultimate vindication of Christ took place when e was raised from the dead ( Romo l:4)o Likewise, God the Oly Spirit is today vindicating the Resurrected Christ in and assembly, through the convicting the world that e indeed is the Righteous One (John 16 : 7-ll ; note especially verse 7 which associates this convicting and vindicating ministry with the Spirit's coming on the day of pentecost)o 3o Christ was seen of angels! Throughout is earthly life and ministry the God-man was the very center of angelic interest, attention and curiosity! They marveled at their holy Lord (Isao 6:1-4; cf. Jn. 12:41) as e humbled imself ( Phil. 2:5-8) and was made even lower than the angels so that e might taste death for every man ( eb. 2:9)! And yet today it is the church that has become the theater of the universe and the center of angelic observation! unto the principalities and powers God is now making known is manifold wisdom and grace by the church (Eph. 3:1; 2:7; cf. 1 Coro 4:9; l1:1) o The living God s using the church to teach angels concerning imself! 4. Christ was preached among the nations and the responsibility ana prvlege or' maklng.lillown the unsearchable riches of Christ has been committed to the church! Although the gospel was known in previous ages (Rom. l:l-4; Gal. 3:8), there is a " mystery " aspect of the gospel which was unlrnown in other ages but now forms preaching of this age. the very core of the gospel The follo\ying passages delineate the "mystery of the gospel11: Rom. 16:25-26; Epho 3:5-8; 6:19; Colo 1:27; 4:3. Our distinctive message today is that Jew and Gentile alike may believe the gospel and be united together into one body (1 cor. 12:13) for the purpose of manifesting and bearing witness to Christ who is the sovereign ead of this unique organism! 5o Christ was believed on in the world and it is the glorious privilege or tne cnurcn "to oear wtness to Christ as the sole object of faith! The Lord Jesus prayed for the unity of the church :for the purpose "that the world may believe that thou sent me" ( Jno 17:21). As the church functions according to godliness (1 Tim o 3:15) and edification ( Eph. 4:12-16) then unbelievers will be convicted as they see the living God being manifested in the assembly ( see 1 cor. 14:24-25; cf. Col. 1:27 and John's purpose as a witness in John 1:7)!

7 6o 132 Christ was received up in glory when e was taken up into heaven at tne ascenslon. Tnls marked the termination of the Lord's earthly ministry and witness. Likewise the earthly ministry and witness of the church also has a terminal point: "When Christ 1vho is our life shall appear, then shall ye also a:ppear with him in glory 11 (Col. 3:4; see also the 11mystery 11 discussed in 1 cor. lj:?l-52 and compare Rev. 12: 5 with 1 Thess. 4:17 where the same word for the ascension of Christ is used for the rapture of the church). Actually according to Acts 1: 1-2 the ascension of Christ did not mark the termination of our Lord's ministry and witness, but it marked only the beginning! It is the church that continues the witness (Acts 1:8) ana teaching (Nto 28: 2) of tne resurrected Lord who is the ead of the body, God blessed forever! The mystery of godliness as it applies to the church may thus be briefly sumrrzrized as follows: lo God the son manifesting imself in and through is body which is on the earth (Col. 1: 24-27; Eph. 1: 22-23). 2. God the oly Spirit vindicating the Resurrected Christ in and through the assembly (Jn. 16: 7-ll)o 3. God the Father making known is manifold wisdom and grace unto the principalities and powers by means of the assembly (Eph. 3: 1; 2: 7)o 4o 5o 6o The assembly making known the mystery of the gospel among all nations (Eph. 3: 5-8; Rom. 16: 25-26). The assembly fctiong as a godly witness before the world (Jn. 17: 21; 1 Cor. 14: 24-25)o The assembly being received up in glory at the rapture of the church (Col. 3: 4; 1 cor. l5: 51-52)o Thus Paul traces the purpose, witness, message and destiny of the church! If this interpretation is correct, then 1 Timothy 3: 16 provides the most comprehensive summary of the "mystery" aspects of church truth that can be found in the New Testament! This interpretation solves the chronological problem (Why did l:'aul mention the 11preaching" and "believing" before the ascension of Christ?). It also offers a reasonarle solution as to why Paul used the ambiguous relative pronoun, oc;;; o certainly the logical antecedent of this pronoun is "Christn and the nearest antecedent in the context would be "God" (v. l5, referring of course to God the Son, because it's is church!),

8 133 but the very fg.ct that :Paul did not make the subject explicit permits the possibility of a wider application to Christ and the church. In other words, all 6 phrases have ''Christ" (or 11God") as the subject, but the significance of tnese phrases has direct bearing and application to the lucal church! Thus what we have is a series of six parallelisms in which the present tenure of the local church is analogous to that of our Lord Jesus in the days of is flesh! The death of Christ is not mentioned in 1 Timothy 3:16o certainly the death of Christ was of utmost significance to the church because God purchased the church with is own blood (Acts 228). But the emphasis in 1 Timothy 3:16 is upon the life and witness of the Lord Jesus, and by application, the life and witness of the church, and thus the omission of any statement concerning the death of Christ is easily explained. * Do we see the church as God sees it? Does church truth thrill your heart as it did the Apostle paul? Do you pray fervently that the Lord might open the eyes of your understanding so that you might see how precious the church is to Christ (Eph. 1:18)? ave you discovered what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (Colo 1:27)? Are yo a healtny cell and a healthy member of a local body of believers (Epho 4:12-16)? Is the indwelllg Christ being manife3ted in your assembly (1 cora 14:25)? Oh may we see the assembly as God sees it! Nay we agree and confess with paul: "Great is the mystery of godliness!"

1 Timothy 3:16 as they

CHAPTER VI CONCLUSION The six phrases of the hymn in 1 Timothy 3:16 as they apply to the church may be summarized briefly as follows: lo God the son manifesting Himself in and through His body which is