Lesson Two: The Mystery Of Godliness Intro This morning we will continue our Hymns About Him Series. o Today we will be looking at a concise yet powerful one verse hymn. 1 This passage is one of the strongest o confessional statements of doctrinal belief in the New Testament. 2 It may well be that no other passage of scripture o states, as clearly as this, what the church in the first century believed about Jesus. The text will be familiar to many of you. 1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. Lyrical Form There are seven lines in our text. o The first line is Paul s introduction to the Hymn, where he wholeheartedly endorses it as the common confessional statement o of the church, o something that is without controversy. The next six lines are the lyrics of a song, o probably representing a portion 1 Journal Article Sing With Me. 2 Paul M. Zehr, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Believers Church Bible Commentary (Scottdale, PA; Waterloo, ON: Herald Press, 2010), 86. / Paul adds a hymn to the summary of verse 15 that states the confessed faith of the early Christians. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 1
of a well-known song. Much of the lyrical quality of the song o is lost in the English translation, however, according to scholars it is most impressive in the Greek. 3 One thing that you will have to remember, o as we go through this study, is that we are reading poetry that has been translated from one language to another. I don t know how many of you o have ever taken a foreign language but there is always a little something lost in translation. What were well metered, o rhyming lines in the English, may not make sense at all in Chinese. Likewise, if you translated a Chinese song o back to English, o you might have the same problem. Because of this, when we look at these texts, o you will rarely see the clear and concise lines of a song. However, I have chosen this text to handle first o because it is easy to see the lyrical form of these lines, even if they don t rhyme. The six lines of this hymn o are easily arranged into three pairs of contrasting couplets. 4 There are six short, o concise, statements, each with a similar form. With the exception of a statement that identifies o the subject of the song as God, in the first line of the lyrics, 3 Donald Guthrie, Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 14, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1990), 103. 4 R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 93 97. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 2
o every statement starts with a verb and is followed by a preposition and a noun. (in the flesh; in the spirit; by angels; among the Gentiles; in the world; in glory). The six nouns, at the ends of the lines, o help us see the intentional pairing and contrasting of the statements. Flesh and Spirit o form a contrasting pair in the first couplet. Angels and Gentiles o form the second contrasting pair. Finally the carnal world and the heavenly glory o form the final contrasting pair. It has been proposed that these lines o represent an A-B, B-A, A-B pattern, where A represents the earthly reality and B represents the Heavenly reality. Flesh is earthly, Spirit is heavenly, o Angels are heavenly, gentiles are earthly, world is earthly and glory is heavenly. 5 This arrangement demonstrates o the lyrical quality of these lines, giving them meaning and flow beyond the words written on the page. There is more that could be said about these lines, as a song, o however, our purpose, this morning, is to consider the meaning behind each of these six statements of truth and how they represent the confessional belief of the First Century Church. Our goal, as always, o is to measure our beliefs 5 Paul M. Zehr, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Believers Church Bible Commentary (Scottdale, PA; Waterloo, ON: Herald Press, 2010), 86. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 3
against that standard. o We strive to hold the same faith that the First Century Church held. Without Controversy The first line is introductory o but it vouches for the validity of the lines that will follow. Paul tells us that the lines of this song o are without controversy. Paul is quoting from what is o surely a well-known hymn 6 that was probably used often in worship services. 7 By doing so, he is reminding his readers o that the doctrine that he is teaching is the normative doctrine of the church. The phrase without controversy o is a taken from a Greek word that describes a matter on which there is general agreement. 8 The truth contained in these lines o is undeniably, beyond any doubt, the accepted belief of the church. The great thing about these songs o is that they are all doctrinal. As a matter of fact, o they represent some of the most doctrinal portions of the New Testament o and Paul wants his readers to know that the truths they contain are beyond question, they are without controversy. 6 Philip Towner, 1 2 Timothy & Titus, vol. 14, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 1 Ti 3:16. 7 Knute Larson, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, vol. 9, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 191. 8 William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 709. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 4
Great is the mystery of godliness So, what is this uncontestable truth? o Great is the mystery of godliness. Paul uses the word mystery often o to refer to the salvation plan of God which was hidden throughout the ages but is now revealed, or in the process of being revealed, o through Jesus Christ. 9 Meanwhile, the word godliness o is from a Greek word that denotes piety towards God or godliness. 10 It is a term used, not of God, but of men. o This phrase, mystery of godliness, forms a connection between the gospel of Jesus Christ, o which the song celebrates, and Christian living, or godliness. 11 The key to living a godly life o lies in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These lines celebrate the incarnation o and the triumph of the messiah, and Paul declares from the outset that this is our example. o This is what we strive for. We will never obtain it, o but each day we try to draw nearer to Christ-likeness. We yearn for the day that Christ is formed in us. o That s the mystery of Godliness. God became a man, flesh and blood, o and carried our transgressions to an old rugged cross, so that you and I could be set free from the bondage of sin 9 Philip Towner, 1 2 Timothy & Titus, vol. 14, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 1 Ti 3:16. 10 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 1 Ti 3:14 16. 11 Philip Towner, 1 2 Timothy & Titus, vol. 14, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 1 Ti 3:16. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 5
o and could live godly lives o in this present world. Some folks try to drive a wedge o between belief and behavior, saying that simple belief negates the need for godly living. However, as Paul introduces o this powerful confession of the First Century Church, he lets us know from the outset that belief in this o will affect your behavior. If you believe that Jesus is Lord, o it will affect your lifestyle, you will walk in godliness. 12 God was manifested in the flesh, From that introduction o we jump to the first and most profound confessional belief of the First Century church, the belief that Jesus was God, o manifest in the flesh. Indeed this truth is without controversy or accepted by all. 13 o It is the normative doctrine of the first century church. God, the Ancient of Days, o the One Who was and is and is to come, the Almighty, was made manifest, which means made visible o in the flesh. 14 The word for flesh here o is the word for flesh and blood. It denotes a real human body 12 Philip Towner, 1 2 Timothy & Titus, vol. 14, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 1 Ti 3:16. 13 Robin Johnston and Lee Ann Alexander, eds., Apostolic Study Bible: King James Version: Notes, Standard Edition. (Hazelwood, MO: Word Aflame Press, 2014), 1945 1946. 14 Robin Johnston and Lee Ann Alexander, eds., Apostolic Study Bible: King James Version: Notes, Standard Edition. (Hazelwood, MO: Word Aflame Press, 2014), 1945 1946. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 6
o but it goes a step further than that, it encompasses everything that makes a human, human. Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. o He was unique among all of creation. He was the God-Man. This is a statement that boggles the mind, o but it is undeniably true. In every way possible, o God became a man. He was, at the same time, o completely human and completely God. God was on location in the man Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:9 said, For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. God was made known. o He who was infinite, distilled himself into the finite. He prepared for himself a body, o flesh and blood, and he lived among us. He walked where we walk, o he was tempted in every way, just like we are, o but he emerged untouched by sin, he was absolutely without sin. This is what makes his death effective. o He was a man, but he was more than just a man. He was the perfect man, o who lived a perfect life, who never once yielded to temptation. And it is on the basis of his righteousness o that we are declared righteous and empowered to live in righteousness or godliness. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 7
Justified in the Spirit, Now the contrast, o he was manifest in the flesh but he was justified in the Spirit. As much as the word flesh o refers to the full humanity of Jesus, the word Spirit refers to the full deity of Jesus. 15 He was manifest in the flesh, o but he was justified or vindicated in the Spirit. In his flesh he was condemned to death o for crimes he never committed. He was nailed to the cross, o the most vile and torturous of deaths, of which it was said that the man who dies on a cross is cursed by God. But, though he was condemned in the flesh, o he was justified in the Spirit. God raised him from the dead o and declared him to be righteous. Why does this confession matter so much o to the First Century Church and why should it matter to us? 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us o that we are now IN Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. His righteousness becomes our righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. o This is the mystery of godliness, we who are not righteous, not godly, are made righteous and godly in Jesus Christ. We are empowered, o by his Spirit, to live righteous, godly, lives. The truth of the gospel is contained in this couplet. o God became a man so that we could become godly, or righteous. 16 15 Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 1 Ti 3:14 16. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 8
This is the mystery of godliness. Seen by angels, Where the first couplet declared the mystery, o the second couplet declares how the mystery is revealed, first in the heavens, then in the earth. Jesus was seen by angels. o There is a lot of speculation about what this means. Is it a reference to the angels o who saw him during his earthly life, who undoubtedly were poised on the edge of eternity o as he hung on an old rugged cross, waiting for one word from him so they could come to his rescue? Or is it a reference to the angels o that were present at the empty tomb, that declare that Jesus was risen? It could also refer to the angels o that saw him in glory, o that beheld the risen king. Can you imagine what it must have been like when Jesus ascended to glory? Heaven is an eternal place, o the spirit of God has abided there forever. But never before, o in the all of the eons of time, has a human being walked into that sacred place. But God was manifest in the flesh, o he was justified in the Spirit, and the man, Christ Jesus, ascended to heaven. The angels must have wondered at the grand spectacle, o He who was the Lion of the tribe of Judah was now represented as a lamb that had been slain! Perhaps the best answer is all of the above. o The angels were the heavenly witnesses of the birth of Jesus, declaring his glory in song 16 Philip Towner, 1 2 Timothy & Titus, vol. 14, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 1 Ti 3:16. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 9
to the shepherds in the field. They were witness to every step of his life, o to his death, to his burial and to his resurrection. The angels, indeed, saw him o and they saw him for who he really was. Men didn t always see him that way but the angels did. Preached among the Gentiles Like the first couplet, o this couplet is a contrast as well. Here the song compares the witnesses. The first is heavenly, the angels, o and the second is earthly, the Gentiles, or perhaps, the nations of the world. There is also a contrast of communication here. o He was seen by angels but he was preached among the Gentiles. Angels could see him, o in all of his glory and recognize his deity. But this great truth was hidden from men o until it was preached unto them. They couldn t see with their natural eyes, o indeed they couldn t even believe except it was preached unto them. This line emphasizes o the missional nature of our godliness. We are called to live godly lives, o not just for our own benefit but for the communication of the great mystery of Godliness. Our lives preach and testify of Jesus Christ. o One writer remarked, the angels were the least removed from him, and the Gentiles were farthest removed. But in this powerful couplet, o the whole realm of intelligent creation saw him. He was witnessed both in heaven and on earth! Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 10
Believed on in the world The final couplet then declares the conclusion of the matter. o This time we start with the earthly and move to the heavenly. On earth he was preached about o and the result of that preaching was that men and women were stirred to faith. He was believed on in the world. John 1:10-12 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 3:16 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The goal of the gospel is that we would believe. o However, the faith of scripture is not merely a confessional faith, or a faith that simply professes o to believe in the gospel, it is a faith that is obedient to the gospel. Indeed, James said that faith without works is dead. o Until you have put your faith into action, you have not yet believed. So we must believe the gospel and obey the gospel. o What is the gospel? It is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Acts 2 contains the results of preaching the gospel. o They were pricked in their hearts and asked, Men and Brethren, what shall we do? Peter said, in Acts 2:38, o that we had to repent of our sins, which identifies us with the death of Jesus because repentance is a type of death. Then we must be buried with him in baptism, o in the name of Jesus Christ, Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 11
for the remission of our sins. Then Peter said that we have a promise, o we will be filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. That is the resurrection and life. The scripture says that if the same Spirit o that dwelt in Jesus, dwells also in you, it will quicken your mortal bodies on that final day when we will meet him in the heavens. Received up in glory. The earthly conclusion of the matter o is that men hear the gospel preached, believe in Jesus Christ and respond to the gospel in obedience. o This results in salvation. However, that s not the end of the story. o Our salvation enables us to walk in godliness but we are not living for this world. We live with Heaven in view. o The goal is to reach the other side. So the final couplet concludes o by, once again, declaring the spiritual reality. Jesus Christ was received up in glory! But these were his parting words: John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. That s the conclusion of the song o and the hope of our lives. God was manifest in the flesh, o justified in the Spirit, o seen of Angels, o preached unto the Gentiles, o believed on in the world, o and received up in glory That we may, one glorious day, o join him where he is! The key to that conclusion o lies in the link between the second and third couplets. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 12
We must respond to the preaching of the word of God o in faith and obedience to that word. Every man will be held accountable o for Peter s declaration on the day of Pentecost. Every life will be measured o by that simple and direct answer to the question, What must we do to be saved? Repent, and be baptized, o Every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For this promise is to you o and to your children o and to all that are afar off, o even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And I firmly believe that God is still calling! Close There you have it, the confession of the early church o in the words of a song. God was manifest in the flesh! o That was the single, seminal foundation upon which everything else rested. God was made flesh o so that we could be set free from sin and embrace godliness. This is the message that is preached o and this is the message that must be believed. There is a better way. There is a better life. Jesus Christ has revealed it to us o and he has made it possible for us to be born again. New birth = New life. Lesson 2: The Mystery Of Godliness 13