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| 1 Timothy 3:16 |
And without controversy great is the
mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,
justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached
unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world,
received up into glory.
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Let us begin our study of verse 16 in the
Barclay Commentary...
A HYMN OF THE CHURCH
1 Timothy 3:16
As everyone must confess, great is the secret which
God has revealed to us in our religion:
He who was manifested in the flesh:
He who was vindicated by the Spirit:
He who was seen by angels:
He who has been preached among the nations:
He in whom men have believed all over the world:
He who was taken up into glory.
THE great interest of this passage is that here we
have a fragment of one of the hymns of the early
Church. It is a setting of belief in Christ to
poetry and to music, a hymn in which men and women
sang their creed. We cannot expect from poetry the
precision of statement for which we would look in a
creed; but we must try to see what each line in this
hymn is saying to us.
...the commentary is going
to make six points here. Each point is a part
of the verse, which is paraphrased and indicated in
red:
(1) He who was manifested in
the flesh. Right at the beginning, it
stresses the real humanity of Jesus. It says: ‘Look
at Jesus, and you will see the mind and the heart
and the action of God, in a form that everyone can
understand.’
(2) He who was vindicated by
the Spirit. This is a difficult line. There
are three things it may mean.
(a) It may mean that all through his earthly days
Jesus was kept sinless by the power of the Spirit.
It is the Spirit who gives us guidance; our error is
that we so often refuse the [unction
of the] Spirit’s guidance. It was Jesus’
perfect submission to the Spirit of God which kept
him without sin.
(b) It may mean that Jesus’ claims were justified by
the action of the Spirit [which]
dwelt in him. When Jesus was accused by the scribes
and Pharisees of bringing about cures by the power
of the devil, his answer was: ‘If it is by the
Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the
kingdom of God has come to you’ (Matthew 12:28). The
power that was in Jesus was the power of the Spirit
[power of God through the
Spirit], and the mighty acts which he
performed were the evidence of the tremendous claims
which he made.
(c) It may be that this is a reference to the
resurrection. Jesus was taken and crucified as a
criminal upon a [stake],
but through the power of the Spirit he rose again;
the verdict of those who killed him was demonstrated
to be false, and he was vindicated. No matter how we
take this line, its meaning is that the Spirit is
the power [that]
proved Jesus to be what he claimed to be.
Quoted verse:
Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then
the kingdom of God is come unto you.
(3) He who was seen by angels.
Again there are three possible meanings:
(a) It may be a reference to Jesus’ life before he
came to earth.
(b) It may be a reference to his life on earth. Even
on earth, the hosts of heaven were looking on at his
tremendous contest with evil.
(c) It may connect with the belief of everyone in
the time of Jesus that the air was full of demonic
and angelic powers. Many of these powers were
hostile to God and to human beings, and set on the
destruction of Jesus. Paul at least once argued that
they were intent on the destruction of Jesus through
ignorance, and that Jesus brought to them and to men
and women the wisdom which had been hidden since the
world began (1 Corinthians 2:7–8). This phrase may
mean that Jesus brought the truth even to the
angelic and demonic powers who had never known it.
However we take it, it means that the work of Jesus
is so tremendous that it includes both heaven and
earth.
Quoted verse:
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even
the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the
world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for
had they known it, they would not have crucified the
Lord of glory.
(4) He who has been preached
among the nations. Here we have the great
truth that Jesus was not the exclusive possession of
a particular race or nation. He was not the Messiah
who had come to raise the Jews to earthly greatness,
but the Saviour of the whole wide world.
(5) He in whom men have
believed all over the world. Here is an
almost miraculous truth stated with utter
simplicity. After Jesus had died and risen again and
ascended to his glory, the number of his followers
was 120 (Acts 1:15). All that his followers had to
offer was the story of a Galilaean carpenter who had
been crucified on a hilltop in Palestine as a
criminal. And yet, before seventy years had passed,
that story had gone out to the ends of the earth,
and men and women of every nation accepted this
crucified Jesus as Saviour and Lord. In this simple
phrase, there is the whole wonder of the expansion
of the Church, an expansion which by any human
standards is incredible.
(6) He who was taken up into
glory. This is a reference to the ascension.
The story of Jesus begins in heaven and ends in
heaven. He lived as a servant; he was branded as a
criminal; he was crucified on a cross; he rose with
the nail prints still upon him; but the end is
glory. ~Barclay Commentary
Now to the other commentaries.
And, without controversy
- Undeniably, certainly. The object of the apostle
is to say that the truth which he was about to state
admitted of no dispute. ~
Barnes Notes
Great is the mystery -
What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his
birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures,
divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery,
which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not
to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of
it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great
one ~John Gill [edited]
Of godliness - The word
“godliness” means, properly, piety, reverence, or
religiousness. It is used here, however, for the
gospel scheme, to wit, that which the apostle
proceeds to state. This “mystery,” which had “been
hidden from ages and from generations, and which was
now manifest” Colossians 1:26, was the great
doctrine on which depended “religion” everywhere, or
was that which constituted the Christian scheme.
~ Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Colossians 1:26
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and
from generations, but now is made manifest to his
saints:
God, actually, He who (hos).
The correct text, not theos (God)
the reading of the Textus Receptus (Syrian
text) nor ho (neuter
relative, agreeing with mustērion) the
reading of the Western documents. Westcott and Hort
print this relative clause as a fragment of a
Christian hymn (like
Ephesians 5:14) in six strophes [stanzas].
That is probably correct. At any rate hos (who)
is correct and there is asyndeton (no
connective) in the verbs. Christ, to whom
hos refers, is the mystery (Colossians 1:27;
Colossians 2:2).
~Robertson's Word Pictures
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and
arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee
light.
The commentary says "and arise
from the dead": living saints are sometimes
among dead sinners, and it becomes them to arise
from among them, and quit their company.
~John Gill
Colossians 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Colossians 2:2
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit
together in love, and unto all riches of the full
assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of
Christ;
Was manifest - Margin,
“Manifested.” The meaning is, “appeared” in the
flesh. ~ Barnes Notes
In the flesh - In the
form of a servant, the fashion of a man, for three
and thirty years. ~John
Wesley Notes
Justified in the Spirit
- Justified in the spirit - First aorist passive
indicative of dikaioō, to declare righteous, to
vindicate. Christ was vindicated in his own spirit
(Hebrews 9:14) before men by overcoming death and
rising from the dead (Romans 1:3.).
~Robertson's Word Pictures
Quoted verses:
Hebrews 9:14
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through
the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to
God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God?
Romans 1:3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was
made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Seen of angels - They
were attendants on his ministry, and came to him in
times of distress, peril, and want; compare Luke
2:9-13; Luke 22:43; Luke 24:4; Hebrews 1:6; Matthew
4:11. They felt an interest in him and his work, and
they gladly came to him in his sorrows and troubles.
The design of the apostle is to give an impressive
view of the grandeur and glory of that work which
attracted the attention of the heavenly hosts, and
which drew them from the skies that they might
proclaim his advent, sustain him in his temptations,
witness his crucifixion, and watch over him in the
tomb. The work of Christ, though despised by people,
excited the deepest interest in heaven; compare
notes on 1 Peter 1:12. ~
Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
The first five speaking to angels on earth and
seeing to Jesus:
Luke 2:9-13
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and
the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and
they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find
the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a
manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luke 22:43
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven,
strengthening him.
Luke 24:4
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed
thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining
garments:
Hebrews 1:6
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten
into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of
God worship him.
Matthew 4:11
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came
and ministered unto him.
1 Peter 1:12
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves,
but unto us they did minister the things, which are
now reported unto you by them that have preached the
gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from
heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Preached unto the Gentiles
- This is placed by the apostle among the “great”
things which constituted the “mystery” of religion.
The meaning is, that it was a glorious truth that
salvation might be, and should be, proclaimed to all
mankind, and that this was a part of the important
truths made known in the gospel. Elsewhere this is
called, by way of eminence, “the mystery of the
gospel;” that is, the grand truth which had not been
known until the coming of the Saviour; see the
Ephesians 6:19 note; Colossians 1:26-27; Colossians
4:3 notes. Before his coming, a wall of partition
had divided the Jewish and Gentile world. The Jews
regarded the rest of mankind as excluded from the
covenant mercies of God, and it was one of the
principal stumblingblocks in their way, in regard to
the gospel, that it proclaimed that all the race was
on a level, that that middle wall of partition was
broken down, and that salvation might now be
published to all people; compare Acts 22:21;
Ephesians 2:14-15; Romans 3:22; Romans 10:11-20.
~ Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Ephesians 6:19
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the
mystery of the gospel,
Colossians 1:26-27
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages
and from generations, but now is made manifest to
his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Colossians 4:3
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto
us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of
Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
Acts 22:21
And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee
far hence unto the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:14-15
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and
hath broken down the middle wall of partition
between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even
the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for
to make in himself of twain one new man, so making
peace;
Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 10:11-20
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on
him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and
the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto
all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have
not believed? and how shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad
tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For
Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God.
18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their
sound went into all the earth, and their words unto
the ends of the world.
19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses
saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that
are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger
you.
20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found
of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto
them that asked not after me.
The Jew had no special advantage for salvation by
being a Jew; the Gentile was not excluded from the
hope of salvation. The plan of redemption was
adapted “to man” as such - without regard to his
complexion, country, customs, or laws. The blood of
Christ was shed for all, and wherever a human being
could be found, salvation might be freely offered
him. This “is” a glorious truth; and taken in all
its bearings, and in reference to the views which
then prevailed, and which have always more or less
prevailed about the distinctions made among people
by caste and rank, there is scarcely anymore
glorious truth connected with the Christian
revelation, or one which will exert a wider
influence in promoting the welfare of man. It is a
great privilege to be permitted to proclaim that all
people, in one respect - and that the most important
- are on a level; that they are all equally the
objects of the divine compassion; that Christ died
for one as really as for another; that birth,
wealth, elevated rank, or beauty of complexion,
contribute nothing to the salvation of one man; and
that poverty, a darker skin, slavery, or a meaner
rank, do nothing to exclude another from the favor
of his Maker. ~
Barnes Notes
Believed on in the world
- This also is mentioned among the “great” things
which constitute the mystery of revealed religion.
But why is this regarded as so remarkable as to be
mentioned thus? In point of importance, how can it
be mentioned in connection with the fact that God
was manifest in the flesh; that he was vindicated by
the Holy Spirit; that he was an object of intense
interest to angelic hosts, and that his coming had
broken down the walls which had separated the world,
and placed them now on a level? I answer, perhaps
the following circumstances may have induced the
apostle to place this among the remarkable things
evincing the greatness of this truth:
(1) The strong “improbability” arising from the
greatness of the “mystery,” that the doctrines
respecting the incarnate Deity would be believed.
Such is the incomprehensible nature of many of the
truths connected with the incarnation; so strange
does it seem that God would become incarnate; so
amazing that he should appear in human flesh and
blood, and that the incarnate Son of God should die,
that it might be regarded as a wonderful thing that
such a doctrine had in fact obtained credence in the
world. But it was a glorious truth that all the
natural improbabilities in the case had been
overcome, and that people had accredited the
announcement.
(2) the strong improbability that his message would
be believed, arising from the “wickedness of the
human heart.” Man, in all his history, had shown a
strong reluctance to believe any message from God,
or any truth whatever revealed by him. The Jews had
rejected his prophets and put them to death Matthew
23; Acts 7; and had at last put his own Son - their
Messiah - to death. Man everywhere had shown his
strong inclination to unbelief. There is in the
human soul no elementary principle or germ of faith
in God. Every man is an unbeliever by nature - an
infidel first; a Christian afterward; an infidel as
he comes into the world; a believer only as he is
made so by grace. The apostle, therefore, regarded
it as a glorious fact that the message respecting
the Saviour “had been” believed in the world. It
overcame such a strong and universal reluctance to
confide in God, that it showed that there was more
than human power in operation to overcome this
reluctance.
(3) the extent to which this had been done may have
been a reason why he thought it worthy of the place
which he gives it here. It had been embraced, not by
a few, but by thousands in all lands where the
gospel had been published; and it was proof of the
truth of the doctrine, and of the great power of
God, that such high mysteries as those relating to
redemption, and so much opposed to the natural
feelings of the human heart, should have been
embraced by so many. The same thing occurs now. The
gospel makes its way against the native incredulity
[disbelief] of
the world, and every new convert is an additional
demonstration that it is from God, and a new
illustration of the greatness of this mystery.
~ Barnes Notes
Received up into glory
- To heaven; compare John 17:5; see the notes on
Acts 1:9. This is mentioned as among the “great” or
remarkable things pertaining to “godliness,” or the
Christian revelation, because it was an event which
had not elsewhere occurred, and was the crowning
grandeur of the work of Christ. It was an event that
was fitted to excite the deepest interest in heaven
itself. No event of more importance has ever
occurred in the universe, of which we have any
knowledge, than the re-ascension of the triumphant
Son of God to glory after having accomplished the
redemption of a world. ~
Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
John 17:5
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own
self with the glory which I had with thee before the
world was.
Acts 1:9
And when he had spoken these things, while they
beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him
out of their sight. ~
Barnes Notes
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