1 Timothy 3:14-16

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 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.

Vs. 14 The Apostle Paul now changes his focus a little and encourages Timothy that though he is writing him to remain at his post, and teach and instill such extensive instructions during this difficult time, he is not leaving him to shoulder the burden alone, for he hopes to come to Timothy shortly.

Vs. 15 “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

If there is ever any doubt/debate as to how we are conduct ourselves in the house of God. Those issues can be resolved by looking into and obeying the Apostle's writtings. For everything in the Apostle Paul’s epistle; in fact the entire New Testament comes to us by the Holy Spirit and is the Word of God (John 14:26; Acts 1:2-3). And it is given to us so that we all might know how to conduct ourselves not only in the world, but specifically in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. That is the church's duty to uphold and to expound Scriptural truth. For in a world which lies under the sway of the Devil, where the truth is held as relative, and God's Word is under constant attack. God's house must be the mainstay of the truth. That being so, what the Apostle has written is applicable for all believers, for all time. There isn’t one set of commandments for one assembly, then another somewhere else (consider 1 Cor. 4:17; 7:17). For the Lord Jesus Christ and the Biblical Apostle’s commandments are universally applicable, given for us all. Regardless of the culture or generation in which we believe. For though there are many children in the house of God (notice it's house, not houses; a Spirit reality) from a diversity of cultures and backgrounds. We are all One Body under Christ’s Headship and Lordship. And thus wherever two or more gather in Jesus’ Name there is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth; as long as we hold to the truth about Jesus Christ; and keep His and the Biblical Apostle’s commandments, we then are living out the truth (Matt. 28:19-20; John 8:30-32; 51-52, 12:44-40, 14:15-21; 15:10; Acts 1:2; Rom. 1:1-7; 16:25-27 etc.).

Vs. 16 The Apostle Paul now unveils the mystery of the faith he alluded to in 3:9. “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.”

 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.”

The mystery of godliness is found exclusively in and through the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consider then how God can take anyone dead in their sins and trespasses, being fully separated from Him. And through faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ's Person, bring them to new and everlasting life. All because of Jesus' crucifixion death which pays for our sins here and now; while Jesus' resurrection from the dead, then ascension back to the Father in heaven opened the Kingdom of heaven to us all; and assures us all who believe in Him of a resurrection life from the dead. And so the Holy Spirit was poured out into the world. So that by God's Spirit He could bring us to life by His indwelling us; as well as unite us here and now. So that He could transform us into His people bearing His Holy image, fit for the Kingdom of heaven; because of the indwelling presence of Christ by the Spirit of God. And thus having released us from our sins; His eternal judgment against them; and even death itself. He instills within us a growing passion for godliness. Whereas once before the only passions we had were geared to feeding the sinful nature and its desires; which ultimately would lead to our own demise (Rom. 3:23). Now we have a new nature; God's Nature in all His fullness within us and thus we have an ever growing passion deep within us, wanting to be more and more like Christ; which culminates with our being eternally with Christ in the Kingdom of heaven (Rom. 6:22-23; 1 Peter 1:9). Though this mystery remains veiled to those who do not believe, nor obey the truth (Consider 2 Thess. 2:7-12). It is available to all, to everyone repents and believe. Thus the Apostle Paul confirms that the faith is already settled. There is nothing left to debate. Only thing left to do is believe and obey (Jude 3).

“God was manifested in the flesh”. The mystery of Godliness begins with God Himself becoming a Man. Jesus Christ wasn’t just a man. He is God come completely in the flesh as a whole Man (John 1:1). Denying Jesus Christ’s full humanity then is to deny Him (1 John 4:1-3).

“Justified in the Spirit” When Jesus Christ was baptized by John according to God’s commandment God sent His Spirit upon Him (thus justifying Him) and declaring Him as His Beloved Son (Matt. 3:13-17). That is why everyone who also obeys God; by repenting of their sins and believing in Jesus is likewise justified by the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit of God (Acts 5:32; Rom. 8:9).

“Seen by angels” God created the angels to serve Him and to glorify Him, and thus by default serve and glorify His Son. That is why angels were present there at Jesus Christ’s Incarnation as His heavenly witnesses; both praising God in the heavens and telling the wise men on earth, of His Incarnation (Luke 2:8-14). It was also angels who ministered to Jesus in His weakened mortal state after His temptation and trial with the devil (Matt. 4:11). And again during Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane's garden Jesus warned His disciples not to try to stop it saying, He could pray to His Father and that God would immediately send twelve legions of angels to end His arrest if He so desired it (Matt. 26:53). Nonetheless Christ wanted to do His Father's Will as His own; so that through His crucifixion death we all could have remission of all our sins and be brought to life when we believe In His Person. And so it is at the empty Tomb when Jesus having already risen from the dead that angels are there to tell the disciples of Christ's resurrection. Therefore so called angelic "orders" mean nothing in the light of the Son of God’s arrival (Col. 2:18-19; Heb. 1:13-14).

“Preached among the Gentiles” If God had intended only to redeem the Jews; Jesus Christ would’ve never been proclaimed by the will of God to the Gentiles (Read Acts 10). But God has ordained that Jesus Christ be preached to everyone, everywhere. For Jesus Christ is Savior of the whole world (John 3:16-17; 1 Tim. 4:10). He is not just the Savior of the Jews or the Caucasian Gentiles; Jesus Christ is both Savior and Lord of everyone who repents and believes (Mark 1:15).

“Believed on in the world” Jesus Christ isn’t only proclaimed in the world He is our Living Lord and Savior who is being believed on in the world, by both Jews and Gentiles. And this from ethnicity's and backgrounds as diverse as creation itself! Therefore it is our re-born persons by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Person that gives testimony to the Living reality of His Glorious Person and Life (Titus 3:4-7).

“Received up into glory” After Jesus rose from the grave He spent forty days amongst the disciples before He ascended back to the Father in the presence of the Apostle’s (Acts 1:1-11). Resuming His Eternal Heavenly Place at the right hand of God the Father, now as our Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16) and Advocate (1 John 2:1). Waiting till all His enemies are put under His feet (1 Cor. 15:25).

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.