1 Timothy 3:16 Godliness Mystery

1 Timothy 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

There is something about the combination 3:16 in the New Testament. There are a number of texts worth learning with that address. 1 Timothy 3:16 refers to Christ and says Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. Some take it to be chronological - incarnation, miracles and resurrection, ascension, preaching of the gospel from Pentecost on, worldwide acceptance, Second Coming (in terms of his ascension). Several others deal with the six by splitting them into two sets of three. The first three refer to the life of the historical incarnate Jesus (appeared in a body; vindicated by the Spirit; seen by angels) the second three to his life once exalted (preached among the nations; believed on in the world; taken up in glory). Perhaps the best way to take them is to take them spacially and see them as being a series of three sets of contrasting pairs: Body/the Spirit Angels/nations The world/glory. Further, Hendriksen points out that the development is chiastic and cumulative. We move from the lower realm (He appeared in a body to the higher (was vindicated by the Spirit), from the higher was seen by angels to the lower was preached among the nations, from the lower was believed on in the world back up to was taken up in glory. Even where the lower element is involved there is throughout the six lines much glorifying of Christ. He appeared in a body yes, but that itself suggests a veiling of his glory; was preached among the nations – heralded, declared with gladness; believed on in the world with joy unto salvation. These are fundamental truths that must often be preached.