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1 Timothy 3:16 (All) – All About Jesus

Picture of Jesus holding two children by the hand, walking toward church (Grok)

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

He appeared in the flesh,
    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.

Summary: Looking back at the whole passage allows us to consider what it really is.   

Before we move on, let’s take a moment to look at this verse as a whole. 

Paul doesn’t explain where this saying or poem came from or how it was used. At the time Paul was writing this, there was no “New Testament” as we know it today. Instead, they seem to have relied heavily on ‘word of mouth’ and the Holy Spirit. 

Paul’s entire letter to Timothy is essentially a collection of instructions on how to run a church. The “sayings” provide foundational truths like “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) and “Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). 

This passage goes a bit further. 

It sounds almost like a hymn or perhaps a creed. If it is a creed, a formal statement of beliefs, then it is quite complete. God’s Son becomes flesh, is vindicated, seen, preached, believed, and exalted. If you had to fit an explanation of what Christianity is all about on the back of a business card, it is hard to improve on 1 Timothy 3:16. 

The only thing missing are the explanations Scripture gives of how it all works. Which raises the question, “What is needed to be saved?” Do you need to know what repentance is to repent? Does a person need to understand how sanctification works to be sanctified? 

Or, is it all about Jesus?

Is the Scripture true that says “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”? (Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32)

Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) Is it any more complicated than all that? 

From the standpoint of an overseer, yes. They have to be able to discern the good from the bad. Much of what is in Paul’s letter to Timothy addresses this topic. Yet, when it comes to our faith in Jesus as individuals, is it about what we know or who we know? 

Application: Trust in Jesus.  

Food for Thought: From the standpoint of the average believer who is not a church leader or a theologian, what is the most important thing for them to know? 

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1 Timothy 3:16g – Glory, Glory! 

[He] was taken up in glory.

Summary: To be ‘taken up in glory’ suggests that someone was there to give glory to Jesus. Who, what, and how become the quest in this meditation.

The last line of Paul’s poetic description of “the mystery from which true godliness springs” is that Jesus was “taken up in glory.” 

Luke describes it this way: 

“On one occasion, while he [Jesus] was eating with them [the disciples] gathered around him and asked [a question. After he answered,] he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:4-9)

While his departure is clearly impressive, the glory is not at all obvious. We don’t see the honor, praise, and worship that we might expect to see. 

At the time of Jesus’ ascension, he had just successfully completed the most dangerous rescue mission possible: He had saved the human race from complete destruction (Romans 5:8-9). 

From our perspective, here on earth, Jesus’ ascension may have seemed like a loss. If they did think to give Jesus honor, praise, and worship while he was ascending, they were a small group. The rest of the world was oblivious. In fact, there were people who hadn’t seen Jesus alive and were glad he was “dead.” 

So what does “taken up in glory” mean? 

I am reminded (again) of Elisha the prophet when he was staying at Dothan, and the Arameans surrounded the town to trap and kill him. His servant was terrified by the imposing army, but Elisha seemed unbothered. To reassure his servant, he prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17). Then the text says: 

“Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). What we don’t see in the ascension story is the army of God and the angels and heavenly hosts praising Jesus (Psalm 148:2).

To get a better idea of who Jesus is, Paul writes that Christ was seated at the right hand of God in the heavenly realm, “ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion,” and “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:21-22). 

Application: All praise and glory and honor to Jesus Christ, our King.  

Food for Thought: What is different between the praise that comes from heavenly beings and the praise from earth-bound humans?

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1 Timothy 3:16a – Unusual Clarity

A portrait of Jesus Christ against a backdrop of confusion (Grok)

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:

Summary: Paul is pointing us to a ‘mystery’ that only God understands the answer to. For our part, it is enough to see and believe.   

It must be a challenge, even for God, to communicate with us. After all, God is an eternal being (Psalm 90:4). His ‘living memory’ spans all of time. He created everything there is (Genesis 1:1), which means that even our highest form of math and the farthest reaches of our science barely scratch the surface of God’s knowledge. 

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1 Timothy 3:15b – Family Portrait

A portrait of God’s family. The picture frame is gold and ornate. The picture shows Jesus in the background, arms out, embracing his family. There is a holy glow emanating from him. The people in front of him are his family; all ages, all races. (Grok)

…  God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 

Summary: God’s Word paints a picture connecting three things into one very important picture.   

Personally, I enjoy the verses like this one. In this passage, Paul provides us with a definition. In fact, he provides us with three! He ties together three important points in a simple equation. 

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1 Timothy 3:14-15a – Good Conduct

Picture of a "Good Conduct" award. (Grok)

Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household…

Summary: Yes, God cares about us and what we do. Paul helps us understand what God expects of us.    

What a blessing that Paul took time to write down his ‘instructions’ for God’s household! 

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