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Manly Luscombe Commentary on NT

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.

1. Godliness - What is godliness? Can we be godly? How can we possess godliness when we are sinful?

2. God - Who is being described in this passage? Is Jesus God? If Jesus is God, then who is the Father? Is the Holy Spirit God? To what does the word "God" allude?

3. Flesh - How is flesh used in the Bible? Does this word always mean our physical body of bone and muscle?

4. Justified - How are we justified? Since Jesus was without sin, why was he justified?

5. Angels - List some times that angels helped Jesus while he was on earth. what is the work of an angel? Are angels active in the world today?

6. Preached - What is the purpose of preaching? Do most sermons fulfill the purpose God intended?

7. Gentiles - Who are Gentiles? What makes preaching to Gentiles different from the Law of Moses?

8. Believed - How do we come to believe? Why do some not believe? Does belief alone save us? List some kinds of faith mentioned in the New Testament.

9. Glory - What is the glory described here? What is glory? Who will be received into glory? Who will not enter glory?

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See also 1 Timothy 3:16 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    1 TIMOTHY 3:16 o[j {A} The reading which, on the basis of external evidence and transcriptional probability, best explains the rise of the others is o[j. It is supported by the earliest and best unci...

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Timothy 3:16. _AND, WITHOUT CONTROVERSY_] Και ὁμολογουμενες· _And confessedly, by general consent_, it is a thing which no man _can_ or _ought to dispute_; any phrase of this kind expresses t...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    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. GREAT IS THE MYSTERY - On the meaning of the wo...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    III. CONCERNING THE HOUSE OF GOD CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The overseer (1 Timothy 3:1)_ 2. The deacon (1 Timothy 3:8) 3. The house of God and the mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:14)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    (_c_) 1 Timothy 3:14. THE AIM OF THE INSTRUCTIONS. The purpose of such directions, written lest Paul's visit be delayed, is to teach men proper behaviour in God's household (_cf._ Hebrews 3:6), the Ch...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH (1 Timothy 3:1-7)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. confessedly. Greek. _homologoumenos_. Only here. GREAT. Emph. GODLINESS. See 1 Timothy 2:2. GOD. The Revised Version prints "He Who", and adds in margin, " _Theos_ (God) rests o...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _without controversy_ We may render, AND CONFESSEDLY MIGHTY IS THAT HOLY TRUTH REVEALED, the very grain and fibre of a reverent Christian life, which counts all as -holy ground," for Christ is -all in...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    The important variants in this verse require close attention. θεός of the rec. text is found in CcD2cKLP and the vast majority of cursives; but it has no support from the versions, and the earliest fa...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΟΜΟΛΟΓΟΥΜΈΝΩΣ (G3672) _adv._ бесспорно, несомненно, с общего согласия. Это _praes. part._ обозначающее единодушие христиан (Kelly; ЕСС, 129f). ΕΎΣΈΒΕΙΑ (G2150) набожность, праведность, религия. Это о...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2230 THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS 1 Timothy 3:16. _Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH, &C.— See the parallel passages: _The Word, that was God, dwelt among us; and we have seen his glory,_ John 1:1; John 1:14. _He was manifested, and came in the flesh, who...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    IMPORTANCE OF INSTRUCTIONS 1 Timothy 3:14-16 _TEXT 3:14-16_ 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; 15 but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    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 in...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    5 This passage is primarily intended to break down the bounds in which salvation had hitherto been confined. The testimony of past eras is no basis on which to build in this era. The testimony to the...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    3 Translators have experienced much difficulty with this opening sentence, because it seemed to lack the principal verb. The A V adds _ so do_, the Revisers _ so do I now_. It is very seldom that any...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:16 to (a-23) Or 'has been seen of.' God (m-9) I do not enter on the criticism of this text. It very likely should read 'He who has,' &c....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    CONCERNING THE OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH 1-7. The fourth charge to Timothy, in respect to presbyters....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    WITHOUT CONTROVERSY] rather, 'as we confess'; and then the Apostle quotes some words of an early confession of the Christian faith: 'He who was incarnate; whose righteousness was made manifest; who wa...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW TO BE A LEADER IN THE CHURCH 1 TIMOTHY _IAN MACKERVOY_ CHAPTER 3 WHAT AN *ELDER MUST BE LIKE (3:1-7) V1 Anyone who aims to be a leader in the church desires a good task. That is true. V2 But...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND WITHOUT CONTROVERSY GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. — “_And_ is not simply copulative, but heightens the force of the predication, Yes, _confessedly great is the mystery”_ (Ellicott) — for the...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 12 THE RELATION OF HUMAN CONDUCT TO THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. - 1 Timothy 3:14 ST. PAUL here makes a pause in the Epistle. He has brought to a close some of the principal directions which he...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    The connexion of thought lies in a feeling that the lofty terms in which the Church has been just spoken of may demand a justification. _The truth_ of which the Church is στύλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα is not a...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    These general directions will serve you as a guide in the administration of the Church until you see me. Your charge is one of transcendent importance. The Church is no human institution: it is the ho...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    QUALIFICATIONS OF CHURCH OFFICIALS 1 Timothy 3:8 Younger men, referred to as deacons, were appointed to subordinate tasks, especially the relief of the poor, Acts 6:1. Though their service was less i...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Turning to the government of the Church, the apostle deals with two orders, bishops and deacons. The bishop is an overseer, whose duty it is to watch over the flock. The apostle describes the qualific...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    PERSONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO TIMOTHY Paul hoped he would soon be able to visit with Timothy in person about the organization of the church and actions of those who make it up. However, he knew travel was...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (8) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, (k) justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, receive...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Mystery of piety, meaning the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God: and so in most Greek copies, and in St. John Chrysostom we read, God appeared in the flesh. [6] --- Taken up into glory, by...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (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 u...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    1 Timothy 1:1-20. We enter now on the confidential communications of the apostle to some of his fellow-labourers, and tonight on the epistles to Timothy. The two have much in common, but they have als...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _‘THE CHURCH TO TEACH, THE BIBLE TO PROVE’_ ‘The Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.’ 1 Timothy 3:15 The Bible is not one book; it is a library of books, written by differ...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _MYSTERY IN RELIGION_ ‘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 th...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    16_Great is the mystery of godliness _Again, here is another enhancement. That the truth of God might not, through the ingratitude of men, be less esteemed than it ought, he extols its value, by stati...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The apostle next points out to Timothy the qualities necessary for a bishop or a deacon, as well as for the wife of the latter. [4] He supposes here that there were some who desired to undertake this...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WITHOUT CONTROVERSY GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS,.... 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...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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 int...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _These things_ Concerning the character of persons fit to be intrusted with the office of bishops or deacons; _I write, hoping to come to thee shortly_ It seems evident from hence, that Paul intended...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS; that great mystery of the manifestation of God in human nature, of which the apostle proceeds to speak. It is a mystery, as having been hitherto hidden in the secret counsels...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE PURPOSE OF PAUL'S LETTER AND A DOXOLOGY....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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 INT...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    If before we have seen personal conduct that is to be consistent with assembly character, this chapter, while dealing with personal character still, connects it directly with the order of the assembly...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “BY COMMON CONFESSION”: By consent of all, undenabily, most certainly. 1 TIMOTHY 3:16 “GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS”: Of great moment, of great weight, sublime, majestic, important. The term “mys...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-16 The church is the house of God; he dwells there. The church holds forth the Scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as a pillar holds forth a proclamation. When a church ceases to be the pillar a...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    OLBGrk; AND WITHOUT CONTROVERSY GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: the various use of the particle kai in the Greek, which we translate _and, _ maketh it doubtful what is the force of it here, whether...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus reason He sent the Word, that He might be manifested to the world; and He, being despised by the people [of the Jews], was, when preached by the Apostles, believed on...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Timothy 3:16 And G2532 controversy G3672 great G3173 is G2076 (G5748) mystery G3466 godliness G2150 God G2316

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Timothy 3:16. WITHOUT CONTROVERSY. ‘ _Confessedly'_ answers better to the purely affirmative element of the Greek word. IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. As interpreted by the language of this Epistle,...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WITHOUT CONTROVERSY (ομολογουμενως). Old adverb from the participle ομολογουμενος from ομολογεω. Here only in N.T. "Confessedly."GREAT (μεγα). See Ephesians 5:32. "A great mystery."THE MYSTERY OF...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    MYSTERY (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 13:11). _ ANGELS (_ See Scofield) - (Hebrews 1:4). _ WORLD Greek, "kosmos", means "mankind". ( See Scofield) - ...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    1 Timothy 3:16 I. Note the facts recorded. These you will perceive to be points in the life of our Lord, commencing with His incarnation, and, reaching through the intermediate period, to the time of...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Qualifications of elders and deacons. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Satan. CONCLUSION: Those having places of authority in the church must be blameless, not lying under any scandal, watchful ag...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Timothy 3:1. _This is a true saying,_ an indubitable word, _if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work,_ a laudable sphere of labour and usefulness. But by the idea of a primiti...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    NO ONE CAN DENY. The secret is the disclosure to mankind of practical religion (1 Corinthians 2:6-10). No one can deny the claims of Christianity are tremendous!!! HE APPEARED. The Logos took a human...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _And without doubt great is the mystery of godliness._ MYSTERY I shall deliver the nature of the thing itself in this definition, viz., that a mystery is truth revealed by God above the power of nat...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 1 TIMOTHY 3:14 Purpose of Writing: Behavior in the Church. Paul states the purpose of his letter and reveals its central focus. HOW ONE OUGHT TO BEHAVE in the church summarizes the i...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 1 TIMOTHY 3:16 Paul offers a poetic exposition of the gospel—perhaps a hymn—whose source is unknown. MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. See note on v. 9. GREAT INDEED, WE CONFESS

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 _Faithful is the saying _for _this is a true saying_,_ _A.V.; _seeketh _for _desire_,_ _A.V. FAITHFUL IS THE SAYING (see above, 1 Timothy 1:15, note). This manifestly refers...

  • The Typology of Scripture by Patrick Fairbairn

    Ver. 16. The more immediate reason, obviously, which led the apostle to bring so prominently out the spiritual and elevated idea he had just presented of the church of Christ, was to impress upon the...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Tonight we will be studying First Timothy three and four. It is interesting as Paul writes to Timothy on several occasions, he uses phrases that are interesting to me. He said, This is a faithful sayi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 15:47; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 1 John 1:2; 1 John 3:5; 1

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Without controversy [ο μ ο λ ο γ ο υ μ ε ν ω ς]. Lit. confessedly. N. T. o. The mystery of godliness [τ ο τ η ς ε υ σ ε β ε ι α ς μ υ σ τ η ρ ι ο ν]. (a) The connection of thought is with the truth ...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The mystery of godliness — Afterwards specified in six articles, which sum up the whole economy of Christ upon earth. Is the pillar and ground — The foundation and support of all the truth taught in h...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    Our apostle having exhorted Timothy in the preceding verses to behave himself worthily in the church of God, and as. pillar, supporting, maintaining, and upholding the truths of God, in this verse he...

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Old Testament