1 Timothy 3:16

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Timothy 3:14-16

The Purpose of Paul's letter and a Doxology. v. 14. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly; v. 15. but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. v. 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... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Timothy 3:14-16

VIIIWeightiness of the preceding admonition for the Church1 Timothy 3:14-1614These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how7 thou oughtest [one ought] to behave thyself [one’s self] in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: [,] God [Who] was8 manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:8-16

Qualifications of Church Officials 1 Timothy 3:8-16 Younger men, referred to as deacons, were appointed to subordinate tasks, especially the relief of the poor, Acts 6:1-15 . Though their service was less important, their character must be of the highest quality. The strength of a church is as much in the godliness of those who fill subordinate offices, as in its acknowledged leaders. The caretaker of a church should be a man of as high ideals as its chief pastor. Nothing is common or... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-16

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 qualifications necessary to fulfil the office: (1) character (verses 1Ti 3:2-3 ), (2) temperament (verses 1Ti 3:4-5 ), (3) experience (verse 1Ti 3:6 ), and (4) reputation (verse 1Ti 3:7 ). The description of the deacon has unquestioned reference to the order instituted in the early days, as recorded... read more

James Nisbet

James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - 1 Timothy 3:16

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 the world, received up into glory.’ 1 Timothy 3:16‘Without controversy’—i.e. by universal consent and beyond dispute—‘great is the mystery of godliness,’ literally, right worship; in other words, true religion. Confessedly, the mystery of Christianity is great! In the necessity of the case there must... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:1-16

In View Of What Christ Has Done Paul Lays Out The Battle Plan For The Future And Organises God’s Forces In Order To Ensure That His Church Will Be The Mainstay Of All That He Has Accomplished (1 Timothy 1:18 to 1 Timothy 3:16 ). Calling on Timothy to prepare for spiritual warfare (1 Timothy 1:18-20), he exhorts prayer for all men, and especially for all in high places, in order that the work of God might go forward peaceably among all men, for that was why He had sent His Mediator as a man... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:14-16

Paul Finishes The Section With An Emphasis On God’s Wondrous Purpose For The Church As It Acts As The Pillar And Mainstay For The Even More Wondrous Work Of Christ (1 Timothy 3:14-16 ). Paul now brings out why the success of the war of 1 Timothy 1:18 is so important. It is because the church that is being established and made sure, and is taking its full part in that warfare, is the mainstay of the truth concerning God’s amazing intervention in history in Christ Jesus. That is why the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:16

‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness (or ‘of obligation fulfilment’); He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Appeared to angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.’ Almost as an aside Paul now reveals the content of that truth. No one can have any doubt that the mystery of God’s activity, now revealed to both man and the heavenly beings (Ephesians 3:8-11), is great. Indeed it is almost beyond comprehension, and... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Timothy 3:14-16

( c) 1 Timothy 3:14-Nehemiah : . 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 Church, by which the truth is upheld and protected against error. And how great is that revealed truth with which our religion is entrusted! It is nothing less than Christ Himself ( John 14:6, Colossians 1:27), who was manifested in the Incarnation and vindicated by His Resurrection (... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 Timothy 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: the various use of the particle και in the Greek, which we translate and, maketh it doubtful what is the force of it here, whether it relates to the truth mentioned in the latter part of the former verse, or shows another reason why Timothy should have a care how he behaved himself in the house of God. If to the former, it is exegetical, and opens what he meant by truth, viz., the mystery of godliness, by which he means the gospel,... read more

Group of Brands