1 Timothy 3:16

“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 “mystery” does not refer to something that can never been known, but rather to something that at one time had been hidden in God's plan, but is now revealed in the gospel. In the next line Paul will define this mystery of godliness.

1 Timothy 3:16 “He who was revealed in the flesh”: That is Jesus, who became flesh (John 1:14). This is. tremendous and sublime truth, the fact that God became man and yet was still God at the same time.

1 Timothy 3:16 “Was vindicated in the Spirit”: This appears to refer to Jesus' resurrection. While in the flesh, He was persecuted, maligned, and hated. He was put to death as. common criminal, yet He was vindicated to be the Son of God through His resurrection (Romans 1:3; Acts 3:14; Acts 7:52; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:31). The vindication of all His claims upon His resurrection.

1 Timothy 3:16 “Seen by angels”: “The mighty angelic hosts were witnesses to Christ during His earthly ministry at various times (birth, temptations, agony in the garden, resurrection)” (Kent p. 146).

1 Timothy 3:16 “Proclaimed among the nations”: (Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:15; Colossians 1:6; Colossians 1:23). By the time Paul writes this letter, the gospel had been preached for over 20 years to the nations.

1 Timothy 3:16 “Believed on in the world”: Not that everyone in the world believed in Him, but rather that people thorughout the world believed in Him, both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4; Acts 5:14; Acts 6:7; Acts 11:21; Acts 17:6).

1 Timothy 3:16 “Taken up in glory”: (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:2; Acts 1:11; Acts 1:22; John 17:5; 1 Peter 1:11; 1 Peter 1:21; 1 Peter 3:21; Daniel 7:13). “His resurrection, ascension, and second coming are all depicted as aspects of the glory in which Christ now moves” (Kent p. 146).