1 Timothy 3:16 NIV
[16] “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.” Hu
First, a Bible “mystery” is different from all other mysteries.
Meta defines a mystery like this…
Definition
1. “Something unexplained or unknown”: A mystery is an event, situation, or phenomenon that cannot be fully understood or explained, often due to a lack of information or evidence.
2. “Enigmatic or puzzling”: Mysteries often involve enigmatic or puzzling elements that challenge our understanding or interpretation.
3. “Intriguing or thought-provoking”: Mysteries can be intriguing or thought-provoking, inspiring curiosity and encouraging exploration or investigation.”
These definitions are inadequate and incomplete to explain Biblical mysteries.
“A “mystery” in the New Testament is something that had at one time been hidden but is now revealed to God’s people.” (gotquestions.com – article: What is the mystery of God referred to in the Bible?)
“The apostle Paul used the word mystery 21 times in his Epistles. In each case, the “mystery” involved a wonderful declaration of spiritual truth, revealed by God through divine inspiration. A mystery is that “which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:5). (gotquestions.Com – article… What is the mystery of God referred to in the Bible?)
Revelation of the mystery of godliness answers the question, “How can a holy God accept and have fellowship with sinful people?”
God has a way for sinful humans to approach Him and be acceptable to Him that was hidden from the beginning of time but has now been revealed.
“The Bible tells us that the mystery of God is Jesus Christ: “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2–3). (gotquestions.com article… What is the mystery of God referred to in the Bible?)
Who JESUS is and what He did He do that is the key to our understanding of the reason God has freely forgiven our sin and accepted us into His family as His beloved sons and daughters?
Let’s examine, step by step, wha Paul said about the mystery referred to in this passage of Scripture…
1 Timothy 3:16 NIV
[16] “… 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.”
“He appeared in the flesh… “
Despite all the objections to the historical reality of Jesus, there is enough secular evidence to authenticate the Bible’s witness that Jesus is a real person who was born in Bethlehem and died by crucifixion in Jerusalem, not a mythical figure of someone’s imagination.
However, He was more than a mere human.
Jesus claimed to have been pre-existent before He was sent by the Father.
John 3:13 NIV
[13] “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.”
John 16:28 NIV
[28] “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
How did Jesus prove that what He said was true? He affirmed in His human life everything that the prophets wrote about Him before it happened…
Luke 18:31-33 NIV
[31] Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. [32] He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; [33] they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
…and He was and did everything they prophesied.
Luke 24:6-8 NIV
[6] “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” [8] Then they remembered his words.”
Luke 24:25-27 NIV
[25]” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
So, how was the truth of Jesus’ claims about Himself vindicated?
… was vindicated by the Spirit…
Romans 1:4 NIV
[4] and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Jesus could not raise Himself from the dead. Death could not hold Him only if He spoke the truth. The resurrection of Jesus has been attacked and tested by unbelievers who have had to reach the conclusion that it is impossible to disprove the resurrection. (Frank Morrison – “Who Moved the Stone?”)
… was seen by angels…
Why is it important to for Paul to testify that angels saw Jesus after His resurrection? Angels were the messengers who told the women who came to the tomb that Jesus was alive. How did they know? Who would believe their testimony if the were not eyewitnesses?
The angels were the ones who sat in the tomb in the very spot where the body of Jesus had been lying. His body was gone. He had risen. They had seen Him.
… was preached among the nations…
Jesus gave His disciples the commission to take the good news of salvation to all the nations of the world. Poised to leave them to return to the Father, He instructed them…
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
[18] “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you… ”
…and promised that He would always be with them.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In the first generation after His return to heaven, the apostles, and especially Paul, despite massive resistance and persecution, took the gospel to the known world. Since then, the message of Jesus has been preached and believed throughout the generations and on every continent on earth.
Mark 16:20 NIV
[20] “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”
… was believed on in the world…
There is no need to verify the power of the gospel to impact the lives of every person who has believed the message. Since faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the message of Jesus, the Bible has been translated into most languages on earth. Through the internet, every person who has a cellphone has access to a free copy of the Scriptures in some language they can understand and read.
… was taken up in glory.”
Acts 1:8-9 NIV
[8]” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” [9] After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
As much as the disciples were witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection, they also saw Him return to heaven. His ascension was a visible event so that they could testify to the world that they saw Him go.
Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised, the apostles interpreted and wrote the Scriptures that give us understanding of all the events surrounding Jesus’ life and death on earth.
Mark 16:19 NIV
[19] “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.”
Paul gave his readers a resume of the all that Jesus accomplished by His life, death, and resurrection as the solid ground for believing and receiving a new life. Jesus is the “mystery of godliness” revealed, the only way to be freed from the sin that condemns us, and to live new lives of trust and obedience to Jesus through the power if the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Romans 5:1-2 NLT
[1] “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. [2] Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”