To help us understand today’s study, the entire chapter of 1 Timothy 3 should be read for context. But in 1 Timothy 3:16. we’re going to zoom in on the phrase, “the mystery of godliness” and understand what it means. We often think of godliness as a character trait, a state of being godly, but here, this definition doesn’t seem to make sense. We tend to think of godliness in the realm of pastoral care and career guidance, a form of character development.
But, what is the role of pursuing godliness in your life? What does your pursuit of godliness look like? What’s the connection between your behaviour and belief?
(A) The Models of Godliness: elders and deacons as examples in the church (1 Tim 3:1-13)
1 Timothy is a letter Paul writes to young Timothy where he speaks of the offices of elder and deacon. This is what he desires for Timothy to know regarding the church. Paul writes about the character of the those in various offices in the church — elders and deacons. We see how the qualities of an elder is largely character based, with 1 competency based qualification — “able to teach”. It is also important to note that the word “elder” (episkopos) has also been translated as overseer or bishop. Thus, what we commonly call pastor, bishop, overseer or elder belongs to the same category of word and is being referred to here.
The word “deacon” comes from the word “servant” and the qualifications for deacons also speak of their character (1 Tim 3:8-13). This person is also not addicted to a lifestyle that compromises their wisdom and discernment. Their wives (or “women”, as the translation goes), also should display a similar character — “dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” (1 Tim 3:11). Similarly there is a mention of managing their family (1 Tim 2:12). There’s no mention of corporate management but it speaks of managing their own household and the wisdom that comes with it.
Both elders and deacons seem to be tested with time, and seem to be doing the work before they are appointed (1 Tim 2:6,10). Not just anyone who is willing is appointed.
These two offices of leadership are fundamental in the church. These are also not secret offices, but are listed and even their qualifications are laid out for all to know and assess. Those appointed as elders and deacons are to be public figures who are role models for others in the church. He stresses character and very specific faith content competencies — able to teach, manage their households as they teach. The elder must be able to make plain what’s in God’s word. Deacons are to hold to the mystery of the faith. As they serve well, they grow in their conviction and become more rooted in what they believe (1 Tim 2:13). As deacons do a good job, they should also say that they are growing in confidence in their faith.
How did you learn to become a Christian? The people in your life play a more important part compared to just watching your pastors. The people in your life that teach you how to pray and read the Bible show you how to become more confident in your faith. Are you part of a church? Do you have Christians that are of a different age group that model godliness in different life stages for you?
(B) Manifested Godliness: godly belief and behaviour as the duty of church (1 Tim 3:14-15)
Paul desires that Timothy also knows how one ought to behave in the household of God. This letter is meant to shape behaviour (1 Tim 3:14-15). He draws attention to the “household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth”. Each of these phrases essentially describe the same thing — the church. In his mind, Christians don’t become godly outside of the work and space of the church.
The “household of Christ” is a family picture with Christ as the head. Just as how elders and deacons manage their families well, Christ, the head of the church, works for the good of the church.
The church is also to be a “pillar and buttress of the truth”. Her members are those who know what they believe and cling to truth. They defend against lies and false doctrines or error. Paul reminds Timothy, and also us, that godly conduct does not prove truth. Rather godliness protects and defends truth. Belief and behaviour testify to one another. Our life and godly living, and not qualifications like theses and seminary degrees, defends truth against lies.
Lastly, we are to remember that this is the “church of the living God”. Therefore, people outside of the church should be able to see that this is where the God who lives dwells. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14, when God’s people organise themselves in orderly worship, the non-Christians who see it can see and wonder if God is among them. There is a connection between doctrine and discipleship. What do people see when they look at your life? Will those around you say that something has changed?
Thus, Paul was clear that the church is where people learn to live in godliness as a household. It is also where you learn to hold up and out the truth and defend it against error.
From this chapter, we see that Paul thinks doctrine plays the following five roles in the life of the church:
Doctrine is for teaching (1 Tim 2:2).
Doctrine is for holding with a clear conscience (1 Tim 2:9).
Doctrine is for great confidence (1 Tim 2:13).
Doctrine is for sustaining and defense against error (1 Tim 2:15).
Doctrine is to be confessed (1 Tim 2:16).
Doctrine has these uses and this is why it is important to know and confess truths.
(C) The Mystery of Godliness: God’s salvation purposes in Christ for the past, present and future (1 Tim 3:14-16)
Paul ends with a hymn of faith or confession and 1 Tim 3:16 has six statements of doctrinal truth about Jesus. Firstly, he is manifested in the flesh, an event that happened in the past. It refers to the incarnation of Jesus. The great message of Christmas is not that Jesus came to earth like an alien. The great news is that Jesus, God, became a man. The God who is Spirit also took on flesh. We’ve spent the past two weeks talking about the Christ, not just the events of His life, but what His coming as a man meant in Colossians 1 and Philippians 2. As we read in Philippians 2 last week, did Jesus stop being a man? Not at all, not even when He ascended.
As John wrote in John 1:14, the Word became flesh and did not stop being God. This means that right now, in the presence of God, there is a piece of earth in heaven, in the union of the God-Man. If we call ourselves followers of Jesus, we also know that there is one in the presence of God who knows the power of God and also the frailty of man. This is the Jesus in whose name we pray every prayer.
The incarnation should be the most humbling thing for the Christian. We are not impressed that Jesus came to earth. Rather, we are humbled that He became like us. We should be humble and never arrogant and proud.
Next, he is vindicated by the Spirit, also speaking of something that happened in the past. The resurrection of the dead is spoken of here, and Paul also writes about it in Romans 1:4. And here, Jesus is proclaimed to be the Son of God.
Thus, the resurrection has a declarative, vindicative effect. In the resurrection, God was declaring to the whole world that Jesus is the Son of God. He is the new beginning, the bright and Morning Star and they are to pay attention to Him. He is what He claims to be. They prove who Jesus is.
If Jesus is vindicated by the Spirit, what does this mean for me? We may not be used to thinking in this way. It means that we are too. Now this is not something that we arrive at easily! It comes after thinking and meditating. It means that we can be secure and not afraid. We do not need to be insecure and worry about our jobs or status or identity. We are joined with Him and can never be separated from Him. He will not desert those He love. “One with Himself, I cannot die” is what we can sing confidently all the days of our lives.
The third statement speaks of Jesus being seen by angels, something in the past and also present. The life of Jesus was seen by angels. Angels appeared at both the beginning of His life and also His ascension. John 1:51 also tells us that Jesus is at the centre of heaven’s focus. He is the one that angels gaze upon in wonder and glory. The angels gazed upon Him as He lived his life on earth, even in the mundaneness of life. We should be stirred, not bored and amazed. The next time you think of a human experience, remember that Jesus lived it too. He came to be a man.
Jesus is also proclaimed among the nations, something that is also presently true (c.f. Matt 24:14). It should cause us to be ambitious and not lazy, hungry for His name and glory. What are we pursuing? A middle class comfortable life and retirement? Surely not.
Jesus is believed on in the world. Notice how Paul does not say that He is worshipped and served or magnified and glorified, even though those are all through. All that we’ve read above leads to Him being believed on. Peter also writes something similar in 1 Peter 1:8 — “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory”.
Surely this should make us faithful and not grow weary in doing good. We should press on! But maybe for some of us we need to take a step back and consider: have you believed on Christ Jesus? Not whether you’re going to church or if your family is Christian. Have you declared that Jesus is your Saviour?
Lastly, we read about how Jesus is taken up in glory. Luke writes about the ascension of Jesus in Acts 1:11, and though it makes clear that the event happened in the past, that is not the end of the story. He went up once in the presence of God but is that His final destination? There is a future element to it too. Acts 1:11 also tells us that He will come again in the same way.
But, earth is not His final destination either. Jesus is not done with our world! He will return in glory to complete all that He said. We should be thinking of the world in the light of His first coming and the second. This is why we live in the “end times”. We live between His first and second appearing. Our life is not a waste of time because He is going to come back, take us back with Him and then all things end.
We should anticipate the return of Christ. We should be people of hope, as people who look forward to the end and the redemption of all things. He will make all things new. We can be hopeful and not defeated.
Our doctrinal framework shapes a lot of things. It shapes how we understand Jesus but also how we live. To illustrate this, we can compare the stories of two popular science fiction series — Game of Throne and Lord of the Rings. There is no moral redemption in the universe of Game of Thrones. In contrast, promises are made and kept in Lord of the Rings. Characters make mistakes but there’s also redemption. Also, there’s a quest but also going home. Sad stories became unsad. This is not accidental, but it comes from Tolkien’s understanding and religious background.
How are you living? How well-grounded are you in doctrine and does it matter to you at all – why or why not? As we read Paul’s writings in this chapter, we are to see Jesus clearly and how it affects our past, present and future. Doesn’t this make all the things we cling to, small? Marriage is worth being faithful in? Work is not all there is? Beauty, sex and power is not worth building our lives on?
As we consider our Lord, the mystery of godliness, we hope that it shapes not just our now, but also our future. What is God calling you to do differently?