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.
Study Note
Study Note
'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.' This early Christian hymn fragment traces the career of Christ through six paired movements: incarnation-vindication, angelic witness-Gentile mission, world-faith-heavenly reception. The title 'mystery of godliness' (to tēs eusebeias mystērion) frames the Incarnation not as theological proposition but as revealed secret now made known — a usage that parallels 'the mystery of Christ' in Ephesians 3:4 and Colossians 1:27.
Other Translations
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety--God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!
And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory.
Cross References
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in …
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious …
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall …
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his …
The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like …
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall …
In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall …
But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come …
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, …