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1 Timothy 3:16 – Tell the Old, Old Story
There are many ways to, as the old gospel song says, “tell the old, old story”. Matthew begins with Jesus’s human DNA, while John begins with Jesus’s divine “DNA”. An yet both end up with complement narratives. Paul has a succinct description in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – the death, burial, and resurrection, and later in the chapter Jesus’s kingship. Paul records another telling that, like a song or poem lists the following 6 details, but not all in chronological order:
1. The birth of Jesus wherein God became incarnated in flesh.
2. The work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life which proved his identity, vindicating him before his accusers. This could be his miraculous ministry or his resurrection (Romans 1).
3. Jesus had angels visit and attend to him in various stages, the three mentioned are in the Bible are: 1) after the temptation in the wilderness, 2) during the garden scene, 3) and finally angels at the tomb.
4. Jesus’s life extends beyond his fleshly existence as the church is his body continuing to do all that Jesus began to do and teach, but now extended to preaching to all the world.
5. As Jesus made converts, described as believers and disicples, so also when the church preached Jesus, believers were likewise made.
6. Out of chronological order, but fitting to be listed last, is Jesus’s return to his Father where he is sitting at God’s right hand as our King.
When Paul lists these 6 points (or maybe more since some have multiple possibilities), this is possibly a song from that era. He calls them “the mystery of godliness”. The mystery of godliness describes the gospel of Jesus. This mystery is revealed information about how “God became man” so man can become like God. When noticing Paul’s order not being chronological, I looked for another structure. Notice the opposite nature of each cross-section (A,A”):
“And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great:
1 – A – BEGINNING INCARNATION: He was manifested in the flesh,
2 – B – RESULT OF MIRACLES AMONG UNBELIEVERS: vindicated in the Spirit,
3 – C – BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION: seen by angels,
4 – C’ – AFTER THE RESURRECTION: preached among the nations,
5 – B’ – RESULT OF MIRACLES AMONG BELIEVERS: believed on in the world,
6 – A’ – ENDING INCARNATION: taken up in glory.”
(CSB’17 1 Timothy 3:16)
There are many ways to teach the gospel: books, songs, poems, and a succinct 6 point outline.
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