1 Timothy 3:16

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, etc.] What follows is so, the incarnation of Christ, his birth of a virgin, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in his person; this is a mystery, which though revealed, and so to be believed, is not to be discerned nor accounted for, nor the modus of it to be comprehended by reason: and it is a great one, next, if not equal, to the doctrine of a trinity of persons in the divine essence; and is a mystery of godliness, which tends to encourage internal and external religion, powerful and practical godliness in all the parts and branches of it; and is so beyond all dispute and doubt. God was manifest in the flesh; not God…”

“And--following up Ti1 3:15 : The pillar of the truth is the Church in which thou art required to minister; "AND (that thou mayest know how grand is that truth which the Church so upholds) confessedly (so the Greek for 'without controversy') great is the mystery of godliness: (namely), HE WHO (so the oldest manuscripts and versions read for 'God') was manifested in (the) flesh (He who) was justified in the Spirit," &c. There is set before us the whole dignity of Christ's person. If He were not essentially superhuman (Tit 2:13), how could the apostle emphatically declare that He was manifested in (the) flesh? [TREGELLES, Printed Text of the Greek New Testament]. (Joh 1:14; Phi 2:7; Jo1 1:2;…”

“And, without controversy - Undeniably, certainly. The object of the apostle is to say that the truth which he was about to state admitted of no dispute. Great is the mystery - On the meaning of the word “mystery,” see the notes on 1 Corinthians 2:7. The word means that which had been hidden or concealed. The meaning here is not that the proposition which he affirms was mysterious in the sense that it was unintelligible, or impossible to be understood; but that the doctrine respecting the incarnation and the work of the Messiah, which had been so long “kept hidden” from the world, was a subject of the deepest importance. This passage, therefore, should not be used to prove that there is…”

“The mystery of godliness - Afterwards specified in six articles, which sum up the whole economy of Christ upon earth. Is the pillar and ground - The foundation and support of all the truth taught in his church. God was manifest in the flesh - In the form of a servant, the fashion of a man, for three and thirty years. Justified by the Spirit - Publicly "declared to be the Son of God," by his resurrection from the dead. Seen - Chiefly after his resurrection. By angels - Both good and bad. Preached among the gentiles - This elegantly follows. The angels were the least, the gentiles the farthest, removed from him; and the foundation both of this preaching and of their faith was laid before his…”

“3:16 The short hymn or creed in this verse shows the theological richness of early Christian worship. • Jesus Christ is the only source of godliness. • vindicated by the Spirit: Christ’s resurrection (Rom 1:4) answers the apparent weakness of his life and death as a human, and affirms his teaching. • seen by angels: This emphasizes Jesus’ sovereign rule in the heavenly realm (see also Eph 1:21; Phil 2:9-11; Heb 1:3-4; 1 Pet 3:22; Rev 5:8-14). • announced to the nations: Christ’s provision of salvation and sovereign rule must be proclaimed and accepted in the earthly realm as well (cp. 1 Tim 2:1-7). • believed in throughout the world: The mission to the nations is successful, but it does not…”

“without: Heb 7:7 the mystery: Ti1 3:9; Mat 13:11; Rom 16:25; Co1 2:7; Eph 1:9, Eph 3:3-9, Eph 6:19; Col 2:2; Th2 2:7; Rev 17:5, Rev 17:7 God: Isa 7:14, Isa 9:6; Jer 23:5, Jer 23:6; Mic 5:2; Mat 1:23; Joh 1:1, Joh 1:2, Joh 1:14; Act 20:28; Rom 8:3, Rom 9:5; Co1 15:47; Gal 4:4; Phi 2:6-8; Col 1:16-18; Heb 1:3; Heb 2:9-13; Jo1 1:2; Rev 1:17, Rev 1:18 manifest: Gr. manifested, Jo1 3:5 justified: Isa 50:5-7; Mat 3:16; Joh 1:32, Joh 1:33, Joh 15:26, Joh 16:8, Joh 16:9; Act 2:32-36; Rom 1:3, Rom 1:4; Pe1 3:18; Jo1 5:6-8 seen: Psa 68:17, Psa 68:18; Mat 4:11, Mat 28:2; Mar 1:13, Mar 16:5; Luk 2:10-14, Luk 22:43, Luk 24:4; Joh 20:12; Act 1:10, Act 1:11; Eph 3:10; Pe1 1:12 preached: Luk 2:32; Act…”