INTRODUCTION

1. Paul writes to Timothy in this letter about “behavior in the household of God.”

a. Not merely behavior “in church.” Certainly not behavior in the “church building.”

b. The church (ekklesia) consists of those who have been called into fellowship with Jesus Christ.

c. So Paul’s instruction is broad, and here pertains to the conduct of Christians, the qualification of elders, and sound doctrine.

2. The church is the pillar and support (bulwark) of the truth.

a. Christ is the truth (John 14:6). He is the embodiment of the ultimate and final revelation of God (Heb. 1:1-2). The truth is found in the revealed message of the gospel (John 17:17).

b. Not that the truth itself would collapse apart from the church. The truth is not dependent on the church for either its existence or its correct interpretation. The Roman Catholic Church with its concept of Tradition holds this view.

c. Rather it is the task of the church in the world to proclaim the gospel to the world and to defend it.

3. Great is the mystery of godliness.

a. Godliness means piety, religion. It is the religion that the household of God confesses. This is what we as believers confess.

b. Possibly a part of hymn (evident from the rhyme and rhythm when read in the Greek).

c. “Mystery” refers to the secret or hidden things of God that are now revealed, made known in the gospel (Rom. 16:25).

d. Each line refers to Jesus Christ. It is all about Him.

I. Revealed (manifested) in the flesh

A. Refers to His humanity (John 1:14)

B. His incarnation was necessary for our redemption (Heb. 2:14-18)

II. Vindicated (justified) in the Spirit

A. He was proven (demonstrated) to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead (Rom. 1:4).

B. In the Spirit…

1. He is now alive in the spirit (Heb. 7:23-25).

2. *It is by the Holy Spirit that He now lives (Rom. 8:11).

C. His vindication is through apostolic testimony – those who were witnesses (Acts 2:32; 10:40f; 26:23, 26).

III. Seen by angels

A. At His birth (Luke 2:13)

B. At His resurrection (Luke 24:4)

C. At His ascension (Acts 1:9-11)

D. Worshipped by angels (Heb. 1:6; Phil. 2:9-10)

E. His sufferings and glories revealed through the HS, into which angels long to look (1 Pet. 1:12)

IV. Proclaimed among the nations

A. Both Jews and Gentiles (Rom. 1:16)

B. Was preached in all creation (Col. 1:23)

C. As Jesus commissioned (Mark 16:15-16)

V. Believed on in the world

A. To which He was sent to save (John 3:16)

B. Those who believed on Him became children of God (John 1:12-13).

VI. Taken up in glory

A. His ascension (Mark 16:19)

B. His exaltation at God’s right hand (Acts 2:33-35; Heb. 2:9)