Awake & Alive: 1 Timothy Reading Plan
Day 13
16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.
This verse and its hymn suffer greatly in English translation compared to the original Greek. The Greek uses a powerful play on words and ideas that paints a vivid picture of Christ’s eternal and all-encompassing nature. It also captures the Gospel’s profound beauty and simplicity, making it both easy to understand and deeply impactful.
This beautiful Gospel message is not only the work of God’s Spirit, but it’s also heralded by angels who long for Christ’s return. It’s a universal gift for all humanity who believe in Christ for redemption. Paul gives Timothy, and by extension the modern reader, an example of what it means to marvel at and preach the Gospel throughout one’s life.
It’s easy for any reader, including Timothy or the church at Ephesus, to lose sight of the Gospel’s central importance and beauty. As Paul continues through the Epistle, it becomes increasingly clear that the Gospel message must be continually pondered and serve as the call to worship. Failure to do so robs the church of its purpose and believers of the ability to develop, protect, and defend sound doctrine.