Paul's Gospel Hymn of Praise

Sometimes reading a passage from the Bible can seem familiar or even mundane.  Other times we can blip right over it and miss the deep levels of meaning within the simple lines.  Such was the case the other morning when I read 1 Timothy 3:16:

God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified by the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.

This is in verse form so it must have been an early Creed or Hymn.  Think of that for a moment.  You are participating in an ancient song that has been passed down for two millennia!

But let's unpack the meaning of this hymn then marvel at the great mystery of godliness.

"God was manifested in the flesh"  —  First, this strikes against any Gnostic who would say that matter is evil and thus God could not have *Really* come in a human body.  It also strikes against the modern liberal who says that Jesus was a nice man, a good man, but God is something that you make up in your own mind subjectively.  Now think about this a while longer; let the full importance of these brief words amaze your heart and mind.  The first 18 verses of John 1 should jump to mind: "He dwelt among us!"  Another translation says, "He tabernacled [pitched a tent] among us!"  God with us!  Emmanuel!  It also points to Matthew 1 as well as Luke 2.  Jesus Christ, Son of God, became Son of Man.  He who had always existed suddenly became!  Think also about such humiliation:  The Infinite God condensed and confined within a span of 33 years and the measure of a mortal body.  For us and for our salvation!

"Justified by the Spirit"  —  Justified could be translated "Vindicated."  Jesus began His life on earth by the direct action of the Spirit overshadowing Mary.  He started His earthly ministry with the Spirit descending upon Him at baptism in the form of a dove.  At the end of His ministry Jesus was accused and condemned as a sinner but the Spirit of God vindicated Him by raising Him from the dead.

"Seen by angels"  —  Consider Him who dwelt in Heaven on whose face the angel dare not gaze.  Now a little lower than the angels.  Angels which sang at creation (Job 38:7) and will shout and sing at the end of this age (Rev 5: 8 - 11), oversaw and directly interacted with earth at His birth, during His temptation, in the midst of His agony in the Garden, at His resurrection and then at His ascension into Heaven.  And even now, we are told that God is showing off His spectacular creation, the Church, to celestial beings.  Eph 3:10.

"Preached among the Gentiles"  —  Consider how this is the direct fulfillment of Gen 12:2 - 3, "...all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."   Consider how it is a blessing that you who were once far off are now brought into His Kingdom and accepted in the Beloved!

"Believed on in the world"  —  His kingdom is advancing!  Satan and the host of darkness team up and work the world up into a lather to oppose the spread of the gospel, but God's Word goes forth and here and there folks believe.  This should encourage us to speak, for how can they believe unless someone speaks!

"Received up in glory"  —  This happened in front of His disciples eyes (Acts 1:9).  And now this Jesus is in Heaven with the glory that He had before the incarnation and now crown with extra honor for completing the Father's task  (Phil 2:9 - 11).