1 Timothy 3:8-16: a reflection

8Servants, in the same way, must be reverent, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for money, 9holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10Let them also first be tested; then let them serve if they are blameless. 11Their wives in the same way must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, and faithful in all things. 12Let servants be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For those who have served well gain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly, 15but if I wait long, that you may know how men ought to behave themselves in God’s house, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.

After giving instructions about those who serve in the church, Paul breaks, almost into song, with a great confession of the faith. Great indeed is the mystery of godliness: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. In a few words, Paul sums up the wonder at the heart of the faith: God revealed in the flesh, the great mystery of the gospel, from the incarnation to the ascension in glory.

Notice what Paul calls this: the mystery of godliness, and he calls it great. At the heart of the faith is a wonder that Paul can only call a great mystery: that God was revealed in the flesh, that the eternal God took on our humanity, was vindicated, seen, proclaimed, believed, and taken up in glory. This is no small or ordinary thing; it is the great mystery, the wonder at the center of the faith, the astonishing truth of God come in the flesh for our salvation.

That great mystery is worth pausing over with wonder, for we can grow so familiar with it that we lose the wonder of it. God revealed in the flesh, the eternal God taking on our humanity to save us, is a truth of astonishing depth, the great mystery of godliness. Do not let familiarity dull your wonder at this great mystery. Pause, as Paul paused, to marvel at it: God was revealed in the flesh, come among us, for us, and taken up in glory. This is the wonder at the heart of your faith, the great mystery of godliness; let it fill you with wonder and worship, rather than being taken for granted. The God who was revealed in the flesh for your salvation is worthy of your amazement; marvel at the great mystery of godliness, and let the wonder of God come in the flesh move you to worship.

Lord, after his instructions about those who serve in the church, Paul breaks into a great confession: great indeed is the mystery of godliness: he was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Help me pause over that great mystery with wonder, for I can grow so familiar with it that I lose the wonder of it. God revealed in the flesh, the eternal God taking on our humanity to save us, is a truth of astonishing depth, the great mystery of godliness. Do not let familiarity dull my wonder at this great mystery. Help me pause, as Paul paused, to marvel at it: you were revealed in the flesh, come among us, for us, and taken up in glory. This is the wonder at the heart of my faith, the great mystery of godliness; let it fill me with wonder and worship, rather than being taken for granted. You, who were revealed in the flesh for my salvation, are worthy of my amazement; help me marvel at the great mystery of godliness, Lord, and let the wonder of God come in the flesh move me to worship. Fill me with wonder at so great a mystery.