STUDIES IN I TIMOTHY- PART 14

               1/28/07

Intro: Ch. 3:16—this is core of the book of Timothy.

The Local church is to function as a structural and foundational

Unit to declare the truth of the Christian faith (vs.15).

I. An examination of the opening line of vs.16-

1) “without controversy” =NKJV  “beyond all question”=NIV

“by common confession”= NASV    Literally –“confessedly”

2) “great is the mystery….”- to have value, quality

3) “godliness” – see 4:7 – a mystery that produces godliness

II. Paul lists 6 specific events concerning Jesus

Christ that are professed by the church of Living God.

Paul borrowed words to “hymn”-

1) It is an early confessional statement (creed)

2) Paul refers to material found in primary documents of

four Gospels and Acts of the Apostles

3) Gospel of Luke and Acts were written before I Timothy.

 Paul borrowed from 3 sources  1.Eyewitnesses

    2. Gospel of Luke     3- Revelation- Gal.1:11-17

4) Thus, Paul writes of events in Jesus’ life as documented

and described in 4 Gospels and well known in 1^st Century.

5) This confessional statement is to correct recent heresies

already showing up in local churches (Ephesus).

See Acts 20:29-30 – 5 years earlier

III. The 6 items may be viewed as outlining high

points of Christian message.

Incarnation, Vindication, Observation, Proclamation, Affirmation,

Exaltation.