14I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon, [3:15] but if I delay, you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the assembly of the living God — the pillar and foundation of the truth. [3:16] And confessedly great 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.
1TI 3:14-16
The Mystery of Godliness
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, the (household) was the foundational social unit, encompassing not just family members but also slaves, freedpersons, and dependents. The household was a microcosm of societal order, governed by codes of conduct that ensured harmony and honor. The (church) is framed here as the 'household of God,' a spiritual that mirrors this structure but transcends it, being 'the pillar and foundation of the truth.' This metaphor would resonate with listeners familiar with the household as a locus of authority and stability. The 'mystery of godliness' refers to Christ’s incarnation and exaltation, a revelation that aligns with Jewish and Greco-Roman expectations of divine intervention and vindication. Angels, nations, and the world are invoked as witnesses, emphasizing the cosmic scope of this mystery. The language of 'confessedly great' underscores its public, undeniable nature, fitting for a culture that valued public honor and communal acknowledgment.
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How other translations render this
1TI 3:14
- KJV
- These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
- BSB
- Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these things
- Koinōnos
- I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you soon,
1TI 3:15
- KJV
- But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
- BSB
- in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in Godʼs household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
- Koinōnos
- but if I delay, you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the assembly of the living God — the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1TI 3:16
- KJV
- And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
- BSB
- By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
- Koinōnos
- And confessedly great 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.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1TI 3:15
- [the] household:The word translated 'household' here refers not just to a physical building, but to all the people who live within it, including family members, servants, and dependents, functioning as a single unit.
- to conduct oneself,:The phrase translated 'to conduct oneself' describes one's entire way of life, encompassing all actions, behaviors, and interactions within a community.
- [the] church:The term translated 'church' originally referred to a formally summoned assembly of citizens, not necessarily a religious gathering, emphasizing its organized and deliberate nature.
1TI 3:16
- of godliness:The word translated 'godliness' carried the sense of proper reverence and devotion, not just towards God, but also towards parents and authorities, reflecting a well-ordered life.