Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
1 Timothy 3:16 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 16. 16And 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.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse recites a great mystery of godliness centered on Christ's manifestation, vindication, proclamation, reception, and glory.
The household exists to uphold truth, and the confession names Christ
This verse is one part of that explanation in 1 Timothy 3:14–16. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- 1 Timothy 3:14–16
Read 1 Timothy 3:16 with 3:14–16. This verse recites a great mystery of godliness centered on Christ's manifestation, vindication, proclamation, reception, and glory. The complete unit establishes this movement: The instructions teach conduct in the living God's household, which supports the truth, and a received confession celebrates Christ's manifestation, vindication, witness, proclamation, worldwide faith, and glory.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The writer states the reason for the instructions and centers household order on living truth and the confessed story of Christ rather than office prestige. Within that movement, this verse recites a great mystery of godliness centered on Christ's manifestation, vindication, proclamation, reception, and glory.
Read 1 Timothy 3:14–16 together
Why these verses belong together: The writing purpose, household conduct, support of truth, and Christ-centered confession explain the letter's community horizon.
Verse 14. 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
Verse 15. 15 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.
Verse 16. 16 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.
Follow the Context
- The writer hopes to come soon but prepares for delay.
- The recipient must know how one ought to conduct oneself in God's household.
- The household is the living God's assembly, pillar and support of truth.
- A great confessed mystery is introduced.
- The six-line confession moves from manifestation through Spirit, angels, nations, world, and glory.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“God was manifest in the flesh”
In plain language: The KJV follows theos; earlier evidence supports hos, 'who was manifested,' still referring to Christ in context.
recites a great mystery of godliness centered on Christ's manifestation, vindication, proclamation, reception, and glory. Christian godliness is shaped by the confessed story of Christ rather than office prestige.
Why it matters: The wording carries interpretive or ethical risk that requires the full unit and its stated limits.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
The KJV reading does not authorize hiding manuscript evidence or claiming that doctrine depends on this variant alone.
What Remains True
Christian godliness is shaped by the confessed story of Christ rather than office prestige.
How It Can Shape Life
- Keep confession centered on Christ and disclose the textual variant honestly.
Teach It Back
Explain how 1 Timothy 3:16 contributes to 1 Timothy 3:14–16. Include what the surrounding verses add, the stated uncertainty, and what this verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read 1 Timothy 3:14–16 — God's Household Supports Truth and Confesses ChristSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
Theos, hos, and ho readings are attested; hos is preferred.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 1 Timothy 3:14–16, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/1Tim.txt, 3:14–16
Open the 1 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 1 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 1 Timothy PDF, 3:14–16 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 1 Timothy PDF ↗