# 36 2019 Devotion, 1 Tim.3:16. True Godliness! Read all of chapter 3. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
1 Timothy 3:16 “Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:”
Here we have another worthwhile saying that at first glance seems to be the first verse, but when you read the whole chapter it is more likely that all of chapter three is based on an early confession or hymn.
It also appears that this instruction for leadership is directed to married men. On a side note, the church we worked with in Africa does not allow single men to be ordained as pastors. Today many churches and some Christians apply these instructions to both men and women, single or married and there are churches and Christians who apply these instructions to only men. The jury is still out on this issue of leadership but what is important to know that both groups are dedicated followers of Jesus and and practice the whole gospel of Jesus!
The issues that Paul mentions in his instruction are: “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.” These characteristics bring respect and good rapport in the community, inside and outside the church.
Paul gives us the reasoning for his instruction: So that “you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” Here, Paul applies these characteristics to all followers of Jesus! This makes sense when we read: “the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:” and the poem that follows.
“He appeared in the flesh,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.”
Our true godliness comes by our belief in Jesus! Simple! Thank you Lord Jesus!
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Heavenhigh 