Message of the Week
Updated: Aug 29
The Little White Community Church
Scripture: 1st Timothy 3: 14-16
August 30, 2026
Message: “An Early Christian Hymn.”
by Pastor George Gnade
Introduction:
1. Last week we mentioned how Paul was released from house arrest in Rome after two years. Soon after that he wrote this letter and told Timothy he hoped to visit him soon (1st Tim. 3:14).
2. But he adds in vs. 15: “If I am delayed, 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.”
a. Paul wanted to do a lot of things in a relatively short period of time, including a trip to Spain and Crete. So you can appreciate his comment on possibly being delayed.
b. As to the content of this letter, his primary goal was to teach Timothy how to train and guide Christians as they organized new churches so they would know what God expected of them.
3. Notice, Paul called them “God’s household.” That is because each church should consider itself to be part of “the family of God” with Christ Himself the head of His family. When Jesus was on earth, He led those who followed Him. Now we must learn how to behave and function from those who learned from Him.
4. That is why the New Testament was written. In fact, that is why the whole Bible was written.
a. It contains the Word of God so that we can know the Truth of God, which was given to His church to pass on to us to pass on to others.
b. That is why God calls “the church of the living God” the “pillar and foundation of the Truth” (vs.15).
A. Let me begin by explaining this phrase “the pillar and foundation of the truth” in more detail.
1. God has entrusted His Word to His church so that we can share His Word with others. No one else is going to do this. That is why Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. That is the mission we have been given.
a. In Ephesians. 2:20, Paul tells us that God’s church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone.”
b. As the hymn writer put it: “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.”
2. A pillar, like a foundation, is also used to hold things up. But it has the secondary value of showing forth what you want to be seen. Think of it as advertising on top of a pole so as many people as possible can see it.
a. Carol and I watched a program on T.V. about an old building that had a large but old sign on top of it to attract as much attention as possible.
b. In order to compete with other places where travelers could stay that were about three miles out of town, the mayor wanted to rebuild this large old building and make it into a much larger inn located in town. In rebuilding it, the owner also wanted to replace the old sign with a new sign that was much, much bigger even if it cost a million dollars. He was probably joking about the cost. But you get the point. He wanted this sign to be so big and so high that everybody could see it even from miles away.
c. By calling God’s church the pillar of the Truth, Paul is saying God wanted His church, built on a firm foundation, to keep on growing and growing so that everybody could and would see it and learn the Truth of His Word, especially the Truth of the gospel of our salvation.
B. Secondly, in 1st Timothy. 3:16, Paul writes: “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great.”
1. I assume Paul is still talking about the Truth of God’s Word, especially the Truth of the gospel. This time he calls it “the mystery of godliness.” Godliness is both God’s gift to us through Christ as well as well as a description of how God wants us to live for Christ.
a. Timothy was in Ephesus when he received this letter. Sometime earlier, Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. This is interesting because Paul already seemed to be referring to Ephesian. 2:20 when he spoke of Christ being the chief cornerstone of God’s firm foundation.
b. Now by talking about the truth of the gospel as a mystery revealed through Christ, he seems to be referring to Ephesians. 3:4-5 In reading this, you will be able to under-stand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations, but has now been revealed through the Holy Spirit to His apostles and prophets” whose job was to then make it known to us.
2. Please note that when the Bible speaks of a mystery, it is speaking of something that was not understand in the past but has now been made known in Christ. That is exactly how it is used in I Tim. 3:16.
a. By writing to Timothy about similar topics that were discussed in the Book of Ephesians, it affirms that Paul certainly was the author of both books.
b. In this case, Paul goes immediately to what most scholars agree is an early hymn of the Christian church, a wonderful hymn that summarizes in poetic form what the early church believed about the Lord Jesus.
3. He is telling Timothy that this truth of the gospel which he called “the mystery of godliness” has now been revealed and explained through the coming and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Then he immediately shares this hymn that helps to explain and reveal what we now know.
C. Let us consider this hymn found in 1st Tim. 3:16. It has six lines.
1. It begins: “He appeared in a body.” Some manuscriptssay: “God appeared in a body.” Jesus said: “He who has seen me has seen the Father”(John 1:14 & 14:9). Jesus came to show us what God is like.
2. The second line adds He “was vindicated by the Spirit.”
a. At Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist, John testified: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like dove and rest upon Him” (John 1:32).
b. In John 3:34, Jesus said: “The one whom God sent speaks the Word of God; to Him God gives the Spirit without measure.”
c. He also said in Matthew 12:28: “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Yes, everything that Jesus did was affirmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
3. The third line of the hymn says He “was seen by angels.”
a. At Jesus’ birth, the angels filled the sky to joyously announce Jesus arrival. In Hebrew 1: 6, it says: “When God brings His new born Son into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” This verse all by itself testifies to the humanity and deity of Christ. The Father Himself encourages us to also worship His Son.
b. Angels also came and encouraged Jesus when He was tempted in the wilderness and again in the garden of Gethsemane.
c. In John 1:50 -51, Jesus says to Nathaniel: “You will see greater works than this…I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” That means they were doing what Jesus told them to do. Yes, He was “seen by angels.”
4. The fourth line in this hymn says He “was preached among the nations” (1st Tim. 3: 16). Of course, that is exactly what Jesus commanded His disciples to do in His great commission (Matthew 28: 19-20). They did it.
5. The fifth line of this hymn shares the results of this preaching, for He “was believed on in the world.”
a. Jesus was crucified, buried and raised from the dead around 33 A.D. This hymn was written and shared with many in the early church around 63 A.D.
b. During those 30 years, it is amazing how far the gospel had already spread through the known world.
6. Finally, the sixth and last line says: “He was taken up into glory.” That is a reference to His ascension when Jesus ascended to the throne of the universe where He received “all glory and honor and power, far above every title that could be given, not only in this age but in the age that is to come” (Ephesians 1:19-23). Someday soon I believe He will come again.
In conclusion:
1. What a wonderful hymn sung about the Lord Jesus Christ, a hymn Paul taught Timothy so he would teach others who have now also taught us.
2. Praise God this Truth that was not and could not be fully revealed until after Jesus came has now been made know in God’s Word. And now for over 2,000 years, the church of Jesus Christ, built on this firm foundation, has spread so far and wide that anyone who wants to learn about Jesus and come to Him may do so. Amen!
Wonderful Sermons. Thank you Pastor Gnade
Thank you so much pastor 🙏🏻 ❤️