The First Epistle To Timothy - Executable Outlines

[The “mystery” now revealed pertains to “godliness” (1 Ti 3:16). “The word ‘godliness’ means,
properly, piety, reverence, or religiousness. It is used here, however, for the gospel scheme, to wit, that
which the apostle proceeds to state.” (Barnes) As we continue, we note that it centers around the
coming of Jesus Christ...]
II. THE GREATNESS OF GODLINESS
A. GOD IN THE FLESH...
1. Jesus’ coming was Deity in the flesh!
a. Proclaimed in the prologues of John - Jn 1:1-5,14; 1 Jn 1:1-4
b. Proclaimed in the epistles of Paul - Ph 2:5-6; Co 2:9
2. Notice the name “Immanuel” (God with us)
a. Foretold in Isaiah’s prophecy - Isa 7:14; 9:6
b. Explained in Matthew’s gospel - Mt 1:22-23
-- The coming of Jesus in the flesh was God working to reconcile man back to
Himself; isn’t that great? - 2 Co 5:18-19
B. JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT...
1. “Justified” - as used here, it means “to vindicate”
a. Was Jesus vindicated in or by the Holy Spirit? (cf. NKJV, KJV, NIV, NASB)
b. Or was He vindicated in His own spirit? (cf. ASV, NRSV)
2. “in the Spirit” - shown to be the Son of God by the agency of the Holy Spirit (Barnes)
a. E.g., the Spirit bore witness at Jesus’ baptism - Mt 3:16; Jn 1:32-33
b. E.g., Jesus cast out demons by the Spirit - Mt 12:28
c. The Spirit continued to bear witness to Jesus through the signs and wonders given to the
apostles - cf. Jn 15:26; 16:13-14; He 2:4; 1 Jn 5:6
3. “in (the) spirit” - vindicated as divine ‘in His Spirit,’ that is, in His higher nature; in contrast
to ‘in the flesh,’ His visible human nature (JFB)
a. E.g., His words manifested His higher being - Mt 7:29; Jn 7:46
b. E.g., His works also - Jn 2:11; 3:2
c. E.g., His Father’s testimony as well - Mt 3:17; 17:5
d. Ultimately, declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection - Ro 1:3-4
-- Either way, Jesus was certainly vindicated as the Son of God!
C. SEEN BY ANGELS...
1. Angels who previously marveled at what was to come
a. The suffering and glory of Christ foretold by OT prophets - 1 Pe 1:10-12
b. Which the angels desired to look into - 1 Pe 1:12b
2. When Jesus came, angels saw and ministered unto Him
a. After His temptation by the devil in the wilderness of Judea - Mt 4:11
b. During His agony in the garden of Gethsemane - Lk 22:43
-- The angels also attended His ascension, and will accompany His return! - Ac 1:
9-11; 2 Th 1:7
D. PREACHED AMONG THE GENTILES...
1. This was the purpose of the Great Commission - Mt 28:19; Mk 16:15
Mark A. Copeland
Sermons From First Timothy 34