1TIM 3:16 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Indeed, admittedly great is the mystery of godliness:
⇔ “Who was revealed in flesh,
⇔  was justified in the Spirit,
⇔  was seen by angels,
⇔  was proclaimed among the nations,
⇔  was believed in the world,
⇔  was taken up in glory.”

UST And everyone must agree that this true message that God has revealed to us is marvelous:
⇔ “The Messiah was God who came to the world in a human body.
⇔ The Holy Spirit proved that he was genuine.
⇔ God’s messengers saw him.
⇔ Believers announced who he was to the nations.
⇔ People in many parts of the world believed in him.
⇔ God powerfully took him up to himself in heaven.”

BSB § By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great:
⇔ He appeared [fn] in the flesh,
⇔ was vindicated by the Spirit,[fn]
⇔ was seen by angels,
⇔ was proclaimed among the nations,
⇔ was believed in throughout the world,
⇔ was taken up in glory.

3:16 Literally He who appeared; BYZ and TR God appeared

3:16 Or vindicated in spirit

BLB And confessedly, great is the mystery of godliness: Who was revealed in the flesh, was justified in the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

AICNT And without a doubt, the mystery of godliness is great: {who}[fn] was revealed in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in the world, was taken up in glory.

3:16, who: Later manuscripts read “God.” BYZ TR

OEB Yes, and undeniably wonderful are the deep truths of our religion; for –
⇔ “He was revealed in our nature,
⇔ pronounced righteous in spirit,
⇔ seen by angels,
⇔ proclaimed among the Gentiles,
⇔ believed on in the world,
⇔ taken up into glory.”
§ 

WEBBE Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great:
⇔ God[fn] was revealed in the flesh,
⇔ justified in the spirit,
⇔ seen by angels,
⇔ preached amongst the nations,
⇔ believed on in the world,
⇔ and received up in glory.

3:16 NU replaces “God” with “who”

WMBB (Same as above including footnotes)

NET And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation:
⇔ He was revealed in the flesh,
⇔ vindicated by the Spirit,
⇔ seen by angels,
⇔ proclaimed among Gentiles,
⇔ believed on in the world,
⇔ taken up in glory.

LSV and confessedly, great is the secret of piety: who was revealed in flesh, declared righteous in [the] Spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

FBV There's no question about it: the revealed truth about God is amazing! He was made known to us in human form, he was vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, declared to the nations, trusted in by the world, and taken up in glory!

TCNT Beyond all question, great is the mystery of godliness:
⇔ [fn]God was revealed in the flesh,
⇔ vindicated by the Spirit,
⇔ seen by angels,
⇔ preached among nations,
⇔ believed on in the world,
⇔ and taken up in glory.

3:16 God ¦ He CT

T4T It is certainly true that the message that God has now revealed is very wonderful! From it, we learn this spiritual truth that we say/sing about Christ (OR, We affirm this teaching to be true and very important.) It is what shows us how to live ◄in a godly manner/in a manner that pleases God►. It is what God has now revealed, even though it was not known before. We ◄affirm/say that it is true► concerning Jesus Christ that,
⇔ He is the one who appeared on the earth in a human body.
⇔ God’s Spirit showed/demonstrated that he is/was truly the Messiah (OR, that he always acted righteously);
⇔ Angels saw him; people preached about him in many nations;
⇔ People in many parts of the world believed the message about him.
⇔ God took him up into heaven.

LEB

•

And most certainly, great is the mystery of godliness:

Who was revealed in the flesh,

•

was vindicated by[fn] the Spirit,

•

was seen by angels,

•

was proclaimed among the Gentiles[fn],

•

was believed on in the world,

•

was taken up in glory.

3:16 Or perhaps “in”

3:16 Or “nations”; the same Greek word can be translated “nations” or “Gentiles” depending on the context

BBE And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory.

Moff No Moff 1TIM book available

Wymth And, beyond controversy, great is the mystery of our religion— that Christ appeared in human form, and His claims justified by the Spirit, was seen by angels and proclaimed among Gentile nations, was believed on in the world, and received up again into glory.
¶ 

ASV And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness;
⇔ He who was manifested in the flesh,
⇔ Justified in the spirit,
⇔ Seen of angels,
⇔ Preached among the nations,
⇔ Believed on in the world,
⇔ Received up in glory.

DRA And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.

YLT and, confessedly, great is the secret of piety — God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory!

Drby And confessedly the mystery of piety is great. [fn]God has been manifested in flesh, has been justified in [the] Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached among [the] nations, has been believed on in [the] world, has been received up in glory.

3.16 Elohim

RV And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

Wbstr And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

KJB-1769 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.

KJB-1611 And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse: God was manifest in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, receiued vp into glory.
(And without controversy, great is the mysterie of godlinesse: 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.)

Bshps And without doubt, great is that misterie of godlynesse: God was shewed in the flesshe, was iustified in the spirite, was seene among the angels, was preached vnto the gentiles, was beleued on in the worlde, and was receaued vp in glorie.
(And without doubt, great is that misterie of godlynesse: God was showed in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, was seen among the angels, was preached unto the gentiles, was believed on in the world, and was received up in glory.)

Gnva And without controuersie, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, iustified in the Spirit, seene of Angels, preached vnto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp in glorie.
(And without controversy, great is the mysterie of godlinesse, which is, God is manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in glory. )

Cvdl and without naye, greate is that mystery of godlynes. God was shewed in the flesh: was iustified in the sprete: was sene of angels: was preached vnto the Heythen: was beleued on in the worlde: was receaued vp in glory.
(and without naye, great is that mystery of godlynes. God was showed in the flesh: was justified in the spirit: was seen of angels: was preached unto the Heathen: was believed on in the world: was received up in glory.)

TNT And with out naye great is that mistery of godlines: God was shewed in the flesshe was iustified in the sprete was sene of angels was preached vnto the gentyls was beleved on in erth and receaved vp in glory.
(And with out naye great is that mistery of godlines: God was showed in the flesh was justified in the spirit was seen of angels was preached unto the gentiles was believed on in earth and received up in glory. )

Wyc And opynli it is a greet sacrament of pitee, that thing that was schewid in fleisch, it is iustified in spirit, it apperid to aungels, it is prechid to hethene men, it is bileuyd in the world, it is takun vp in glorie.
(And opynli it is a great sacrament of pitee, that thing that was showed in flesh, it is justified in spirit, it apperid to angels, it is preached to heathen men, it is bileuyd in the world, it is taken up in glory.)

Luth Und kündlich groß ist das gottselige Geheimnis: GOtt ist offenbaret im Fleisch, gerechtfertiget im Geist, erschienen den Engeln, geprediget den Heiden, geglaubet von der Welt, aufgenommen in die Herrlichkeit.
(And kündlich large is the gottselige Geheimnis: God is offenbaret in_the flesh, gerechtfertiget in_the spirit, appeareden the angeln, geprediget the Heiden, geglaubet from the/of_the world, aufgenommen in the Lordlichkeit.)

ClVg Et manifeste magnum est pietatis sacramentum, quod manifestatum est in carne, justificatum est in spiritu, apparuit angelis, prædicatum est gentibus, creditum est in mundo, assumptum est in gloria.[fn]
(And manifeste magnum it_is pietatis sacramentum, that manifestatum it_is in carne, justificatum it_is in spiritu, apparuit angelis, prælet_him_sayum it_is gentibus, he_believesum it_is in mundo, assumptum it_is in gloria. )

3.16 Apparuit angelis. Non in Deo tantum innotescit angelis quod absconditum est, sed et hic apparet eis, cum efficitur atque propalatur; ideo dicitur apparuisse angelis non jam in forma humilitatis sed in potestate; qui ergo prius visus humilis, devicta morte, in majestate apparuit, ut agnoscentes angeli mysterium quod prius latuit, declaratum in carne, genu illi flectentes quasi Deo gratias agant, quia didicerant veritatem. In mundo. Ut perfidia mundi veniam erroris mereri non possit. Sicut Dominus dicit de Judæis: Si non venissem, et locutus eis fuissem, peccatum non haberent, etc. Joan. 15..

3.16 Apparuit angelis. Non in Deo only innotescit angelis that absconditum it_is, but and this apparet eis, when/with efficitur atque propalatur; ideo it_is_said apparuisse angelis not/no yam in forma humilitatis but in potestate; who therefore first/before visus humilis, devicta morte, in mayestate apparuit, as agnoscentes angeli mysterium that first/before latuit, declaratum in carne, genu illi flectentes as_if Deo gratias agant, because didicerant words. In mundo. Ut perfidia mundi veniam erroris mereri not/no possit. Sicut Master dicit about Yudæis: When/But_if not/no venissem, and spoke to_them fuissem, peccatum not/no haberent, etc. Yoan. 15..

UGNT καὶ ὁμολογουμένως μέγα ἐστὶν τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον: ὃς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί, ἐδικαιώθη ἐν Πνεύματι, ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις, ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν, ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ, ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ.
(kai homologoumenōs mega estin to taʸs eusebeias mustaʸrion: hos efanerōthaʸ en sarki, edikaiōthaʸ en Pneumati, ōfthaʸ angelois, ekaʸruⱪthaʸ en ethnesin, episteuthaʸ en kosmōi, anelaʸmfthaʸ en doxaʸ.)

SBL-GNT καὶ ὁμολογουμένως μέγα ἐστὶν τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον· ⸀Ὃς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί, ἐδικαιώθη ἐν πνεύματι, ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις, ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν, ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ, ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ.
(kai homologoumenōs mega estin to taʸs eusebeias mustaʸrion; ⸀Hos efanerōthaʸ en sarki, edikaiōthaʸ en pneumati, ōfthaʸ angelois, ekaʸruⱪthaʸ en ethnesin, episteuthaʸ en kosmōi, anelaʸmfthaʸ en doxaʸ.)

TC-GNT Καὶ ὁμολογουμένως μέγα ἐστὶ τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον·
⇔ [fn]Θεὸς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί,
⇔ ἐδικαιώθη ἐν πνεύματι,
⇔ ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις,
⇔ ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν,
⇔ ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ,
⇔ [fn]ἀνελήφθη ἐν δόξῃ.

(Kai homologoumenōs mega esti to taʸs eusebeias mustaʸrion;
⇔ Theos efanerōthaʸ en sarki,
⇔ edikaiōthaʸ en pneumati,
⇔ ōfthaʸ angelois,
⇔ ekaʸruⱪthaʸ en ethnesin,
⇔ episteuthaʸ en kosmōi,
⇔ anelaʸfthaʸ en doxaʸ.
)

3:16 θεος ¦ ος CT

3:16 ανεληφθη ¦ ανελημφθη CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον

the ¬the ˱of˲_devoutness mystery

Here, Paul is using the possessive form to describe a mystery that could: (1) lead to or cause godliness. Alternate translation: “the mystery that leads to godliness” (2) contain godliness. Alternate translation: “the mystery that is godliness”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον

the ¬the ˱of˲_devoutness mystery

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of mystery and godliness, you could express the same ideas in another way. Make sure that your translation fits with the option you chose in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “what was hidden that makes us godly”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / quotemarks

ὃς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί, ἐδικαιώθη ἐν Πνεύματι, ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις, ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν, ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ, ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ

who /was/_revealed in /the/_flesh /was/_justified in /the/_Spirit /was/_seen ˱by˲_angels /was/_proclaimed among /the/_nations /was/_believed in /the/_world /was/_taken_up in glory

Here it is likely that Paul is quoting a confession or hymn. In order to indicate this, the ULT and UST put quote marks around these words and format them as poetry. Consider how you might indicate in your language that these words are from a confession or hymn.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

who /was/_revealed in /the/_flesh /was/_justified in /the/_Spirit /was/_seen ˱by˲_angels /was/_proclaimed among /the/_nations /was/_believed in /the/_world /was/_taken_up in glory

If your language does not use these passive forms, you could express the ideas in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the actions, it is clear from the context that either God or Jesus himself did the revealing, that the Spirit did the justifying, that the angels did the seeing, that believers did the proclaiming, that people in general did the believing, and that God did the taking up. Alternate translation: “God revealed him in flesh, the Spirit justified him, angels saw him, believers proclaimed him among the nations, people in the world believed in him, God took him up in glory”

Note 5 topic: writing-pronouns

ὃς

who

The pronoun Who refers to Jesus Christ. If this is not clear for your readers, you could use the person's name here. Alternate translation: “Jesus” or “The Christ”

Note 6 topic: translate-textvariants

ὃς

who

Many ancient manuscripts read Who. The ULT follows that reading. Other ancient manuscripts read “God.” If a translation of the Bible exists in your region, you may wish to use the reading that it uses. If a translation of the Bible does not exist in your region, you may wish to use the reading of the ULT.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἐν σαρκί

in /the/_flesh

Here, the word flesh refers to human existence in its weakness and frailty. Paul means that Jesus was human. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “as a human being”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐδικαιώθη ἐν Πνεύματι

/was/_justified in /the/_Spirit

Here, the phrase was justified could indicate that Jesus was: (1) proved by the Holy Spirit to be who he said he was. Alternate translation: “was proven right by the Spirit” (2) declared innocent by the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: “was proven guiltless by the Spirit” or “was vindicated by the Spirit”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν ἔθνεσιν

in in among /the/_nations

Here, the word nations could refer to: (1) non-Jewish people. Alternate translation: “among the Gentiles” (2) all groups of people. Alternate translation: “among all people groups”

Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν κόσμῳ

in in among in /the/_world

Here, the phrase in the world indicates that people in many places throughout the world believed in Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “by people throughout the world”

Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀνελήμφθη

/was/_taken_up

Here Paul implies that Jesus was taken up into heaven. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “was taken up to heaven”

Note 12 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν δόξῃ

in in among in in glory

Here, the phrase in glory could describe: (1) how Jesus was taken up. Alternate translation: “with much glory” (2) Jesus, as he was taken up. Alternate translation: “as a glorious being” or “as a person with glory”

Note 13 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἐν δόξῃ

in in among in in glory

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of glory, you could express the same idea in another way. Make sure that your translation fits with the option you chose in the previous note. Alternate translation: “gloriously”

Parallel 1TIM 3:16