GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH – 1 TIMOTHY 3:16
God was manifested in the flesh?
1 Timothy 3:16, more specifically the phrase, “God was manifested in the flesh“is a very controversial topic between those who say the Messiah is “God,” and those who say he is not.
Just a Word did a whole series entitled “Should We Worship The Messiah,” in which we essentially showed the error of worshiping the Messiah or equating him to the Father. However, we never expounded on 1 Timothy 3:16, one of the greatest verses used to defend worship of the Messiah.
Now, the bible does not instruct us to worship the Messiah. Instead, it tells us to worship the Father and rejoice in the Messiah.
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship Aluah in the spirit, and rejoice in Messiah Yahusha, and have no confidence in the flesh.
In fact, the Messiah himself told us to worship YAHUAH only!
Mat 4:10 Then saith Yahusha unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the YAHUAH thy Aluah, and him only shalt thou serve.
“GOD” IN THE FLESH
However, the popular King James Version translated 1 Timothy 3:16 as such:
KING JAMES VERSION
1Ti 3:16 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.
Now what are we to believe from that but that the Father is the son? Indeed, that is the bottom line of Christianity, the Most High manifested in the flesh as a demi-god.
That is, the son being the Father and the Father being the son. This is an important component of the Babylonian trinity that is the foundation of so many pagan religions, and also the backbone of Christianity.
TAINTED IN TRANSLATION
We must accept that the Bible, especially the New Testament is heavily tainted in translation. Give man an handle, and the evil of man will try to twist it to get us to believe what they want us to believe. This is because:
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
This was also evident in our look at Isaiah 9:6.
THE LYING PEN OF THE SCRIBES
Indeed, that shouldn’t surprise us, as we were warned about the lying pen of the scribes:
Jer 8:8 (ESV) “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of YAHUAH is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.
Sadly, that is the case with 1 Timothy 3:16 in the KJV. It is a small but great error by the translators as they try their utmost best either to get us into their pagan Babylonian demi-god worship, or at best, to translate into what they believe.
Happily for us, the Codex Siniticus ( the earliest Greek manuscript) reveals the error in today’s modern bibles.
MANY DIFFERENT MANUSCRIPTS
Unfortunately, there has traditionally been many different manuscripts from which different versions of bibles have been translated. This variety was evident even from the 4th century:
These versions become corrupted and others are added, until by the 4th century – in the words of St Jerome, the leading biblical scholar of the time – there are ‘almost as many texts as manuscripts’.
– Read more.
GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH? OTHER ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
So if we look at other English language translations, we see that they have more properly rendered it as in the Codex Siniticus. Contrary to the KJV, which made “God” the subject, these versions made the Messiah (he) the subject.
GOOD NEWS BIBLE
1Ti 3:16 No one can deny how great is the secret of our religion: He appeared in human form, was shown to be right by the Spirit, and was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, and was taken up to heaven.ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
1Ti 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Still, neither of them matches the Codex Siniticus.
However, here are 2 other translations that more closely match that from the Codex:
(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.
(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.
CONCLUSION (1 TIMOTHY 3:16)
As you can see, the addition, subtraction or shifting of a few words make a world of a difference in our understanding of scriptures. That is why we were warned, to study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15), as well as to prove all things, hold fast that which is good (1 Thess 5:21).
Additionally, we MUST use the formula given to us in Isaiah 28:9-13, for us to understand scripture. In that way, mis-translation or not, we will not be deceived. God was manifested in the flesh is the result of a mistranslated, verse for which we were warned in Jeremiah 8:8.
Jer 8:8 (CEV) You say, “We are wise because we have the teachings and laws of YAHUAH.” But I say that your teachers have turned my words into lies!