“The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16 GW).
The final verse of 1 Timothy chapter three closes with three additional aspects of Jesus’ earthly ministry: “Christ was preached to the nations. People in this world put their faith in him, and he was taken up to glory” (CEV). We can begin our look at these characteristics by examining an event that occurred in the Biblical book of Acts.
That portion of Scripture describes how Jesus was preached among the inhabitants of the first-century world through the God-given ability to communicate in their native languages…
“Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ‘Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? …we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:7-8,11).
The Apostle Peter then took the opportunity to speak with the representatives of those nations…
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’
Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call'” (Acts 2:36-38).
Jesus’ directive from Matthew 28:19 offers an additional perspective on this passage: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Those who have sought to fulfill this commission have preached Christ among numerous people groups. Thus we can say that Jesus is believed on in the world among every tribe and tongue and people and nation (see Revelation 5:9).
Finally, one commentator makes the following observation regarding the ascension of Christ: “Christ’s ascension and exaltation showed that the Father was pleased with Him and accepted His work fully.” (1) This brings us full circle in regard to this passage for “The story of Jesus begins in heaven and ends in heaven.” (2)
(1) MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ti 3:16). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
(2) Barclay, William. “Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:1-16”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/1-timothy-3.html. 1956-1959.