Addressing 1 Tim. 3:16 - it simply speaks of Christ, not 'God'
Addressing 1 Tim. 3:16 - it simply speaks of Christ, not 'God'
Keep reading it some more.
It says that GOD was manifest in the flesh.
And the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Ok,...Lets address 1 Tim. 3:16 - first of all,...the word 'God' is NOT in the earliest manuscripts, and is scribal error or addition (whether intentional or accidental), since a small pen stroke or ink bleed thru a manuscript could alter the original words of "he who" or "he was" into the word "God" (videos below show/explain this clearly). The KJV translation has 'God', but many modern day translations (who know better) have the word 'who', 'which' or 'was' (not 'God') which is more correct to the
earliest manuscript evidence. In this case, the manuscript evidence is AGAINST using the word 'God', because its just not in the earliest texts. The context is saying that the mystery of godliness (righteousness/piety)
was manifested in Jesus, NOT that he was 'God'.
Even if the orginal word 'theos' was in the text (no proof in the earliest manuscripts),...it still does not prove Jesus is 'God',...for Jesus was manifesting 'God', and clearly states his Father who indwells him does the work, for Jesus is everywhere revealing God, manifesting God, expressing God. He is the 'representative' of 'God'. This is a given. Even that would not necessarily prove the Trinity. Those today using this verse to 'prove' Jesus is 'God' fail thru ignorance and an interpolated passage. It doesn't hold as a 'trinitarian' proof-text at all, let alone prove Jesus is 'God'.
See these various bible translations:
"He appeared in a body" (NIV)
"He who was manifested in the flesh" (ASV)
"He who was revealed in the flesh" (NASB)
"He was manifested in the flesh" (RSV)
"Which was manifested in the flesh" (Douey-Rheims)
"Who was manifested in the flesh" (NAB)"
The more correct rendering fully below -
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.
- Douay-Rheims Bible
&
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
- NASB
Note that in the first 3 to 4th centuries, this verse was never mentioned by anyone to prove the Trinity even during major Christological debates such as the Arian Controversy, but was 'used' later when Trinitarian doctrine was more formulated and taught as the 'orthodox' view. If Trinitarians had access to earlier manuscripts where the word 'God' was in this passage, they'd eat it up like hotcakes, using such in their doctrinal debates. However this wasn't that case in the first 3- 4 centuries.
Brother Kel treats this passage
here, and in the video below -
Apologist James White touches on this passage and the 'interpolation' of adding 'God' to the verse (and does so in another presentation on the validity of scripture). Note: the below is posted by a muslim using White's lecture to prove there is 'tampering' with biblical verses, which Dr. Shabir merely confirms. This is shared just to confirm the fact that 'God' was 'interpolated' into the text (whether intentional or accidental),...later scribal additions are apparent in the pictorial evidence shared in the videos.
Further corroboration of 'God' not being in at least 2 of earlier manuscripts, notably the 'Sinaiticus' and 'Alexandrius' revealed below. While the creator of these presentations is a Jehovah's Witness, who stands for the correctness of their translation of the passage as - "
Indeed, the sacred secret of this godly devotion is admittedly great: ‘He was made manifest in flesh,+ was declared righteous in spirit,+ appeared to angels,+ was preached about among nations,+ was believed upon in the world,+ was received up in glory." - NWT - this does not invalidate the evidence being shared, since their 'translation' agrees with many modern day Bible translations who recognize the 'textual evidence'.