The Mystery of Godliness: Christmas in 1 Timothy

In the middle of this "pastoral handbook" written to Timothy and the church of Ephesus, Paul gives the theme and purpose to his letter: that local church of God would conduct herself according to her high privilege and calling as the church of Christ.

In this high point of the letter, Paul exhorts the proper conduct of the church, based upon the great characteristics and confession of the church. The great confession--the mystery of godliness--is both to be displayed by the church and to govern her conduct.