How do you explain 1 Tim 3:16 'God was manifest in the flesh'?

The idea of a God of three parts (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) owe their existance to the speculations and disputations of church theologians in the 3rd and 4th century AD, but have no validity in the gospel message preached by Christ and the prophets and apostles.

Consider this:

A. Jesus was the Son of God
Matthew 3:17 "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

B. Jesus was a man like ourselves
Because of his human mother "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way..." Hebrews 2:17 "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him..." Acts 2:22

C. Jesus was divine and human
Conceived of a human virgin mother by the power of the Spirit of God (and not a human father) God was his Father. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity.." Hebrews 2:14 "...God sent his Son, born of a woman..." Galatians 4:4 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:15

These are just some of dozens of scriptural quotations that mark the difference between 'God the Son' and 'Son of God'. So when we look again and keep in mind the meaning of the word 'Manifest' which is

  • to give expression to
  • to represent, or
  • to demonstrate
then we can see that 1 Timothy 3:16 "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" We could almost rewrite this to say ... God was represented by (or expressed through, or demonstrated by) Jesus, who by perfect obedience to his Fathers commands was justified, had his message preached to the Gentiles and believed on through the world, later being received up into Glory.