最初的詩歌或信條？
提摩太前書三章14至16節，腓立比書二章5至11節
14我指望快到你那裡去，所以先將這些事寫給你。
15倘若我耽延日久，你也可以知道在神的家中當怎樣行；這家就是永生神的教會，真理的柱石和根基。
16大哉，敬虔的奧秘！無人不以為然，就是神在肉身顯現，被聖靈稱義（註：或作“在靈性稱義”），被天使看見，被傳於外邦，被世人信服，被接在榮耀裡。
5你們當以基督耶穌的心為心。
6他本有神的形像，不以自己與神同等為強奪的，
7反倒虛己，取了奴僕的形像，成為人的樣式。
8既有人的樣子，就自己卑微，存心順服，以至於死，且死在十字架上。
9所以神將他升為至高，又賜給他那超乎萬名之上的名，
10叫一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的，因耶穌的名無不屈膝，
11無不口稱耶穌基督為主，使榮耀歸與父神。
信息分享
一般學者都相信，提摩太前書三章16節是一首早期的詩歌，它乃是以基督的生平、事奉作為核心要旨。保羅在這裡引用這首詩歌，正如他在腓立比書二章5至11節引用初期流傳的信條一樣，用以說明一些簡單而重要的信念。基督以肉身顯現──換言之，祂早已存在；祂如今以肉身顯現，便證明祂是完全的人和完全的神。聖靈數度為祂做印証，特別是複活之時。同時，祂在世時，天使也在不同場合出現，並向祂發出讚美。
自基督從死裡復活後，福音便一直在世上傳揚，數以百萬計的人相信了祂。基督就是神設立的救恩計劃；世人只有藉著祂，才能去到神的面前；這條道路向任何信靠祂的人開放。基督是神賜予人類的信息。希伯來書一章1至2節告訴我們：「神既在古時藉著眾先知多次多方地曉諭列祖，就在這末世藉著祂兒子曉諭我們。」
基督完成在世的工作後，便被接到榮耀裡。腓立比書二章以生動的措辭告訴我們，祂如何被升為至高，且坐在父神的右邊；將來萬膝必跪拜、萬口必承認耶穌基督是主，將榮耀歸給父神。當你讀到這段經文時，心中是否呼應「哈利路亞，偉大的救贖主」呢？
你能清晰說出你信甚麼嗎？我們值得花一些時間，將自己相信的一些基本福音真理寫下來，以確保耶穌基督處於我們信仰的正確位置。沒有其他宗教，像我們和神本身那樣看重基督。
我們要清楚知道自己信甚麼。你可以參加教會聚會或查經小組，讓你更深認識和研讀神的話語，不要滿足於膚淺的信仰。
THE FIRST HYMN OR CREED?
1 Timothy 3: 14-16, Phil. 2:5-11
14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly;
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Message
It is generally thought that verse 16 was really part of an early hymn. It certainly is centred on Christ and His life and ministry. Here and again in Philippians Paul sets out some brief but powerful beliefs.
Christ appeared in a body - therefore He was pre-existent. He appeared in a body - He was entirely human as well as divine. He was endorsed by the Holy Spirit time and time again especially at His resurrection. In the same way the angels were present at various occasions during His life on earth and spoke His praises.
The Gospel has been preached around the world and since His death and resurrection, millions have believed in Him. He is God’s plan of salvation. He is the only way to the Father but that way is open to all who believes. He is God’s message to mankind. Hebrews Chapter 1 verse 1 tells us that – “God who spoke… through the prophets… has in these last days spoken to us in His Son.”
Then after He had finished His work here, He was taken up into glory. Philippians chapter 2 tells us in very descriptive words how He was exalted and sits at the Father’s right hand. One day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Do you feel like shouting “Hallelujah what a Saviour?”
Can you state without hesitation exactly what you believe? It might be worthwhile if you took time today to write out a short statement of your faith covering the basic facts of the Gospel, making sure that you give Jesus Christ His rightful place. No other religion recognises Him as we do and as God Himself does.
Know what you believe. Attend a church and or a Bible study group where you hear and study the word of God, Don’t be satisfied with anything less.