Appeared (5319) (phaneroo from phanerós = manifest, visible, conspicuous in turn from phaino = give light; become visible in turn from phos = light) is literally "to bring to light" and primarily means "to make visible" or to cause to become visible. The basic meaning of phaneroo is to make known, to clearly reveal, to manifest (see Vine's elaboration of "to be manifest" below), to cause to be seen or to make clear or known. Vine summarizes phaneroo... in the active voice, “to manifest”; in the passive voice, “to be manifested”...To be manifested, in the Scriptural sense of the word, is more than to “appear.” A person may “appear” in a false guise or without a disclosure of what he truly is; to be manifested is to be revealed in one’s true character; this is especially the meaning of phaneroo, see, e.g., John 3:21; 1Co 4:5; 2Cor. 5:10, 11; Ep 5:13. (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson) (Bolding added) As you study the 49 NT uses below, you will observe that phaneroo is often used of God's revelation of Himself in the Person of His Son, Jesus, as exemplified in 1 Timothy 3:16 where Jesus was revealed in the flesh or was made visible in His human body. The idea of phaneroo is that there has been an external manifestation to the senses which is open to all primarily referring to what is visible to sensory perception. For example, in Romans 1 (see below) God made it known to all men through His creation that He exists. In a passive sense phaneroo means to become visible or known (see John 3:21 below). When used of people, phaneroo means to make oneself known (e.g., see John 1:31) or to cause to become known Thayer says phaneroo means... to make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, to manifest, whether by words, or deeds, or in any other way. In secular Greek phaneroo and other words in this group (cognates = phanerosis - a disclosure, epiphaneia - an appearance, epiphaino - to show or appear) had their ordinary meaning but in some contexts conveyed a religious meaning describing the intervention by or the personal appearance of a deity. The NT uses reflect a similar usage. And so we see that approximately 50% of the NT uses of phaneroo refer in some way to a manifestation of Jesus Christ, most referring to His first coming, at least 4 uses referring to His second appearing and several uses referring to His manifestation to others in and through the lives of believers. Phaneroo is in the aorist tense which points to a definite act (an actual historical event!) at a given time in the past, specifically in context Christ's incarnation. In the passive voice as here, it means to become visible or known, to be revealed Paul records a similar truth in 2 Timothy explaining that it was God... Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity ("before the beginning of time", NIV or "before the world began", NKJV) (10) but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (See notes 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:10) Phaneroo is used 49 times in the NT, 17 uses in the writings of the apostle John and 18 by the apostle Paul. Mark 4:22 "For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed (phaneroo) ; nor has anything been secret, but that it should come to light (phaneros - visible). Mark 16:12 And after that, He appeared in a different form to two of them, while they were walking along on their way to the country. Mark 16:14 And afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. John 1:31 "And I did not recognize Him, but in order that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water." John 2:11 This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. John 3:21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." John 7:4 "For no one does anything in secret, when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show (aorist imperative) Yourself (Expose Yourself to view, make Yourself manifest, show Yourself) to the world." John 9:3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him. John 17:6 "I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. John 21:1 After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. Romans 1:19 (note) because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. (Comment: God through the light of the created universe revealed Himself or made Himself manifest {Theologians refer to it as "natural revelation" in contrast to His written Word which is referred to as "special revelation"} as Creator and God to the entire human race, which is why all men are without excuse and cannot say "God was not fair and did not give me a chance". Paul goes on to explain how God made it evident in the following verse - see notes Romans 1:20) Romans 3:21 (note) But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, Romans 16:26 (note) (the mystery - God's gospel of redemption which could never have been made known except through divine revelation) but now is manifested, (make visible, made known what was hidden and/or unknown. How? Through the prophetic writings) and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light (photizo) the things hidden in the darkness and disclose (phaneroo) the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. 2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 2 Corinthians 3:3 being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:11 Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 2 Corinthians 7:12 So although I wrote to you it was not for the sake of the offender, nor for the sake of the one offended, but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 11:6 But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. Ephesians 5:13 (note) But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. Colossians 1:26 (note) that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, Colossians 3:4 (note) When Christ, Who is our life, is revealed (made manifest or visible - referring to the Second Coming), then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 4:4 (note) in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. 1 Timothy 3:16 And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Beheld by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. (Comment: God is spirit and is invisible but in the incarnation, the invisible Son of God became visible or manifest as He took upon Himself a physical body.) 2 Timothy 1:10 (note) but now has been revealed (phaneroo) by the appearing (epiphaneia - used by the pagan Greeks of a glorious appearance of a Greek god, and by NT writers of Christ's Second Coming) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, Titus 1:3 (note) but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior (Comment: Here the idea is that of making visible that which was previously hidden) Hebrews 9:8 (note) The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing, Hebrews 9:26 (note) Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested (perfect tense - speaks of the permanent effect of this manifestation, which in context refers to Christ crucified. This was foreshadowed in the OT by the appearance of the high priest at the Brazen Altar on the Day of Atonement where the animal for sacrifice was slain) to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 1 Peter 1:20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 1 Peter 5:4 (note) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 1 John 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- Comment: Wuest has a beautiful comment on this manifestation of Christ writing that "This life which is invisible was made visible to the human race through the humanity of our Lord. We put light which is invisible through a prism, break it up into its component parts, and it becomes visible. The beauty of the life that God is, broken up into its various parts such as love, grace, humility, kindness, etc., is seen through the prism of the human life of our Lord. Vincent explains was manifested: "Corresponding with the Word was made flesh (John 1:14). The two phrases, however, present different aspects of the same truth. The Word became flesh, contemplates simply the historic fact of incarnation. The life was manifested, sets forth the unfolding of that fact in the various operations of life. The one denotes the objective process of the incarnation as such, the other the result of that process as related to human capacity of receiving and understanding it. “The reality of the incarnation would be undeclared if it were said, ‘The Word was manifested;’ the manifoldness of the operations of life would be circumscribed if it were said, ‘The Life became flesh.’ The manifestation of the Life was a consequence of the incarnation of the Word, but it is not coextensive with it” [Westcott].) 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. (Comment: The invisible Lord Jesus will some day be made visible as He comes from heaven into the atmosphere of this earth to catch out His Bride, the Church) 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. 1 John 3:5 And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 1 John 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Revelation 3:18 (note) I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Revelation 15:4 (note) "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? For Thou alone art holy; For all the nations will come and worship before Thee, For Thy righteous acts have been revealed." IN THESE LAST TIMES FOR THE SAKE OF YOU: ep eschatou ton chronon di humas: (Gal 4:4; Eph 1:10; Heb 1:2; 9:26) Last times - in a series of events. The last times in this context refers to the time between Christ’s first and second comings. (cf. Acts 2:17; 1Ti 4:1; 1Jn 2:18). The last times (last days) began with Jesus' incarnation, His death, burial and resurrection and the birth of the Church. The last times in this context signify that God executed His plan of redemption at the proper time. Peter used a similar expression when quoting from Joes in his description of the Day of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit declaring This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind” (Acts 2:16, 17) The writer of Hebrews uses a parallel phrase in declaring that God... in these last days (click all NT uses of "last days") has spoken to us in His Son, Whom He appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the world. (He 1:2-note) (Comment: the last days were inaugurated at Christ's incarnation.) Paul uses a more general expression writing that... when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law (Gal 4:4) (Comment: This was the moment by which the whole pre-messianic period was completed. God sent forth His preexisting Son when the time for his purpose had come.) Wuest explains why the "time" was "full" writing that... This point of time marked some outstanding events in the history of the human race. First, it was the moment which God had ordained for Messiah’s coming. To Daniel was given the date of His coming, 483 years after the edict of the Medo-Persian government to rebuild Jerusalem. Second, the Mosaic law had done its educational work, showing to the world that the most highly-favored nation on earth, the Jewish nation, was, despite all of God’s blessings and mercy, totally depraved, giving the Gentile portion of the race a picture of its own totally depraved heart. Third, the Mosaic law in its three sections, the ten commandments, the laws governing social relationships, and the Levitical system of sacrifices, was done away with as a legal system, to be superseded by the gospel of grace centering faith in an historic Saviour. Fourth, the Roman empire maintained world peace. Roman roads made travel for missionaries easy. The universal use of the Greek language made the speedy propagation of the gospel possible. The earth-stage was all set for the greatest event in the history of the human race, the incarnation, sacrificial death, and bodily resurrection of God the Son. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos) Last (2078) (eschatos; English = eschatology, the study of "last things" or prophetic doctrines) refers to the that which is at the end, the final item in a series. Eschatos gives us the term eschatology, the study of last things (doctrine of last things, particularly those dealing with the second coming of Christ and the events preceding and following this great event) Eschatos - 52x in NT - Matt. 5:26; 12:45; 19:30; 20:8, 12, 14, 16; 27:64; Mk. 9:35; 10:31; 12:6, 22; Lk. 11:26; 12:59; 13:30; 14:9f; Jn. 6:39f, 44, 54; 7:37; 11:24; 12:48; Acts 1:8; 2:17; 13:47; 1 Co. 4:9; 15:8, 26, 45, 52; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; Jas. 5:3; 1 Pet. 1:5, 20; 2 Pet. 2:20; 3:3; 1 Jn. 2:18; Jude 1:18; Rev. 1:17; 2:8, 19; 15:1; 21:9; 22:13. The NAS translates eschatos end(1), last(46), last man(1), last men(1), last of all(1), late(1), remotest part(1). Times (5550) (chronos) means a space of time or time as conceived of as a succession of moments. Chronos is a period of measured time (quantity of, that is, lapse, span), and thus describes a “period of time” in general, especially in phrases like a long time (Mt 25:19) or a little while (Jn 7:33). Chronos can also be used with certain verbs to denote the period of time when something is to occur (Mt 2:7; Lk 1:57; Acts 7:17) or when something is complete (Gal 4:4). The plural of chronos appears in expressions to specify a rather long period of time, even an eternal period before earthly time (2Ti 1:9; Titus 1:2). Chronos can be used as an eschatological term as in the present verse (cf Acts 1:7; 1Th 5:1). Chronos - 54x in NT - Matt. 2:7, 16; 25:19; Mk. 2:19; 9:21; Lk. 1:57; 4:5; 8:27, 29; 18:4; 20:9; 23:8; Jn. 5:6; 7:33; 12:35; 14:9; Acts 1:6f, 21; 3:21; 7:17, 23; 8:11; 13:18; 14:3, 28; 15:33; 17:30; 18:20, 23; 19:22; 20:18; 27:9; Rom. 7:1; 16:25; 1 Co. 7:39; 16:7; Gal. 4:1, 4; 1 Thess. 5:1; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 1:2; Heb. 4:7; 5:12; 11:32; 1 Pet. 1:17, 20; 4:2f; Jude 1:18; Rev. 2:21; 6:11; 10:6; 20:3. The NAS renders chronos age(1), all(1), delay(1), for a while(5), long(5), long*(1), long ages(2), period(2),time(30), times(5). Wycliffe Bible Commentary notes Christ’s suffering was no emergency. It was God’s best plan in view of man’s sin. This would have been a comforting thought for saints now hard-pressed themselves. For you - Matthew Poole has an interesting note commenting that... “For you;” that you, with other believers, might partake of salvation by him. The fruit of Christ’s redemption reaches all ages, but much more abundantly the times after his coming in the flesh. The sum of the argument is, Christ was ordained from eternity, promised to the fathers, but manifested to you: your privilege therefore being greater than theirs, Mt 13:17 He 11:39, 40 (see passages below), you should be the more holy. (Matthew Poole's Commentary) For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Mt 13:17). And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect. (Heb 11:39, 40) 1 Peter 1:21 who through Him are believers in God, Who raised (AAP) Him from the dead and gave (AAP) Him glory, so that your faith and hope are (PAN) in God Greek: tous di' autou pistous eis theon ton egeiranta (AAPMSA) auton ek nekron kai doxan auto donta, (AAPMSA) hoste ten pistin humon kai elpida einai (PAN) eis theon. Amplified: Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God (Amplified Bible - Lockman) MLB: who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory. So your faith and hope rest in God. Moffat: it is by him that you believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory; and thus your faith means hope in God. NLT: Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God. (NLT - Tyndale House) Weymouth: are faithful to God, who raised Him from among the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are resting upon God. Wuest: who through Him are believers in God, the One Who raised Him out from among those who are dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God Young's Literal: who through him do believe in God, who did raise out of the dead, and glory to him did give, so that your faith and hope may be in God. WHO THROUGH HIM ARE BELIEVERS IN GOD: tous di autou pistous eis theo: Through (1223) (dia) describes that which functions as the "conduit" - through Christ we are believers in God. Ponder the wonderful phrase through Him in the following passages [Jn 1:3,10,Jn 3:17, Jn 14:6, Acts 3:16, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38, 39, Ro 5:9, Ro 8:37, Ep 1:7, Ep 2:18, Php 4:13,Col 1:20, 2:15, 3:17,Heb 7:25, 13:15, 1Jn 4:9] All things are from Him, through Him and to Him. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Who through Him are believers - both as revealing God to you, Mt 11:27 Jn 1:14; and making way for you to God, who, out of Christ, is a consuming fire, so that there is no coming to him but by Christ, John 14:6 Eph 2:18, 3:12 Heb 7:25 (see passages below). (Matthew Poole's Commentary) “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son, except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. (Mt 11:27). Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. (Jn 14:6) for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (see note Ephesians 2:18) in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. (see note Ephesians 3:12). Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. (see note Hebrews 7:25). A Simple Study... Through Him Consider the following simple study - observe and record the wonderful truths that accrue through Him - this would make an edifying, easy to prepare Sunday School lesson - then take some time to give thanks for these great truths by offering up a sacrifice of praise...through Him. Jn 1:3 [NIV reads "through Him"], Jn 1:7, John 1:10, Jn 3:17, Jn 14:6, Acts 2:22, 3:16, Acts 7:25, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38, 39, Ro 5:9 [note], Ro 8:37 [note], Ro 11:36 [note]; 1Co 8:6, Ep 2:18 [note], Php 4:13 [note], Col 1:20 [note], Col 2:15 [note], Col 3:17 [note], Heb 7:25 [note], Heb 13:15 [note], 1Pe 1:21[note], 1John 4:9 Would you like more study on the wonderful topic of through Him? Study also the NT uses of the parallel phrase through Jesus (or similar phrases - "through Whom", "through our Lord", etc) - John 1:17, Acts 10:36, Ro 1:4, 5- note; Ro 1:8-note, Ro 2:16-note, Ro 5:1-note; Ro 5:2-note Ro 5:11-note, Ro 5:21-note, Ro 7:25-note, Ro 16:27-note, 1Cor 15:57, 2Cor 1:5, 3:4, 5:18, Gal 1:1, Eph 1:5-note, Php 1:11-note, 1Th 5:9-note; Titus 3:6-note, He 1:2-note; He 2:10-note, Heb 13:21-note, 1Pe 2:5-note, 1Pe 4:11-note, Jude 1:25) All things are from Him, through Him and to Him. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.