Hi johnamos,
Perhaps I should have clarified a "textus receptus" basis for that scripture. Millions and millions of Christians have done their research and only accept the textus receptus on matters of doctrine. This was the bible for over 300 years of Reformation and when Christianity and grew by leaps and bounds.
This was of course replaced by the critical text of Wescott & Hort (1888) who rejected common sense and were also involved in spiritualism during the "translation years". Their translation relied heavily on Vaticanus and Sinaiticus which were written over and over again by at least 5 different scribes, making the original writing impossible to discern.
Most people are unaware that about 65% of all new testament verses are quoted in the early Christian congregation writings (during the first 300 or so years), mostly by the leaders who were writing each other. One of the main reasons they wrote each other was to defend sound doctrine against errors introduced by troublesome individuals. In these writings, they name names and unacceptable teachings, making it relatively easy for someone to research now what was common belief in the years immediately following the resurrection, and who was responsible for the deviations.
For instance:
Ignatius
Ignatius was an apostolic congregation leader. In other words, he was someone who had received his instruction straight from one of the apostles.... In this case the apostle John. He was presiding overseer in Antioch, which is where believers were first called "Christians". At the end of his life, he was thrown to lions in the Colosseum in Rome.
Here is a quote from him:
"For some are in the habit of carrying about the name [of Jesus Christ] in wicked guile, while yet they practice things unworthy of God, whom you must flee as you would wild beasts. For they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly, against whom you must be on your guard, inasmuch as they are men who can scarcely be cured. There is one Physician who is possessed both of flesh and spirit; both made and not made; God existing in flesh; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible and then impassible — even Jesus Christ our Lord."
Other testimonies regarding 1 Tim. 3: 16:
Gregory of Nyssa33 quotes the text 22 times using “God” and not “who” or “which”.
Gregory of Nazianzus gives “God” twice.
Didimus of Alexandria cites it with “God” three times.
Pseudo-Dionysius of Alexandria quotes the passage with the word “God” four times.
Diodorus of Tarsus cites it with “God” five times.
John Chrysostom cites it with “God” and not “who” at least three times.
We find
this same referral to the text always with “God” and not with “who” in Cyril of Alexandria