1 Timothy 3:15 kjv
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15 nkjv
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.
1 Timothy 3:15 niv
if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15 esv
if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
1 Timothy 3:15 nlt
so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Timothy 3 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Tim 3:15 | 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 buttress of the truth. | Direct statement of purpose |
| Acts 2:42 | And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. | Early church commitment to truth |
| Acts 4:31 | And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. | Bold proclamation of truth |
| 2 Tim 2:15 | Do your best to present yourself to God as an approved worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. | Handling truth properly |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | Jesus as the embodiment of truth |
| John 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus is truth |
| John 16:13 | When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. | The Spirit guides into truth |
| Rom 3:23-24 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. | Grace and redemption |
| Eph 2:19-22 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. | Church as God's household |
| Eph 3:10 | to the intent that now through the church the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. | Church reveals God's wisdom |
| Eph 5:25-27 | Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. | Christ's love for the church |
| Col 1:18 | And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be foremost. | Christ as Head of the church |
| 1 Thess 2:13 | And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. | Accepting God's word |
| Heb 3:14 | For we have become partakers of Christ, if indeed we hold our original assertion firm to the end. | Partakers of Christ |
| Heb 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | Power of God's word |
| 1 Peter 1:23 | since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. | Reborn through God's word |
| 1 Peter 4:11 | Whoever speaks, as one speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serves with the strength that God supplies in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. | Speaking God's oracles |
| Rev 19:13 | He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. | Jesus as The Word of God |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Scripture as light |
| Ps 119:151 | Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are truth. | Commandments are truth |
1 Timothy 3 verses
1 Timothy 3 15 Meaning
This verse is a foundational statement about the purpose of the church and its role as a pillar and buttress of truth. It defines the church's vital function in the world, which is to uphold and support the truth of God as revealed in Scripture. The church is not merely a social gathering but a divinely appointed institution with a weighty responsibility to preserve and proclaim God's truth.
1 Timothy 3 15 Context
First Timothy 3 focuses on the qualifications and responsibilities of church leaders, specifically overseers (bishops) and deacons. After detailing these qualifications, Paul turns to Timothy, instructing him on how to behave within the context of the church. Verse 15 serves as a pivotal point, explaining the significance of Timothy's correct conduct by connecting it to the church's identity and divine purpose. The letter was written to Timothy in Ephesus, a bustling city where the nascent Christian faith faced challenges from pagan practices and heretical teachings. Paul's instruction to Timothy was to establish and maintain sound doctrine and order within the local church, equipping believers to live faithfully and counteract false teachings.
1 Timothy 3 15 Word Analysis
- "οἶδας" (oidas): Greek for "you know." This implies that Timothy, as a spiritual leader, possesses knowledge or has been entrusted with understanding how to act within the Christian community.
- "πῶς" (pōs): Greek for "how." This emphasizes the manner or method of conduct.
- "δεῖ" (dei): Greek for "it is necessary" or "one ought." This indicates a divine imperative or obligation regarding behavior.
- "συνστρέφεσθαι" (sunstrephesthai): Greek, a verb meaning "to conduct oneself," "to behave," or "to behave oneself properly." It speaks to ordered and appropriate actions within a community.
- "ἐν" (en): Greek preposition for "in" or "within."
- "οἴκῳ" (oikō): Greek for "house" or "household." Here, it refers to the spiritual household of God.
- "θεοῦ" (theou): Greek for "God."
- "ἐκκλησίᾳ" (ekklēsia): Greek for "church." The assembly or gathering of believers.
- "ζῶντος" (zontos): Greek for "living." Refers to the vibrant, active, and eternal nature of God.
- "θεοῦ" (theou): Greek for "God."
- "στῦλον" (stylon): Greek for "pillar." Something that supports and holds up.
- "ἕδραίωμα" (hedraima): Greek for "foundation," "buttress," or "support." Something that makes firm or uphbles.
- "τῆς" (tēs): Greek definite article, "the."
- "ἀληθείας" (alētheias): Greek for "truth."
Words-Group Analysis:
- "the house of God, which is the church of the living God": This powerful phrase identifies the church not just as a building, but as the living, vibrant dwelling place of the living God. It's the extension of God's presence and activity in the world.
- "the pillar and buttress of the truth": This imagery highlights the church's active role in upholding and strengthening the truth. It's not passive but an essential support structure, making the truth stand firm against opposing forces and error. The pillar signifies prominence and visibility, while the buttress signifies reinforcement and stability.
1 Timothy 3 15 Bonus Section
The imagery of the "pillar and buttress" suggests that truth is not self-evidencing in a way that requires no human agency to uphold it. The church is commissioned to make the truth stand firm. This relates to the Old Testament concept of the Temple as God's dwelling place and a place where God’s law was preserved and taught. Just as the Temple stood as a visible testimony to God’s presence and covenant, the church stands as a living testament to God’s revealed truth. This verse also implicitly warns against anything that would compromise or weaken this foundational role, such as doctrinal error or unholy living, which would undermine the very pillar it is meant to be. The concept of the "living God" also stands in stark contrast to the pagan deities prevalent in the ancient world, many of which were associated with inanimate idols or forces of nature. The church represents the worship and service of the one true, eternal, and active God.
1 Timothy 3 15 Commentary
1 Timothy 3:15 elevates the church to a position of profound significance. It is presented as the God-occupied space where truth resides and is made manifest. The church's mission, therefore, intrinsically involves safeguarding and promoting the truth of God. This involves living according to its teachings, proclaiming its message faithfully, and defending it against distortion and denial. The "living God" aspect underscores that the church is a dynamic entity, animated by His presence, unlike inert idols or philosophies. The church's very existence and ordered functioning are tied to its function as a staunch supporter and public defender of divine truth.