Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Timothy 3:15

"but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." — 1 Timothy 3:15 (ASV)

But if I tarry long.—St. Paul felt that dangers were pressing closer and closer—that the hoped-for visit to his loved church at Ephesus might not, and probably never would be, accomplished. Therefore, these preceding solemn directions regarding the choice of colleagues in the ministry had been written to Timothy, so that, if St. Paul never came to him again, people (especially the ministers of God) would know how to conduct themselves in the congregation.

That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself.—These words refer not only to Timothy but rather to Timothy and his colleagues in their church work, for whom such particular directions had just been given. The phrase should be translated, how men ought to behave themselves.

In the house of God.—The image is from the Old Testament, where “the house of God” denotes, first, the Temple of Jerusalem, and second, the covenant people. It is used here for the congregation of believers among whom God dwells—the true and enduring Church of living souls. The Jerusalem house on Mount Zion, with its marvellous work and its gorgeous and elaborate symbolism, was the poor, perishable, hand-wrought model of this great spiritual temple, whose cornerstone is Christ.

Which is the church of the living God.—The house of God is here plainly defined as the “Church” (or, congregation) “of the living God,” who was working in its midst actively and personally. This is in strong contrast to the well-known graven image of Diana of Ephesus, enthroned in that beautiful temple which glittered in its white and lifeless beauty over the roofs of the city where Timothy ministered.

The pillar and ground of the truth.—The imagery changes here. The “house of God,” which the Apostle had just defined as the Church, or congregation, belonging to the living God and in whose midst He was pleased to dwell, is now defined as “the pillar and ground” (or, basis) “of the truth.” In the first picture, St. Paul portrays the Church as a vast congregation with the living God dwelling in its midst: in the second, the same Church is portrayed as a massive pillar, holding up and displaying before humans and angels the truth—the saving truth of the gospel.

In the first picture, the prominent thought is of a great company gathered together for God to dwell among: in the second, the thought of the great redemption-truth alone comes to the forefront, and the Church of God is no longer viewed as a company of separate individuals, but as one massive foundation pillar, supporting and displaying the glories of redemption.

This peculiar aspect of the Church, “the support and pillar of the truth,” was probably emphasized by the Apostle as “defining—with indirect allusion to nascent and developing heresies—the true characteristic, office, and vocation of the Church. . . . If there were no Church, there would be no witness, no guardian of archives, no basis, nothing on which acknowledged truth could rest” (Ellicott).