John Calvin 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)

How you ought to conduct yourself: By this mode of expression he commends the weight and dignity of the office, because pastors may be regarded as stewards to whom God has committed the charge of governing His house. If any person has the superintendence of a large house, he labors night and day with earnest solicitude, that nothing may go wrong through his neglect, or ignorance, or carelessness. If this is done merely for men, how much more should it be done for God?

In the house of God: There are good reasons why God bestows this name on His Church, for not only has He received us to be His children by the grace of adoption, but He also dwells in the midst of us.

The pillar and foundation of truth: No ordinary enhancement is derived from this title. Could it have been described in loftier language? Is anything more venerable, or more holy, than that everlasting truth which embraces both the glory of God and the salvation of men? If all the praises of heathen philosophy, with which it has been adorned by its followers, were collected into one heap, what is this in comparison to the dignity of this wisdom, which alone deserves to be called light and truth, the instruction of life, the way, and the kingdom of God?

Now, it is preserved on earth by the ministry of the Church alone. What a weight, therefore, rests on the pastors, who have been entrusted with the charge of so inestimable a treasure! With what impudent trifling do Papists argue from the words of Paul that all their absurdities ought to be held as oracles of God, because they are “the pillar of truth,” and therefore cannot err!

First, we ought to see why Paul adorns the Church with so magnificent a title. By holding out to pastors the greatness of the office, he undoubtedly intended to remind them with what fidelity, industry, and reverence they ought to discharge it. How dreadful is the vengeance that awaits them if, through their fault, that truth, which is the image of the Divine glory, the light of the world, and the salvation of men, shall be allowed to fall! This consideration ought undoubtedly to lead pastors to tremble continually, not to deprive them of all energy, but to excite them to greater vigilance.

Hence we may easily conclude in what sense Paul uses these words. The reason why the Church is called the “pillar of truth” is that she defends and spreads it by her agency. God does not Himself come down from heaven to us, nor does He daily send angels to make known His truth; He employs pastors, whom He has appointed for that purpose.

To express it in a simpler manner, is not the Church the mother of all believers? Does she not regenerate them by the word of God, educate and nourish them through their whole life, strengthen, and finally bring them to absolute perfection? For this same reason, she is also called “the pillar of truth,” because the office of administering doctrine, which God has placed in her hands, is the only instrument for preserving the truth, so that it may not perish from the remembrance of men.

Consequently, this commendation relates to the ministry of the word, for if that is removed, the truth of God will fall to the ground. This is not because it is less strong if it is not supported by the shoulders of men, as the same Papists idly talk; for it is a shocking blasphemy to say that the word of God is uncertain until it obtains from men what may be called a borrowed certainty.

Paul simply means what he states elsewhere in other words: that since our faith is by hearing, there will be no faith unless there is preaching (Romans 10:17). Accordingly, in reference to men, the Church maintains the truth because by preaching the Church proclaims it, because she keeps it pure and entire, because she transmits it to posterity.

And if the instruction of the gospel is not proclaimed, if there are no godly ministers who by their preaching rescue truth from darkness and forgetfulness, instantly falsehoods, errors, impostures, superstitions, and every kind of corruption will reign. In short, silence in the Church is the banishment and crushing of the truth. Is there anything at all forced in this exposition?

Having ascertained Paul’s meaning, let us return to the Papists. First, by applying this praise to themselves, they act wickedly, because they deck themselves with borrowed feathers. For, granting that the Church were elevated above the third heaven, I maintain that it has nothing to do with them in any way.

Indeed, I even turn the whole passage against them; for, if the Church “is the pillar of truth,” it follows that the Church is not with them, when the truth not only lies buried but is shockingly torn, and thrown down, and trampled underfoot. Is this either a riddle or a quibble?

Paul does not intend for any society in which the truth of God does not hold a lofty and conspicuous place to be acknowledged as a Church; now, there is nothing of all this in Popery, but only ruin and desolation; and, therefore, the true mark of a Church is not found in it.

But the mistake arises from this: they do not consider what is of the greatest importance—that the truth of God is maintained by the pure preaching of the gospel, and that its support does not depend on the faculties or understandings of men, but rests on what is far higher; that is, on its not departing from the simple word of God.