The is Part Pastoral in my series, How do the apostles refer to the church? Today I will look at 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon, which are known as the Pastoral Epistles. Paul left Timothy in Ephesus and Titus in Crete to organize the brethren; Philemon is a personal letter concerning Philemon’s reconciliation with Onesimus. Paul’s emphasis in these epistles is on what Timothy and Titus should teach and how they should conduct themselves, consequently he has very little to say about the church. I say that, yet obviously Paul tells them about elders, widows, and church life (prayer, preaching, reading the Scriptures etc.), but he doesn’t spend much time on what the church is, that would be what Timothy and Titus would be responsible for. However, he does have one very powerful word about the church.
Church occurs only 4 times in these four epistles.
1 Timothy 3:5 the church of God
1 Timothy 3:15 the church of the living God
1 Timothy 5:16 the church
Philemon 1:2 the church in thy house
Brethren also occurs 4 times
1 Timothy 4:6 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
(see also 1 Timothy 5:1; 6:2; 2 Timothy 4:21)
Now comes the really powerful word about the church:
1 Timothy 3:15 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.
the house of God - This means family of God. This is why we are brethren. We are family first and foremost. I've been repeating this throughout this series, just like that broken record (see 1 Corinthians) - we ought to speak of ourselves as brethren, and call each other brother and sister.
There are those who say by house of God he means the temple of God, the place where God dwells. Where does God dwell on the earth? In the church of the living God! Doesn’t matter to me which view one takes: it is either we are family or we are where God is. Can't lose!
the church of the living God - Other than location, churches of Galatia, church of God is the most common name given to the brethren. The church did not belong to Paul or Titus or Peter. It does not belong to your pastor or denomination. And it is not your church, or my church. This is God's church, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Christ is the head of the church. Who gets to decide what happens in a church? what is allowable? what is taught etc? Christ, by the Holy Spirit.
the pillar and ground of the truth - What does he mean by this? "The idea is that the church is the pillar, and, as such, the prop or support of the truth. The church is the pillar of the truth, and the function of the pillar is to support." (Marvin Vincent, Vincent's Word Studies) So pillar and ground refer to things which support a building. God has deposited his full revelation in the Church. What a privilege! God’s revelation for the world is with the church. Whoever wants the truth can find it in the church, the people of God. Ah, but what a responsibility!! How will it go with those churches who have compromised the truth, hidden it, defaced it, denied it? Hear John Calvin:
“The pillar and foundation of truth - 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? 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!
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, and 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. Consequently this commendation relates to the ministry of the word; for if that be removed, the truth of God will fall to the ground. Paul simply means what he states elsewhere in other words, that since our “faith is by hearing,” there will be no faith, unless there be 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 be 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.”
Yeah, what he said!
Next: Hebrews – 1 Peter
No comments:
Post a Comment