1 Timothy 3:14-15: The House of God
2021-10-03
Verse 14-15
Paul anticipated coming to Timothy after writing these charges concerning bishops and deacons. He did not know if he would be for sure. Things happen. He had good intentions. However, all these things were urgent things that could not wait until then, which was the reason for the letter.
The things Paul wrote were so he would “know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God” (1 Timothy 3:15). Timothy is in the church planting process. He is setting it up so they have leaders and know how a church should be run. What is appropriate in church, and what is not? Timothy had to be reminded of these things.
Note that the church is called the house of God. The house of God primarily means the tabernacle, like it does in Judges 18:31 and 1 Chronicles 6:48, and later the temple, such as in 1 Chronicles 22:2. This was where the glory of God dwelt on earth. Most of the times the phrase is used, it refers to one of these places.
The house of God also referred to the place where Jacob had his dreadful dream (Genesis 28:10-22). Angels descended from and ascended to heaven in Luz, where Jacob stayed the night, on the run from Esau. The LORD renewed His promise to Jacob, that He promised to Abraham and Isaac: his descendants would get the land, he would have numerous descendants, and that God would be with him. Jacob in turn called Luz Bethel, which means house of God.
The church has superseded all those things. The church is not a building. Specifically, a church is a congregation:
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)
I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:12)
The congregation/church is where God now dwells on earth. It is where God meets with His people. It is the most holy place. The church is likened to where the ark of the covenant was, where the high priest went in once a year. The house of God is that most sacred place of all. It is likened to where the ladder that reached heaven was.
It is also proper to say that a house could refer to a family and household, and even a dynasty, like David’s house in 2 Samuel 7:11-12. Where is God’s family and household? It is the church.
Therefore, it matters whether we get good bishops and deacons in the church. Therefore, it matters how people behave in church. It is the most sacred place on earth. Everything must be done right.
The church is called “the church of the living God.” It is where God’s people are congregated. God is called the living God because He is the real God, not a dead, dumb idol. He speaks to His people.
This congregation is called “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). The church is where the foundation of truth is found. Truth’s foundation is not with the scientist or the politician. It is not in the university. We need to believe that the church is the foundation of truth in the world. If the church is God’s house, how can it not be the foundation of truth?