1 Timothy 3:15

1 Timothy 3:15 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of 1 Timothy 3:15

13For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. 16By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 3:15 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ βραδύνω, ἵνα εἰδῇς πῶς δεῖ ἐν οἴκῳ θεοῦ ἀναστρέφεσθαι, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἐκκλησία θεοῦ ζῶντος, στῦλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας.¶Read the interlinear

• in caseἐάνean · ifG1437
• I amβραδύνωbradunō · to delayG1019
• soἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• howπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• one oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• to conductἀναστρέφωanastrepho · to live/returnG390
• the householdοἶκοςoikos · house: householdG3624
• of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• whichὅστιςhostis hētis ho6ti · who/whichG3748
• churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577
• the livingζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• pillarστῦλοςstulos · pillarG4769
• and supportἑδραίωμαhedraiōma · foundationG1477
• of the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225

Cross-references for 1 Timothy 3:15

• 1 Timothy 3:2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
• Deuteronomy 31:23Then He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
• 1 Kings 2:2“I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.
• 1 Chronicles 22:13Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.
• 1 Chronicles 28:9“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
• Acts 1:2until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.
• Ephesians 2:21in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
• 2 Timothy 2:20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
• Hebrews 3:2He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.
• 1 Peter 2:5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
• 1 Timothy 3:5(but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
• 1 Timothy 4:10For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
• 1 Timothy 6:16who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
• Deuteronomy 5:26For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?
• Joshua 3:10Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite.
• 1 Samuel 17:26Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15But if I tarry long - That is: Not withstanding I hope to come to thee shortly, and therefore do not feel the necessity of writing at large; yet, lest I should be delayed, I write what I judge necessary to direct thy conduct in the Church of God. The house of God - This is spoken in allusion to the ancient tabernacle; which was God's house, and in which the symbol of the Divine Majesty dwelt. So the Christian Church is God's house, and every believer is a…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15But if I tarry long - Paul appears to have been uncertain how long circumstances would require him to be absent. He expected to return, but it was possible that his hope of returning soon would be disappointed. That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself - That is, that he might have just views about settling the affairs of the church. In the house of God - This does not mean in a place of public worship, nor does it refer to propriety of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-16Verses 14-16 The church is the house of God; he dwells there. The church holds forth the Scripture and the doctrine of Christ, as a pillar holds forth a proclamation. When a church ceases to be the pillar and ground of truth, we may and ought to forsake her; for our regard to truth should be first and greatest. The mystery of godliness is Christ. He is God, who was made flesh, and was manifest in the flesh. God was pleased to manifest himself to man, by…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15God’s household: The earliest churches were churches that met in homes (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). They followed similar rules of behavior to Greek and Roman households (see study note on 1 Tim 3:4–5). Breaking the rules brought shame to the whole household and its leader. The same applies to the church (compare Ephesians 2:19–22; Hebrews 3:6; 10:21; 1 Peter 4:17). the pillar and foundation of the truth: This idea…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. But if I tarry long--before coming to thee. that--that is, I write (1Ti 3:14) "that thou mayest know," &c. behave thyself--in directing the Church at Ephesus (1Ti 4:11). the house of God--the Church (He 3:2, 5, 6; 10:21; 1Pe 4:17; 1Co 3:16, "the temple of God"; Ep 2:22). which is--that is, inasmuch as it is. the church--"the congregation." The fact that the sphere of thy functions is "the congregation of the living God" (who is the ever living Master…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Timothy 3:15

• Church
• House
• Minister, Christian
• Truth

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• House of God
• Bishop
• Blameless
• Controversy
• Covetous
• Degree
• Hospitality
• Mystery

Commentaries on 1 Timothy 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings