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Manly Luscombe Commentary on NT

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.

1. Behave - Does this term apply to all actions of Timothy? Is there a spiritual meaning to this word?

2. In the house of God - Is Paul discussing behavior in the church building? Does this verse prohibit running the halls, eating in the building, etc.?

3. Church of the Living God - Is this phrase a title for the church? Could we put "Grundy Street Church of the Living God" on the sign in front of our building?

4. Pillar - How is the word pillar used here? Does God expect all church buildings to have pillars? How is the church a pillar? Can people be pillars? (See Galatians 2:9)

5. Ground - How is the church to be the ground of truth? What is intended by this term?

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See also 1 Timothy 3:15 in other biblical comments:

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  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

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  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

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  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

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  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

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  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

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  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

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  • The Bible Study New Testament

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 1 Timothy 3:15. HOW THOU OUGHTEST TO BEHAVE THYSELF.—The language seems open to a double interpretation, as the R.V. shows—“how men ought to behave.” Perhaps St. Paul...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 _Faithful is the saying _for _this is a true saying_,_ _A.V.; _seeketh _for _desire_,_ _A.V. FAITHFUL IS THE SAYING (see above, 1 Timothy 1:15, note). This manifestly refers...

  • The Typology of Scripture by Patrick Fairbairn

    Ver. 15. _But if I should tarry,_ [the things have been written] _in order that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to conduct thyself in God's house, which indeed is the church of the living God, the...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Tonight we will be studying First Timothy three and four. It is interesting as Paul writes to Timothy on several occasions, he uses phrases that are interesting to me. He said, This is a faithful sayi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 22:13; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Kings 2:2; 1 Kings 2:4;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    I tarry long [β ρ α δ υ ν ω]. Only here and 2 Peter 3:9. Thou oughtest to behave thyself [δ ε ι α ν α σ τ ρ ε φ ε σ θ α ι]. The verb ajnastrefesqai only here in Pastorals. In Paul, 2 Corinthians 1:12;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    That thou mayest know how to behave — This is the scope of the epistle. In the house of God — Who is the master of the family. Which is — As if he had said, By the house of God, I mean the church....

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Old Testament