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If I am delayed, you will know how people conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all questions, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. (I Timothy 3:15-16)
In this passage, Paul explains the role of the Church and outlines the foundational truth of the Christian faith. In verse 15, Paul says, “the church of the living God is a pillar and buttress of the truth.” He uses a building illustration to describe the responsibility of the church in guarding God’s truth. Pillars are those large columns that hold a structure up, and a buttress is a support that reinforces the walls and foundation of a structure St Paul sees the Church as the “house of God which is the pillar of truth, and acts as a guardian and supporter of truth.
In the ancient world, the pillars that supported great temples often contained inscriptions, poems, and sculptures relating the most important events in the lives of generals and heroes. This information would be lasting to be read by the successive generations as long as the pillars stood. Paul used this metaphor to make it clear that the Church, which is God’s house must proclaim God’s deeds and the truth about him. Since the Church of the living God is a pillar and buttress of the truth, it is therefore paramount that the character of the men and women who are ordained and installed as leaders, elders and deacons in the Church of God must match the biblical truth. It is troubling and shameful to see priest and bishops to openly disregarding the truth of the core elements of moral Christian teachings.
Inspired by this metaphor, Paul in verse 16, Paul highlights the mystery of Godliness in a poetic structure which the bishops, pastors and deacons are called to uphold. This mystery speaks of Jesus Christ and summarizes the key points about him that: He appeared in flesh, was justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations believed on in the world and taken up in glory. The phrase: “He appeared in the flesh” obviously refers to Christ’s incarnation: “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John1:14) Justified in the Spirit” refers to God’s approval of Christ’s ministry and death through the great triumph of His resurrection.
“Seen of angels refers to the constant assistance of angels in the life and earthly ministry of Jesus. Angels appeared to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem to announce the birth of the Christ child (Lk. 2:13).
Angels ministered to Christ at the conclusion of His temptation (Mt. 4:11).
Angels proclaimed His resurrection (Mt. 28:5–6). Angels stood by at His ascension (Acts 1:10), and angels will accompany Him when He returns (Mt. 25:31; 1 Th. 4:16).
The phrase: preached unto the Gentiles expresses the breadth of Christ’s exposure, universal and broad in its scope as expressed in the great commission. (Mt. 28:18–20) St Paul headed up the ministry to the Genties and calls himself “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13) As faithful Christian believers that are dedicated and committed to the Lord, we have a collective responsibility to preach and spread out the authentic gospel truth, maintain, keep, protect and live out this biblical truth in our daily lives.
Archbishop Justin Badi
Primate of the Episcopal Church in South Sudan and
Chairman of GSFA
