Why is the church called the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul writes to Timothy, so he will know how people ought to conduct themselves in the church, which Paul calls "the pillar and ground of the truth” (KJV). The comments preceding that part illustrate that Paul isn't using the word “church” to mean a building, but rather an assembly of believers. Throughout the Old Testament, that assembly was the nation of Israel (Exodus 19:5–6; Leviticus 20; 26). In the New Testament, the church was first announced by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 and later inaugurated in Acts 2 upon the arrival of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had promised (John 14; 16). This new assembly was powered by the Holy Spirit, who guided the apostles to remember all Jesus taught them (John 14:26; 16:13), baptizing believers into the assembly (1 Corinthians 12:13), manifesting Himself in each believer (1 Corinthians 12:4–11), sealing and indwelling all believers (Ephesians 1:13–14), providing God's Word in writing (2 Peter 1:20–21), and bearing fruit in believers' lives (Galatians 5:22). Because of God's direct involvement with believers, it is no surprise Paul would call the church the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15 [KJV]).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Leviticus 20:26 describes God’s expectations for His chosen people: “You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” Just as the nation of Israel was set apart by God to show His holiness, today’s assembly of believers—the church—is to be “the pillar and ground of the truth” to the world (1 Timothy 3:15 [KJV]).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul describes how the church—the body of believers, not the building—should represent the Lord: “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.” In previous verses, Paul had delineated the qualities that church leaders should have, and in 3:15, he asserts that all believers, not just the leaders, must behave in a way that befits members of God’s assembly. Christ is the foundation of truth, and believers must reflect truth.
• After Peter confesses Christ as “Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The “rock”—petros in Greek—is the truth of who Christ is. Christ, as the Messiah, is the source of truth, which the church is responsible for manifesting.
• In 2 Timothy 3:16, Paul writes, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” God has revealed truth through His holy Word, the Bible. To be the “pillar and ground of the truth,” the church must follow scripture (1 Timothy 3:15 [KJV]). Believers are to represent God's revealed truth by holding unwaveringly to God's Word. Thus, in Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he tells him to continue in what Timothy had learned—specifically, the sacred writings that provide wisdom leading to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:14–15).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

People are sometimes called “pillars” of the community because they represent community standards and values. This is similar to how Paul uses “pillar” in 1 Timothy 3:15. Paul describes the assembly of believers as “the pillar and ground of the truth” (KJV). That’s because Scripture and the Holy Spirit work in the lives of believers to reveal Christ to the world. Anyone can call himself a Christian, but whether that designation is accurate depends on how he represents the revealed truth of God. What about you? Are you acting in ways that would please God and represent Him rightly to others? When we’re disputing a return policy at a retail store, dealing with a surly DMV employee, or navigating our way through aggressive drivers in traffic, we should never forget that, as believers, we are the church. Wearing a cross necklace or putting a Jesus fish on our cars doesn’t make us pillars of truth. We reveal truth in our interactions with others, including our eagerness to share the gospel with them. Because of God's direct involvement with believers, it is no surprise Paul would call the church the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15 [KJV]).

UNDERSTAND

• The church represents God's truth to the world.
• Believers reflect God’s character and the truth of His Word.
• The church upholds and shares the gospel, God’s truth.

REFLECT

• How are you personally reflecting God’s truth in your daily life and interactions with others?
• Where in your life can you better represent the “pillar and ground of the truth” as a believer?
• How does the church's role as the "pillar and ground of the truth" influence your understanding of its mission in the world?

ENGAGE

• How can the church, as an assembly of believers, better fulfill its role in representing God's truth to the world today?
• What practical steps can we take to ensure that we are living out the truth of God's Word as individuals and as a church?
• How does the relationship between the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and the believer contribute to the church being the "pillar and ground of the truth"?