15 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.
What are your thoughts on this verse? What does your church say about this verse? What does your Pastor say? What are your thoughts?
Especially the part that says
"the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
Scripture does not say that Scripture is The Pillar and Foundation of the Truth. Scripture says that The CHURCH is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth.
I liked saved's point. Maybe that verse is referring to God as the pillar and foundation of truth and not the "church". It is, after all, the only place that says something like that. Usually it's God or Jesus. If you could supply us with some more scriptures that tell us to rely on the church as the foundation of truth, that would be helpful to proving your point.
Your words; " The church will Never....Never.....Never go against scripture"
hmmmm......3 Nevers! Wow
*Never #1) The church would 'Never' call a spiritual leader father. Matt 23:9~ "And do not call anyone on earth 'father' for you have one Father and he is in heaven."
*Never #2) The church would 'Never' forbid their priests, bishops and cardinals to marry and have them abstain from meat on fridays during lent. 1Tim 4:1-3~"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith......They forbid people to marrry and order them to abstain from certain foods..."
*Never #3) The church would 'Never treat their earthly spiritual leader as a king, dressing him in the finest of robes, a elaborate staff, crown like head dress and a fancy ring one kneels and kisses when they meet him. Luke 22:25-26~ "Jesus said to them , The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who excercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead , the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves."
As Desi said to Lucy: " You got some splain'n to do"
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 (Heb 3:2, 5, 6; 10:21; 1Pe 4:17; 1Co 3:16, "the temple of God"; Eph 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 of the house, 2Ti 2:19, 20, 21), is the strongest motive to faithfulness in this behavior as president of a department of the house." The living God forms a striking contrast to the lifeless idol, Diana of Ephesus (1Th 1:9). He is the fountain of "truth," and the foundation of our "trust" (1Ti 4:10). Labor directed to a particular Church is service to the one great house of God, of which each particular Church is a part, and each Christian a lively stone (1Pe 2:5).
the pillar and ground of the truth-evidently predicated of the Church, not of "the mystery of godliness" (an interpretation not started till the sixteenth century; so Bengel); for after two weighty predicates, "pillar and ground," and these substantives, the third, a much weaker one, and that an adjective, "confessedly," or "without controversy great," would not come. "Pillar" is so used metaphorically of the three apostles on whom principally the Jewish Christian Church depended (Ga 2:9; compare Re 3:12). The Church is "the pillar of the truth," as the continued existence (historically) of the truth rests on it; for it supports and preserves the word of truth. He who is of the truth belongs by the very fact to the Church. Christ is the alone ground of the truth in the highest sense (1Co 3:11). The apostles are foundations in a secondary sense (Eph 2:20; Re 21:14). The Church rests on the truth as it is in Christ; not the truth on the Church. But the truth as it is in itself is to be distinguished from the truth as it is acknowledged in the world. In the former sense it needs no pillar, but supports itself; in the latter sense, it needs the Church as its pillar, that is, its supporter and preserver [Baumgarten]. The importance of Timothy's commission is set forth by reminding him of the excellence of "the house" in which he serves; and this in opposition to the coming heresies which Paul presciently forewarns him of immediately after (1Ti 4:1). The Church is to be the stay of the truth and its conserver for the world, and God's instrument for securing its continuance on earth, in opposition to those heresies (Mt 16:18; 28:20). The apostle does not recognize a Church which has not the truth, or has it only in part. Rome falsely claims the promise for herself. But it is not historical descent that constitutes a Church, but this only, to those heresies (Mt 16:18; 28:20). The apostle does not recognize a Church which has not the intermediate; the "ground," or "basement" (similar to "foundation," 2Ti 2:19), the final support of the building [Alford]. It is no objection that, having called the Church before "the house of God," he now calls it the "pillar"; for the literal word "Church" immediately precedes the new metaphors: so the Church, or congregation of believers, which before was regarded as the habitation of God, is now, from a different point of view, regarded as the pillar upholding the truth.
It is a common reaction to be speechless when confronted with the truth. I had actually thought you would be man enough to admit the Roman Catholic church is in error on some points. To do so would be a great sign of personal integrity. When you decide to become a Christian first and a Catholic second instead of vice- a- versa then perhaps we can have some meaningful discussion on the topic.
