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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
1 Tim 3 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V16
OET (OET-LV) but if I_may_be_slowing, in_order_that you_may_have_known how it_is_fitting to_be_being_conducted in the_household of_god, which is the_assembly of_god the_living, the_pillar and foundation of_the truth.
OET (OET-RV) but if I get delayed, at least you’ll know how to organise God’s household—that is the assembly of the living God—which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
In this section, Paul described the qualifications for Christian leaders, those who lead a group of believers.
This section can be divided into three paragraphs:
Paragraph 3:1–7: The sort of people who should be overseers
Paragraph 3:8–13: The sort of people who should be deacons
Paragraph 3:14–16: The reason Paul wrote this letter to Timothy
Paul again stated the reason that he was writing this letter. Then he quoted a hymn about Christ.
in case I am delayed,
I may have to postpone my coming,
in case I am delayed: Paul knew that there was a possibility that he would not visit Timothy very soon. The Greek verb is active (“I delay”) rather than passive (I am delayed). So it should not be translated as meaning that he might be held back by force. Paul knew that he might himself decide to wait.
so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household,
but I still want you to know how people should behave with other members of God’s family,
so that: The connector so that introduces the purpose for which Paul was writing to Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to know the way to teach the believers even if Paul himself could not come to visit.
how each one must conduct himself: Paul was referring to the way that God wanted believers to behave. He was including himself, Timothy, and all other believers. Paul was especially referring to the way that believers should treat each other.
God’s household: This is a metaphor that refers to the community of believers. Believers are related to each other like brothers and sisters in a family. They are related to God like children are related to their father. Paul used the same Greek word for household here as he did in 3:12b.
which is the church of the living God,
which is the community which belongs to God, who truly lives,
which is the church of the living God: Paul here used a different description of God’s household (3:15b). It refers to the people who belong to the living God.
church: The Greek word that the BSB translates as church does not refer to a church building, but to all true believers. Together they form the assembly or community of God’s people. Avoid using a term that might suggest that Paul was referring to a building. Some ways of translating the term church are:
the assembly of God’s people
the community of God’s people
God’s family
God’s people
See also the notes on 3:5b and 5:16c.
the living God: That is, God is alive and active. He is not like idols that never lived. The same phrase occurs in 4:10b. The other NT references are Matthew 16:16, 26:63; Acts 14:15; Romans 9:26; 2 Corinthians 3:3, 6:16; Hebrews 3:12, 9:14, 10:31, 12:22; Revelation 7:2.
the pillar and foundation of the truth.
the pillar and foundation that supports the truth and makes it strong.
The church supports God’s true message like a pillar supports a building and it strengthens the message like a foundation makes a building strong.
the pillar and foundation of the truth: This is a metaphor that explains that the church supported and strengthened the truth. The truth (of the gospel) was like a building, and the community of believers was like a pillar and foundation. Just as a pillar and a foundation support and strengthen a building, the community of believers supports and strengthens the truth.
pillar: A pillar is a tall post, usually made of stone, that supports the roof of a building. The same Greek word is used in Galatians 2:9 and Revelation 3:12, 10:1. The picture below shows the way that pillars support the roof of a building.
foundation: The Greek word that the BSB translates as foundation does not occur anywhere else in the NT. So scholars do not agree about its precise meaning here. There are two possibilities:
It could mean foundation or ground, that is, something that is the base on which a building is erected. (BSB, NIV, GW, CEV, NCV, KJV)
It could mean support, bulwark, or prop, that is, something that helps to hold a building up or protects it. (GNT, RSV, NJB, NASB, NLT, REB, NET)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The church is like the foundation of a building. The foundation of a building causes the building to remain strong.
the truth: When Paul mentioned the truth, he was referring to the gospel. See the note on the truth in 2:4b.
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast
ἐὰν δὲ βραδύνω
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ βραδύνω ἵνα εἰδῇς πῶς δεῖ ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ ἀναστρέφεσθαι ἥτις ἐστίν ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος στῦλος καί ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας)
Here Paul is indicating that, instead of coming quickly to Timothy, he may delay. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different form that indicates that Paul may delay in contrast to what he said in the previous verse about what he was hoping for. Alternate translation: [but knowing that I may delay] or [yet being aware that I might delay]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
βραδύνω
˱I˲_˓may_be˒_slowing
Here Paul may be implying that: (1) he himself might choose to delay. Alternate translation: [I choose to wait] or [I need to stay away longer] (2) something might cause or force Paul to delay. Alternate translation: [I am delayed] or [anything delays me]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
δεῖ & ἀναστρέφεσθαι
˱it˲_˓is˒_fitting & ˓to_be_being˒_conducted
Here Paul could be implying that he is instructing Timothy in how: (1) believers should behave. Alternate translation: [it is necessary for believers] (2) Timothy should behave. Alternate translation: [it is necessary for you to behave]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ
in ˓the˒_household ˱of˲_God
Here Paul speaks of believers as if they were part of the household of God. He means that God considers them to be members of his own family. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [among people who are like the household of God] or [among God’s people]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / distinguish
ἥτις ἐστὶν ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος
which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ βραδύνω ἵνα εἰδῇς πῶς δεῖ ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ ἀναστρέφεσθαι ἥτις ἐστίν ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος στῦλος καί ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας)
This phrase introduces further information about the household of God. It does not distinguish between a household of God that is the church and one that is not the church. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that introduces further information, not a distinction. Alternate translation: [by which I mean the church of the living God]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / possession
ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος
˓the˒_assembly ˱of˲_God ˓the˒_living
Here, Paul is using the possessive form to describe the church that worships and belongs to the living God. If this is not clear in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [the church that worships the living God]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
Θεοῦ ζῶντος
˱of˲_God ˱of˲_God ˓the˒_living
Here, the phrase the living God identifies God as the one who “lives.” The primary point is that God actually “lives,” unlike idols and other inanimate things that people call “god.” If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that emphasizes that God really “lives.” Alternate translation: [of the God who lives] or [of the true God]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
στῦλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας
˓the˒_pillar (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ βραδύνω ἵνα εἰδῇς πῶς δεῖ ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ ἀναστρέφεσθαι ἥτις ἐστίν ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος στῦλος καί ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας)
Here Paul speaks as if the truth were the roof of a building and of the church as if it were a pillar and support that held up that roof. He means that the church helps to preserve and proclaim the truth. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [which is like a pillar and support of the truth] or [which preserves and presents the truth]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet
στῦλος καὶ ἑδραίωμα
˓the˒_pillar (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐάν δέ βραδύνω ἵνα εἰδῇς πῶς δεῖ ἐν οἴκῳ Θεοῦ ἀναστρέφεσθαι ἥτις ἐστίν ἐκκλησία Θεοῦ ζῶντος στῦλος καί ἑδραίωμα τῆς ἀληθείας)
The terms pillar and support mean similar things. Paul is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [a foundation] or [a strong support]
Note 10 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
τῆς ἀληθείας
˱of˲_the truth
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of truth, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [of the true teaching]
3:15 household of God: The earliest churches were house churches (Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15; Phlm 1:2) that reflected the codes of conduct of Greco-Roman households (see study note on 1 Tim 3:4-5). Violating these norms brought disrepute, disgrace, and shame on the entire household and its head. The same is true for the church (cp. Eph 2:19-22; Heb 3:6; 10:21; 1 Pet 4:17).
• the church . . . is the pillar and foundation of the truth: This idea may anticipate the transition from the time of the apostles to the period after their deaths (cp. Gal 2:9; Rev 3:12). The church must be active rather than defensive in upholding the truth in the world (cp. 2 Cor 10:3-6).
OET (OET-LV) but if I_may_be_slowing, in_order_that you_may_have_known how it_is_fitting to_be_being_conducted in the_household of_god, which is the_assembly of_god the_living, the_pillar and foundation of_the truth.
OET (OET-RV) but if I get delayed, at least you’ll know how to organise God’s household—that is the assembly of the living God—which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.