3:15 In this very significant verse, Paul states his reason for writing 1 Timothy, providing one of the key NT descriptions of the church’s identity and mission. The use of household (Gk. oikos) and related words to describe the church and its ministry is common in Paul (cf. 1 Cor. 4:1; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:19; as well as 1 Tim. 3:4–5, 12, 15; 5:4, 8, 14; cf. 1 Pet. 4:17). It describes the church as God’s family, especially with reference to authority and responsibility within the church and the home. The stress is on God’s authority over the church and the behavior of people in the church. Church of the living God highlights the church as the gathering (Gk. ekklēsia, “assembly”) where God most clearly manifests his presence. Thus, references to God as the “living God” in Scripture often refer to his reality and presence in the community of believers (cf. Num. 14:28; Josh. 3:10; Matt. 16:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Heb. 3:12; 9:14; 10:31). Identifying the church as a pillar and buttress of the truth is a way of saying that God has entrusted to the church the task of promoting and protecting the gospel (i.e., “the truth”; see note on 1 Tim. 2:4). The architectural imagery presents the church’s responsibility of “holding up” the gospel before a watching world, probably with a view to repelling the attack of false teaching. This picture of the church is striking. The role of advancing the gospel is divinely given to the church, not (at least not in the same way) to any other body. Parachurch organizations have value, but they must support and not supplant the church.^[1]

3:15 在這節非常重要的經文中，保羅闡述了他寫提摩太前書的原因，提供了新約中對教會身份和使命的關鍵描述之一。保羅經常使用家（希臘語 oikos）和相關詞語來描述教會及其事工（參見林前 4:1；加 6:10；弗 2:19；以及提前 3:4-5, 12, 15; 5:4, 8, 14; 參彼前 4:17）。它將教會描述為神的家，特別是在教會和家庭中的權柄和責任方面。重點是神對教會的權柄以及教會中人們的行為。永生神的教會強調教會是神最清楚地彰顯祂臨在的聚集（希臘文 ekklēsia，“集會”）。因此，聖經中提到上帝為“永生上帝”時，常常指的是他在信徒群體中的實際存在和臨在（參見民 14:28；書 3:10；太 16:16；林後 6 :16；來3:12；9:14；10:31）。將教會視為真理的柱石和根基是一種說法，表明神已將推廣和保護福音（即“真理”；參見提前 2:4 的注釋）的任務委託給教會。這種建築意象展現了教會在觀看的世人面前“高舉”福音的責任，可能是為了擊退錯誤教導的攻擊。這樣一種教會的畫面是很引人注目。傳播福音的角色是神聖賦予教會的，而不是（至少不是以同樣的方式）任何其他機構。類教會的機構具有價值，但它們必須支持而不是取代教會。

^[1] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2330.