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 在这节非常重要的经文中，保罗阐述了他写提摩太前书的原因，提供了新约中对教会身份和使命的关键描述之一。保罗经常使用家（希腊语 oikos）和相关词语来描述教会及其事工（参见林前 4:1；加 6:10；弗 2:19；以及提前 3:4-5, 12, 15; 5:4, 8, 14; 参彼前 4:17）。它将教会描述为神的家，特别是在教会和家庭中的权柄和责任方面。重点是神对教会的权柄以及教会中人们的行为。永生神的教会强调教会是神最清楚地彰显祂临在的聚集（希腊文 ekklēsia，“集会”）。因此，圣经中提到上帝为“永生上帝”时，常常指的是他在信徒群体中的实际存在和临在（参见民 14:28；书 3:10；太 16:16；林后 6 :16；来3:12；9:14；10:31）。将教会视为真理的柱石和根基是一种说法，表明神已将推广和保护福音（即“真理”；参见提前 2:4 的注释）的任务委托给教会。这种建筑意象展现了教会在观看的世人面前“高举”福音的责任，可能是为了击退错误教导的攻击。这样一种教会的画面是很引人注目。传播福音的角色是神圣赋予教会的，而不是（至少不是以同样的方式）任何其他机构。类教会的机构具有价值，但它们必须支持而不是取代教会。

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