Reading 1 Timothy this morning, I was struck by the first century hymn quoted by Paul at the end of chapter 3. The hymn follows Paul’s instructions concerning the appointment of overseers (elders) and deacons. Paul notes that he hopes to give these instructions in person, but that he is “writing you these instructions so that, 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.” (1 Tim. 3:14-15.)
I never noticed before what an amazing ecclesiological passage this is. It seems to pull together much of the reading and scribbling I’ve been doing over the past year about truth and epistemology. Paul says the church, the community of God’s people, is “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” This is what seems to be missing in much of our hyper-individualist evangelical culture. Perhaps in some ways it’s a sour fruit of the Reformation. We need to regain an understanding of the community of faith as “the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
Now, on to the hymn. After his ecclesiological statement, Paul concludes that, “[b]eyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great,” and then quotes this Christological hymn:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels;
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.
How I wish I could sit in one of those first century house churches and sing this hymn with that first generation of believers who composed it! And yet I can — the Christological hymn naturally follows Paul’s ecclesiological statement about truth because Christ is the head of the Church. When I proclaim the truth of Christ in the community of God’s people gathered together in a particular time and place, I become part of the pillar of truth extending back through the first century to the Church’s founding at Pentecost. This is an incredible mystery to celebrate.
3 replies on “An Ancient Hymn, and the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth”
Hi. I should read your blog just for the vocabulary – epistemology.
I like the name of your blog and the Scripture reference. Seeing Him face to face. That’s what I want more than anything.
It seems to me that one should be able to see His face, at least darkly, in the Christian community. I’m a little discouraged right now because sometimes it seems like the sea of faces is all darkness, and the lights are few and far between. Can you pray for me?
It started weeks ago when I started watching a little TBN here and there. I saw some good things, but I also saw a lot of confusing stuff that made me hurt a little in my spirit. The one thing I saw that really stands out is the show Breakthrough with Rod Parsley. It was upsetting to me because they were promoting “prayer cloths.” They had a big bin of them in the middle of the floor, and periodically someone would pray over them. That’s all good except that things were being said that insinuated (not directly) that if you give money to TBN, you can be healed of an ailment, promoted in a job, or find success in some other physical area.
Rod Parsley said that his father’s two kidneys were filled with cancer. Then God told him to give $10,000 to TBN. He did. Then when he came back from being on tour, his father was free of cancer.
They had a woman pastor come up on stage who said that she prayed to God that her ministry, which was floundering, would be like Rod Parsley’s. She requested a prayer cloth and received it. She said after that her ministry boomed. She was listed in a magazine, along with Rod Parsley, as one of the top 12 ministers in America. She recently met with Condoleeza Rice, and this was held up as some really great blessing from God. It seems to me the focus is on all the wrong things. Power. Money. Position. All, of course, for the glory of God because we can’t glorify God as much in a humble position as in an exalted one.
One person said he got a big windfall of money after getting a prayer cloth.
Worse than that is the description on the website of the spiritual powers of the prayer cloth. The prayer cloth has no powers. “With the prayer cloth, you’re just as close to Jesus as the woman who touched the hem of His garment and received her healing… Reach out to claim your MIRACLE TOUCH. Make your secure, online gift today to receive “Touched by the Anointing” and ensure that a prayer cloth will rest on the altar… just for you!” You can receive a free prayer cloth (not giving any gift is the last of three options when you request one), but that doesn’t make it right.
God has told me to be a light. He has told all of us to be a light in the midst of darkness, not to be dragged down by it, not to be so discouraged by the presence of the darkness that it makes us useless. I have to remember that.
It seems I’ve had a hard time trying to fit into Christian community in truth. I can fit in with lies, meaning that if I don’t speak my convictions and remain silent and go with the flow, everyone’s happy, but when I see sad things which compromise God and people’s relationship with Him, and say so, people don’t like it.
I can learn more gentleness. God has just recently planted in my heart what I feel is the seed of gentleness (for which I’m grateful). I can ask for God’s guidance and help and be careful about how I phrase things. I can grow in holiness in other areas because I’ve caught myself before doing the very things I was so sworn agains (which really is more disgraceful to me than anything). But I find that I am helpless to change the message. When I hear something that is “off,” I have to say something about it. When I’m in Christian community, and something is presented as truth that is not truth, my mouth usually does not stay shut. I’m not talking about church services. I’m talking about small group contexts where things are opened up for discussion.
So I’m having a hard time. It seems like everywhere I go in the Christian community, things are great for a while, and then something like this happens. Then I feel down and feel like running away. Sometimes I’m not sure when to cut out and when to stay.
Do you ever experience this? Is Christian community always a positive experience for you?
When I focus on being a light and not worrying about the consequence, whether it be fun or not, things are better. When I focus on hearing Him and giving Him glory, and loving Him as well as I can, things are better. That’s what I must do.
Please pray for me. I’ll take all the prayer I can get. I’m sure there’s something that I’m not seeing, and I’m sure that there is no reason to not shine brightly for Jesus Christ no matter the circumstance. I’m also sure that there must be a lot more light in that sea of faces than I am visually acknowledging to myself. Even if there wasn’t, it wouldn’t matter. Father, my job is still the same, isn’t it? And Father, You still love me and will lead me, guide me, and help me. You are so great. Thanks Lord. Thank You so much.
Great reflections, Daivd and Mary. Mary, as I think you are saying, things that call themselves Christian (or churches) aren’t always so. John and Peter both warn us that false prophets will come into the midst of churches and to deceive.
That’s why the emphasis on the local church in Timothy is so wonderful. Paul here is not talking abstractly about some super-entity. He is talking about Timothy’s local congregation. Timothy’s own congregation is a household of God and a pillar of truth. The article “the” is not in the Greek, but has been added historically by those interested in making the passage seem applicable to church institutions other than local congregations. I think that the original sense is more powerful.
Multinational corporations are as individualistic as sole proprietorships (the individual is a suspended atom in both, connected by rules to others rather than through living human connections) — individualism is overcome when individuals love and sacrifice for one another, not by becoming “members” of some big group. The local church, where people know and love each other and pray and develop together, that is the answer to individualism.
Likewise, such true loving local communities are a pillar and a foundation for the truth. As John teaches us, a loving spirit is our best guide to a true Christian community. Mary, I think that you are right in your discernments — but the best thing to do is to replace T.V. with entry into a local community of Christian love. Unfortunately, there is no alternative to that.
Thanks again for the great posts. I will remember to pray for you.
Mary, thanks so much for sharing this. I agree wholeheartedly with Pensans here, and I will pray for you as well. Unfortunately there are those who exploit the name of Christ for money, and many of those appear in popular meadia like TV with a “health and wealth” gospel that really isn’t the gospel at all. I pray that you’ll find a good local fellowship in which the Bible is taught and Christ is truly honored. If you do that, and get involved in the local ministry, I’m sure you’ll find more of the genuine fellowship you seek. Drop me an email if you like and I might be able to direct you to friends in whatever part of the country you’re in who can help you find a good local church.