Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
But if I tarry long (ean de bradunw). Condition of third class with ean and the present active subjunctive of bradunw, old verb, to be slow (usually intransitive), from braduv (slow, dull, Luke 24:25), in N.T. only here and II Peter 3:9.
That thou mayest know (ina eidhv). Final clause with ina and second perfect active subjunctive of oida, to know.
How men ought (pwv dei). "How it is necessary for thee" (supply se more naturally than tina, any one). Indirect question.
To behave themselves (anastrefesqai). Present middle (direct) infinitive of anastrefw, old verb, to turn up and down. See II Corinthians 1:12; Ephesians 2:3.
In the house of God (en oikw qeou). Probably here "household of God," that is "the family of God" rather than "the house (or temple) of God." Christians as yet had no separate houses of worship and oikov commonly means "household." Christians are the naov (sanctuary) of God (I Corinthians 3:16 f.; II Corinthians 6:16), and Paul calls them oikeioi tou qeou (Ephesians 2:19) "members of God's family." It is conduct as members of God's family (oikov) that Paul has in mind.
Which (htiv). "Which very house of God," agreeing (feminine) with the predicate word ekklhsia (church).
The church of the living God (ekklhsia qeou zwntov). Probably here the general church or kingdom as in Colossians and Ephesians, though the local church in verse I Timothy 3:5.
The pillar and ground of the truth (stulov kai edraiwma thv alhqeiav). Paul changes the metaphor again as he often does. Those words are in apposition to ekklhsia and oikov. On stulov, old word for pillar, see Galatians 2:9; Revelation 3:12 (only other N.T. examples). edraiwma, late and rare word (from edraiow, to make stable) occurs here first and only in ecclesiastical writers later. Probably it means stay or support rather than foundation or ground. See Colossians 1:23; II Timothy 2:19 for similar idea. See also Matthew 16:18 f.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Timothy 3:15:
1 Corinthians 4:1
Galatians 2:9
1 Timothy 3:5
1 Timothy 3:16
2 Timothy 2:19
Hebrews 3:2
2 Peter 3:9
Revelation 3:12
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