Christians: Consider the following passage:?

Question

1 Tim 3:15 "But if I should be delayed, you should know how to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth."

Holy Scripture tells us that the Church is the pillar and foundation of truth.

Keeping in mind that only ONE Christian Church existed at the time that this was written.

Which Church do you think this refers to?


SOURCE:
http://70.86.228.50/library/pillar.asp

RESPONSE: "I am a Baptist because I believe that most Baptist churches ... can also trace their source back to the shores of Galilee."

The Baptist churches were founded by John Smyth in Amsterdam in 1606.... hardly the shores of Galilee.

RESPONSE: Truth is a person. Jesus said,"I am the way, the truth, and the life."

YES! Jesus is the Truth. And the Truth founded ONE Church.

The Truth is the HEAD of the Church, which is His BODY (Col 1:18)

RESPONSE: The passage you've quoted would have been addressed to many churches, as Paul was in communication with many at that time.

Many Christian churches??? Wrong.

The Church is the Body of Christ. Christ only has ONE Body.

RESPONSE: It is surely not the Catholic church as they break all of God's commandments and the worst is idolitry which is spiritual fornication..

What hatred!! And you call yourself Christian??

BTW, spreading lies (which is what you are doing) is called "bearing false witness"... one of the Big 10.

Now you know.

RESPONSE: They call the priests father and the bible says call no man father on the earth..

You must go ABSOLUTELY NUTS on "Father's Day" !!

Here is the Truth about Matt. 23:9

http://www.catholic.com/library/Call_No_Man_Father.asp.

Martin_S wrote: "The office of Pope has been rightly identified as being comparable to that of the anti-Christ who sits in the temple of God claiming that he is God."

You actually believe that??

I can only respond in one way:
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!

Answer 1

CATHOLIC!

Protestantism naturally begets toleration of error. Rejecting the principle of authority in religion, it has neither criterion nor definition of faith. On the principle that every individual or sect may interpret the deposit of Revelation according to the dictates of private judgment, it gives birth to endless differences and contradictions. Impelled by the law of its own impotence, through lack of any decisive voice of authority in matters of faith, it is forced to recognize as valid and orthodox any belief that springs from the exercise of private judgment. Therefore does it finally arrive, by force of its own premises, at the conclusion that one creed is as good as another; it then seeks to shelter its inconsistency under the false plea of liberty of conscience. (Liberalism Is A Sin 8)

There are other points to consider:

1. It should also be realized by all Christians that Satan himself tempted Jesus by using Scripture and will tempt us to be in error (2 Thes 2:1-13).

2. The day Jesus was Resurrected he walked to Emmaus with two disciples. It was in the breaking of the bread that they recognized Jesus and scripture was revealed to them. (Luke 24) There is also a reference to the veil that covered Moses face that shined the light in Corinthians. It says the veil cannot be removed unless a person is joined to Christ! This is in direct reference to the light of truth. As Catholics we are "joined to Christ" in holy communion. (2 Corinthians 14-16)

3. Divine Authority was passed down by ordination since Abraham to Jesus and apostolic succession.

Answer 2

Many think that a church is a brick and mortar building, or dogma or doctrine. It however is not. The early church was called the Body of Christ and The Way. Read the book of Acts. No where in the Bible does it pick one church over another.

To claim that it does is not factual and a fraud to those who seek Jesus and are truly faithful to his teachings. Religion has done more to harm the faith than it has done to promote the faith. Religion has put up more road blocks because of all the rules and tradition that man installs to make himself equal to God. Look at the Pope. Is he not called Holy Father? But even Jesus did not make himself God but called himself the Son of God. There is but one Father God and that is not a man. Not the Pope.

Over church history in the name of the Pope many were murdered, and all kinds of wrong was done by the church. Does this make the Church's actions right? By no means. No one Church is the true church only those who are faith full to the Word of God, how model their lives after that of Christ are true members of the true church.

It is by the actions of the true believers that the proof of faith is found and not be the rules of man. Words, Dogma, and Doctrine are nothing if they are not backed up by the actions and deeds as modeled by Christ.

If you want to know what the doctrine of the true church is suppose to be look at the red letters, if Jesus said it then it is Gospel and if the church says anything different then the church is wrong.

So in answer to your question the real church is the Body of Christ. Are you truly modeling your life as exampled by Christ? Not by church standards by the red letters.

Answer 3

First Timothy is a letter written by Paul in response to Timothy's questions. Timothy was left in Ephesus to prevent false doctrines from being taught. Paul is encumbering those doctrines to Timothy in the first two chapters. Heretofore Gentiles were not included in the religious circles of the Jews. Paul describes the church as encompassing all who believe in Christ as members of the Church. The Church is invisible and universal. Not all who attend Modern Churches are included. The Church of the Faithful is the Bride of Christ. Paul is telling Timothy that if he doesn't get there on time he should continue to structure the congregation as he has outlined.

Answer 4

If you are talking about if it was catholic or baptist or lutheran, then you have to lokk at history and really the bible. I am a Baptist because I believe that most Baptist churches follow the bible which is what I base my beliefs on. they can also trace their source back to the shores of Galilee. History shows you when catholics started along with all of the other religions, and that they started after some time had passed.

Answer 5

Well, during the periods prior to, and at about the time Paul wrote to Timothy, the church was called "The Way." As it is written:

"However, I admit to you that in accordance with the Way, which they call a heresy, I worship the God of our ancestors and believe in everything written in the Law and the Prophets." (Acts 24:14)

The term "catholic" wasn't used until after the death of John the Beloved. The first recorded use of the word is found in the writings of Ignatius of Antioch, who was a young man during the time of the apostles and was the second bishop of Antioch following Peter, who went on to become bishop of Rome.

And regardless of when the church began to be known as "catholic," that merely meant the universal church as a whole. The Roman Catholic Church wasn't even an entity at the time of Paul's writings.

Answer 6

"Keeping in mind that only ONE Christian Church existed at the time that this was written. Which Church do you think this refers to?"

...hmm....let's see, there was the church in Ephesus and the church in Jerusalem, and the church in Antioch, and....

Well let's see, I guess if there was only ONE church then it must be the invisible church of Christ that is made of all born again believers no matter where they happen to congregate. The spiritual household that Peter the Apostle and Elder wrote about. Is that the church you mean?

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied...23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever....2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

You certainly don't mean the church in Rome do you? I'm amazed at the arrogance of people who put the doctrines and traditions of men above the word of God. Peter wasn't in Rome at the time telling everyone that God had made him the leader of the church and had ordered him to move the headquarters to Rome. The office of Pope has been rightly identified as being comparable to that of the anti-Christ who sits in the temple of God claiming that he is God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

If Peter wasn't up in Heaven with Jesus he would be spinning in his grave. Peter who tradition tells us thought himself unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus being followed by pompous and arrogant men who tell the world that THEY are the Vicar of Christ here on earth.

Answer 7

Who's to say they are not all the ONE? Many Christians believe that we are all part of a church whole, even when seperated by distance, time, and denominational differences. We are all followers of Christ, therefore we are all ONE.

The passage you've quoted would have been addressed to many churches, as Paul was in communication with many at that time.

Answer 8

I'm thinking it refers to the Christian church in general. Since only one church existed then, it was probably referring to that church, but to interpret it into today's context, I'd say it's talking about the body of Christ as a whole.

Answer 9

The church is not an establishment, or a building. It is not a group of rules and laws set up in traditions of men.

It is the kingdom of God. the body of the believers. Not any one denomination. I am thinking you are referring to the catholic church, but Jesus is the cornerstone, and on THAT rock(petra), I will lay my faith.

Answer 10

well I hate to tell you, but there is only one church in the whole world and it is ALL OF THE CHRISTIANS IN WHATEVER CHURCH IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
It is not a building or a denomination or group, but the body of Christ in the whole world. It is surely not the Catholic church as they break all of God's commandments and the worst is idolitry which is spiritual fornication..

The catholic church has priests and nuns, show me that in the Bible. They forbid to marry, show me that the apostles were married. They call the priests father and the bible says call no man father on the earth.. The man certainly is not (hopefully) my physical daddy. They violate everything that God says to do.

Answer 11

When Paul wrote that, the Roman Catholic Church didn't exist. What church do YOU think Paul spoke of?

PG
Biblical Christian
Member of "The Way"