1 Tim 3:14-15

The typical scriptural support for sola scriptura (Bible only) is 2 Tim 3:17.

What about 1 Tim 3:14-15? "Although I hope to come to you soon, I am 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."

This tells me that there are two ways for Christians to learn to be Christians ("conduct themselves in church"): (a) direct instruction from the apostles and (b) reading the scriptures. The first is preferable, but not realistic for us.

Roman Catholics look at the part that says "the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" to mean that you look to the Church to find truth. If you read the verses in context, Paul is clearly rejecting the idea of following the sinful examples of the churchmen. (That's what the epistles are all about - the apostles reprimanding the churchmen for teaching error and sin.)

1) What is referred to as the "pillar and foundation of the truth" - is it "the church" or "the living God"?

2) If it is the church, does that have any effect on our theology?