1 Timothy
Chapter 2
(What you will find here are my notes from a Bible Study I am attending on 1 Timothy. I hope they will prove helpful. AMP – Amplified Bible. MSG – Message Bible. BBE – Bible in Basic English. The main text I am using is the New American Standard Version.)
PRAY FOR ALL PEOPLE
1 Ti 2:1 – First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
1 Ti 2:2 – for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
How should we pray? With:
a. “entreaties” – supplications KJV – petitions (specific requests) AMP
b. “prayers”
c. “petitions” – intercessions KJV – intercessions (prayers for others) AMP
d. “thanksgivings” – giving of thanks KJV – give praise BBE
“The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.” MSG
Who should we pray for?
a. “kings” – rulers MSG
b. “all who are in authority” – all who are in [positions of] high authority AMP –
Why pray?
“that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life” – peaceable life KJV – calm and quiet life BBE
In:
“godliness”
“dignity” – honesty KJV
The ministry of prayer is the most important service that the Church of Christ can engage in. Although God is all-powerful and all-knowing, he has chosen to let us help him change the world through our prayers. How this works is a mystery to us because of our limited understanding, but it is a reality.
Primarily we should pray for governmental leaders and those in positions of lesser authority under them so that we may lead tranquil (outwardly peaceful) and quiet (inwardly peaceful) lives. We should not do so primarily for our personal ease and enjoyment but so we can carry out our purpose in the world as Christians. Our purpose is to bring the message of reconciliation to all people and to glorify God in all our relationships.
We should pray for those in authority around the world so that their societies will be conducive to the spread of the Good News. Paul's command to pray for kings is remarkable considering that Nero, a notoriously cruel ruler, was emperor at this time (A.D. 54-68). When Paul wrote this letter, persecution was a growing threat to believers. Later, when Nero needed a scapegoat for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome in A.D. 64, he blamed the Roman Christians so as to take the focus off himself. Then persecution erupted throughout the Roman Empire. Not only were Christians denied certain privileges in society, some were even publicly butchered, burned, or fed to animals.
1 Ti 2:3 – This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
1 Ti 2:4 – who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
“acceptable” – pleasing BBE
“desires” – wishes AMP – wants MSG
God desires, wishes, wants – all people – all humans to be saved. God wants everyone to experience eternal salvation. People perish because they do not hear the gospel, or they choose to reject it. God has given people freedom to choose to accept or reject the gospel. When people reject the gospel, this causes God considerable pain. This is clear in the many references in Scripture to God sorrowing over the fate of those who choose to turn their backs on Him.
1 Ti 2:5 – For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
1 Ti 2:6 – who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
there is (only) one God
there is (only) one mediator – peacemaker BBE
Who is it? “the man Christ Jesus”
Because – he “gave Himself as a ransom for all”.
“ransom” – a price that was paid. It was paid for “all” of us. A "ransom" (Gr. antilutron, used only here in the New Testament) is a ransom price. This word and this verse clearly set forth the idea that Jesus Christ died as the substitute for all people. He paid the debt "for all" people. This is proof that He desires all to be saved.
In the "fullness of time" Jesus was born and died giving His life as payment to free the human race from slavery to sin. Jesus' death made all people savable – this does not mean that all people are saved – but that it is possible for all people to be saved because of the work that Christ Jesus has done.
1 Ti 2:7 – For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Three ways that Paul is appointed to reach people with the gospel. He is a:
1. Preacher
2. Apostle
3. Teacher
1 Ti 2:8 – Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
“Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray--not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God.” MSG
“It is my desire, then, that in every place men may give themselves to prayer, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or argument.” BBE
Raising their palms upward and open to heaven was to symbolize their inner openness to God and their desire to offer praise to God and to obtain a gift from Him. It is not to be considered a commandment but it was a common practice of that day to pray with their hands raised. Posture in prayer does not render the prayer more or less effective, but it often reflects the inner attitude of the person praying.
What goes on in our lives has an effect on our prayers. It would seem that it is easier to argue with men than it is to pray to God and if we are mad at someone – it is difficult to pray in the proper attitude. Broken human relationships affect one's ability to pray – Jesus said, "If you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Mat. 5:23-24
Anger and controversy make prayer difficult. God wants us to obey him immediately and thoroughly. Our goal should be to have a right relationship with God and also with others.
1 Ti 2:9 – Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
1 Ti 2:10 – but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
The focus in worship should be God – not about what you are wearing. It is easy to get distracted in worship when we focus on the wrong things. While their dress is an issue, their attitude is Paul's true concern. He instructs them to “dress modestly and discreetly” – and worship God. The contrast is between works and wardrobe.
It is not unscriptural for a woman to want to be attractive. Today, however, to what degree should women take this advice about fixing their hair or wearing gold, pearls, or expensive clothes? Paul was not prohibiting these things; he was simply saying that women should not be drawing attention to themselves through these things. Modesty and decency are the key words. All women would do well to remember that beauty begins on the inside. A gentle, modest, loving character gives a light to the face that cannot be duplicated by even the best cosmetics. A carefully groomed and well-decorated exterior is artificial and cold unless inner beauty is present. The general rule for both women and men emphasizes that both behavior and dress must express submission to and respect for Jesus Christ.
1 Ti 2:11 – A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
To understand this verse, we must understand the situation in which Paul and Timothy worked. In first-century Jewish culture, women were not allowed to study. When Paul said that women should "learn quietly and submissively," he was offering them an amazing new opportunity to learn God's Word. That they were to listen and learn quietly and submissively referred to an attitude of quietness and composure. He is not saying that they should learn in total silence – but you learn by listening rather than by speaking. It should be noted that both men and women are to be “learners”. Both of them should learn quietly and submissively.
“quietly receive instruction” – learn in silence KJV – quietly take the place of a learner BBE
1 Ti 2:12 – But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
This thought is connected to verse eleven. “But…”
“I do not allow” – In my opinion BBE
Some interpret this passage to mean that women should never teach a man; however, commentators point out that Paul did not forbid women from ever teaching men. Paul's commended co-worker, Priscilla, taught Apollos, the great preacher (Act 18:24-26) but look at how it was done. They took him aside and taught him. Paul frequently mentioned other women who held positions of responsibility in the church. Phoebe worked in the church (Rom 16:1).
As I looked at this verse several questions came to my mind:
1. Is this only Paul’s opinion or is this a biblical mandate?
2. Did this principle only apply to Paul’s historical setting?
3. Did this principle only apply to the church at Ephesus?
4. If this is a biblical mandate - how do we apply this principle today?
In answer to the questions about it seems that Paul clearly states that women teaching men and exercising authority over men would violate the given (creation) authority structure as will be seen in the next two verses.
1 Ti 2:13 – For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.
Paul gave two reasons why women should conduct themselves in church meetings as he just specified. First, from Creation it was God's intention that the male should lead the female. He reminded his readers that God made Adam first and then made a suitable companion for him in Eve. God made Eve for Adam; He did not make Adam for Eve. This implies no essential superiority of the male over the female. God created Adam and Eve equals in the sense that they needed and complemented one another. However, God entrusted Adam with leadership responsibility over his wife. Eve was not responsible to God for Adam in the same sense that Adam was responsible for Eve.
1 Ti 2:14 – And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
“fell into transgression” – fell into sin AMP – became a wrongdoer BBE
Second, as part of the judgment on Eve at the Fall God confirmed the leadership of the male over the female (Gen 3:16). It was a result of her deception by the serpent that Eve fell.
1 Ti 2:15 – But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
Perhaps the best explanation of this difficult verse is this. God promised women a life of fulfillment as mothers in the home, provided they walk with the Lord, rather than as teachers and leaders in the church.
One significant problem with the view is this – can a woman who does not bear children find fulfillment in life? I believe Paul would have responded that certainly a single woman or a married woman who is not a mother can find fulfillment as a woman of God. However usually women find their greatest fulfillment as mothers. Perhaps we underestimate home influence and overestimate pulpit influence. An old saying goes, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world."
