1 Timothy Chapter 2
Prayer for All People
2:1 First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,
Paul asked that the church pray corporately for all of the people of the Roman Empire, not just the church.
2:2 even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
The church was to pray corporately for the government, including the king. The king of Rome at this time was Emperor Nero, who was one of the most evil dictators of all time. To apply this term in today's modern society, the church is to pray corporately for both Democrats, Republicans, and the President. The government is corrupt, because of the total depravity of man. Also, God allows the lowest and basest of men to rule. Therefore, governments will always be corrupt, as long as Satan is "the god of this world". However, the church is still to pray corporately for the government. Paul wrote this by divine inspiration, even when the evil Emperor Nero was in control.
2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior,
It is good for the church to pray corporately for government leaders, no matter which party they represent. Any government is better than anarchy. Anarchy cannot control man's totally depraved nature.
2:4 since he wants all people to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.
The purpose of government is to protect the gospel so that it can be proclaimed in knowledge and truth. When a nation refuses to protect the gospel, then God destroys that government.
2:5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,
Catholics falsely teach that sinners must confess their sins to a Catholic priest. The Catholic priest is not a mediator between God and man. Paul taught that there is only one mediator between God and man, and that is Christ. Any believer can pray directly to God or confess their sins directly to God through Jesus Christ.
America has many gods today. Hollywood is one of the biggest idols. Many men and women would sacrifice their honor and purity in order to be cast in a movie. Most of the Hollywood stars are nothing but million dollar prostitutes. What is the difference between bearing one's breasts in a hotel room or bearing them in front of millions on the screen?
2:6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.
The Greek word for "ransom" is ἀντίλυτρον (antineutron), meaning a ransom that pays the full price for a slave.
The Greek word for "purpose" is μαρτύριον (marturion), meaning to give witness or testimony to a spiritual truth.
The Greek word for "appointed time" is καιρός (kairos), meaning at just the right moment of time.
God allowed Jesus to die so that He would become a testimony at just the right time in history.
2:7 For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle – I am telling the truth; I am not lying – and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
The Greek word for "appointed" is τίθημι (tithaymi), an aorist passive verb, meaning that Paul was established by God as a preacher and an apostle. This action was a onetime completed action of the past. The appointment was not Paul's choice, but he was appointed or established by God Himself. Paul was appointed to be the one sent by God to preach the good news to the Gentiles.
The Greek word for "preacher" is κῆρυξ (karux), meaning a messenger sent by the King to blow a trumpet and shout out an important public message to the town square. The message is that Christ is Lord, Savior, and King.
2:8 So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.
Paul desired that all of these prayers be made corporately inside all of the local churches. The culture at that time did not bow their heads and close their eyes, but they lifted up their hands to God in prayer. Jesus prayed the same way. Charismatics use this verse to condemn any other type of prayer method. However, there is Christian liberty in the prayer method used in Scripture. Holy hands are those hands that are set apart to do God's work.
Conduct of Women
2:9 Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing,
In the pagan religions of Rome, beautiful women occupied prominent places. Much of the worship evolved in the prostitution temple. Scantily dressed women with long disheveled hair served as queens, princesses, prostitutes, and servants. Their dress, hair, and speech were to seduce men into the pagan rituals, which eventually led to human sacrifice and satanism. The women in the local churches were commanded not to dress or act in this way. They were not to dishevel their hair like the pagan prostitutes. They were not to wear gold, pearls, and expensive clothing that was used to seduce men into the sexual rituals of the prostitution temples.
2:10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.
Instead, a Christian woman was to wear her good deeds. This was a culture shock to the Greco-Roman culture, because their women often used sexual adornment as their main hook.
2:11 A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness.
The female prostitutes were not quiet in the pagan prostitution temples. Notice that Paul used his apostolic authority to silence women in the church. Women were also forbidden to speak in tongues.
2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.
The Apostle Paul was using his apostolic authority to enforce laws for the new local churches. The church is an assembly of believers which is called by the local church elders. In these local assembles, women are not allowed to teach men.Women can teach women and children inside of the church. They can also teach men outside of an elder-called-assembly, as Aquila and Priscilla did when they instructed Apollos outside of the local church (Acts 18:26). This teaching of Apollos was personal evangelism.
There are many modern women who serve Christ in audio, video, internet, writing, and personal evangelism ministries which is outside of the local church. These are all biblical ministries and not condemned in Scripture.
It is important to note that most charismatic churches break all of these rules. They will often unbiblically appoint women elders, pastors and teachers.
2:13 For Adam was formed first and then Eve.
It was the sin of Adam which brought sin into the world. Every time that a woman gives birth, she is actually bringing a sinner into the world. Every baby who is born will rebel against Christ, unless the Holy Spirit regenerates this baby with believing faith.
2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.
Notice that Eve was deceived, so she has an excuse. Adam was not deceived. He had no excuse.
2:15 But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.
Even though women bring sinners into the world by child birth, another woman brought the Savior into the world. However, each individual man or woman is saved by faith alone in Christ alone.