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1 Timothy Chapter Two

 
Chapter Two General Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
 
1) To appreciate the importance and place of prayer, especially in the
 lives of men
 
2) To notice God's desire for the salvation of all men, therefore 
 offering Christ as a ransom for all, not just a select few
 
3) To understand the proper adornment of women, and their place in the
 public teaching of the church
 
SUMMARY
 
Having reminded Timothy of his charge to remain in Ephesus and "wage
the good warfare", Paul now begins instructing Timothy in matters that
involve the church. He starts with a call to prayer, defining for whom
and why we should pray. His desire is that men pray in every place,
lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting (1-8).
 
Just as men are to pray everywhere, so women are to adorn themselves
properly. This involves modest apparel worn with propriety and 
moderation, but it also includes good works, as is proper for women 
professing godliness. Also proper is women learning in silence 
(translated peaceable in verse 2) with all submission. Therefore a 
woman is not permitted to teach or have authority over a man. Basing 
this restriction on the relationship of Adam, Eve, and the fall, Paul 
reminds them they can be saved in their natural role of childbearing if
they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control (9-15).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER (1-8)
 
 A. THE SCOPE OF PRAYER (1-7)
 1. Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks
 are to be made for all (1)
 a. For kings and all who are in authority (2a)
 b. That we may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness
 and reverence (2b)
 2. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (3)
 a. Who desires all men to be saved and know the truth (4)
 b. For there is one Mediator between God and men (5a)
 1) The Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all
 (5b-6a)
 2) To be testified in due time, for which Paul was 
 appointed a preacher and an apostle (6b-7a)
 a) Paul speaks the truth in Christ and is not lying (7b)
 b) A teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth (7c)
 
 B. A CALL TO PRAYER (8)
 1. For men to pray everywhere (8a)
 2. Lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (8b)
 
II. INSTRUCTIONS FOR WOMEN (9-15)
 
 A. THEIR ADORNMENT (9-10)
 1. With modest apparel (9a)
 a. With propriety and moderation (9b)
 b. Not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or costly clothing
 (9c)
 2. With good works, which is proper for women professing 
 godliness (10)
 
 B. THEIR SUBMISSION (11-15)
 1. To learn in silence with all submission (11)
 2. Not permitted to teach or have authority over a man, but to be
 in silence (12)
 a. For Adam was formed first, then Eve (13)
 b. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived
 fell into transgression (14)
 3. A woman will be saved in childbearing if they continue in...
 a. Faith
 b. Love
 c. Holiness
 -- With self-control (15)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - The practice of prayer (1-8)
 - Instructions for women (9-15)
 
2) What four things does Paul exhort be made for all men? (1)
 - Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks
 
3) Who else are we to pray for? Why? (2)
 - Kings and all who are in authority
 - That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and
 reverence
 
4) What does God desire for all men? (4)
 - That they be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth
 
5) Who is the one mediator between God and men? (5)
 - The Man Christ Jesus
 
6) For whom did Jesus give Himself as a ransom? (6)
 - For all
 
7) What did Paul desire that men do? (8)
 - Pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting
 
8) How are women to adorn themselves? (9-10)
 - In modest apparel, with propriety and moderation
 - Not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or costly clothing
 - With good works, as is proper for women professing godliness
 
9) How were the women to learn? (11)
 - In silence (peaceable, cf. 2:3), with all submission
 
10) What did Paul not permit a woman to do? (12)
 - To teach or have authority over a man
 
11) What two reasons does Paul give for these limitations on women?
 (13-14)
 - Adam was formed first, then Eve
 - Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into
 transgression
 
12) What are the women encouraged to continue in? (15)
 - Faith, love, holiness, with self-control

Praying For Those In Authority (2:1-8)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Paul's purpose for writing to Timothy is expressed in 1 Ti 3:14-15...
 
2. An important part of our conduct in the family of God concerns our
 prayers - 1 Ti 2:1-8
  a. Such prayers are to be offered "for all men"
 b. Yet Paul does go on to specify "for kings and all who are in
 authority"
 
[Therefore I think it appropriate to focus our attention on "Praying For
Those In Authority", especially whenever the "winds of war" are
blowing...]
 
I. WHAT KIND OF PRAYERS?
 
 A. SUPPLICATIONS...
 1. These are petitions for certain definite needs
 2. Humble requests which one makes in the light of this or that
 concrete situation which God
 alone can furnish help - Hendriksen
 3. E.g., when leaders are faced with a crisis
 
 B. PRAYERS...
 1. Perhaps used here to refer to requests for the fulfillment of
 needs always present
 2. In contrast with 'supplications' in specific situations
 - Hendriksen
 3. E.g., when leaders are faced with routine duties of governing
 
 C. INTERCESSIONS...
 1. "pleading in the interest of others" - Hendriksen
 2. Just as Christ does for us - cf. He 7:25
 3. E.g., praying on behalf a leader
 
 D. GIVING OF THANKS...
 1. Expressing gratitude for blessings received
 2. Thus completing the 'circle' begun when requests were first
 made
 3. E.g., when leaders have led their country to prosperity, or out
 of a crisis
 
[Such are the prayers we are to offer for those in positions of
authority. Have we said such prayers lately...?]
 
II. WHY PRAY FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY?
 
 A. SO WE CAN LIVE A CERTAIN WAY...
 1. With lives that are 'quiet' and 'peaceable' - 1 Ti 2:2
 a. I.e., tranquil and calm
 b. Especially in our relationship with men - cf. 1 Th 4:11-12
 2. With lives lived in all 'godliness' and 'reverence' - 1 Ti 1:2
 a. I.e., piety and gravity
 b. Especially in our relationship with God - cf. Ti 2:11-14
 3. What does praying have to do with producing peace?
 a. God is in ultimate control - cf. Dan 2:20-21; 4:25; Ro 13:
 1-2; Re 1:5
 b. God can influence those in authority to do His will - cf.
 Pro 21:1; Isa 10;5-7,12,15
 c. We can influence God through prayer! - cf. Lk 18:7-8
 -- Truly the 'prayer closet' is more likely to succeed than the
 'voting booth' or the 'terrorist's bomb'!
 
 B. BECAUSE THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE...
 1. For God desires all men to be saved - 1 Ti 2:3-7
 a. He sent Jesus to be the ransom, and now mediator
 b. He appointed men like Paul to go and proclaim the truth
 among the nations
  2. The spread of truth is facilitated when peace exists among the
 nations
 a. In Paul's day, the Pax Romana made the spread of the gospel
 easier
 b. Today, peaceful relations between countries opens doors for
  the gospel
 c. Whereas wars often stifle communication and transportation
 between countries
 -- So let's pray that peace may prevail, though we understand that
 sometimes war has a place in God's providence - cf. Ecc 3:1-8
 
[Now let's consider...]
 
III. WHERE AND HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?
 
 A. WHERE? EVERYWHERE...
 1. In light of 1 Ti 3:14-15, some think Paul refers to assemblies
 in every place - 1 Ti 2:8
 2. I.e., not just in one country, but in all countries
 a. Pray for all who are in authority
 b. Pray for good leaders and bad leaders
 3. Of course, we can pray in other places besides the assemblies
 - Mt 6:6
 
 B. HOW? LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS...
 1. The Bible describes various 'praying postures'
 a. Standing - 1 Sam 1:26; Mk 11:25; Lk 18:13
 b. Hands spread out and/or lifted heavenward - 1 Kin 8:22; Neh
 8:6
 c. Bowing the head - Neh 8:6
 d. Lifting heavenward of the eyes - Jn 17:1
 e. Kneeling - Ac 20:36
 f. Falling down with the face upon the ground - Mt 26:39
 g. Bowing the head, with face between the knees - 1 Kin 18:42
 h. Bowing the head, while striking the breast - Lk 18:13
 i. Not recorded in Scripture and unknown to the early church is
 the custom of closing the eyes while folding the hands!
 2. Evidently a particular posture is not what is important
 a. It is the inner attitude of the soul
 b. Certainly our posture should reflect our inner posture (what
 does 'slouching' suggest?)
 3. Paul must be emphasizing 'holy' hands
 a. I.e., hands (and lives) unpolluted by sin
 b. Prayers of confession and contrition should be offered
 before making requests for blessings!
 
 C. HOW? WITHOUT WRATH AND DOUBTING...
 1. Without wrath
 a. I.e., 'settled indignation'
 a. Such an attitude toward another makes our prayers
 unacceptable to God - Mt 6:14-15; Ja 1:19-20
 b. No room here for angry praying against our leaders!
 2. Without doubting
 a. Just as prayers for wisdom must be offered in faith, so
 prayers for peace!
 b. Read Ja 1:5-8 and substitute 'peace' for 'wisdom'
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. Remember that as the people of God we are "the salt of the earth"
 - Mt 5:14
 
2. One of the best things we can do to make the earth a more pleasant
 place is to fulfill our duty to pray for those in authority!
 
3. Are you able to lift prayers with 'holy' hands? Or are your prayers
 actually an abomination to the Lord? - cf. Pro 28:9
 
If you desire a quiet and peaceable a life, then let the blood of Jesus
cleans your hands and your heart so your prayers will be heard!
 
Remember, God desires all men to be saved... - 1 Ti 2:4

Instructions To Women (2:9-15)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. The purpose of 1st Timothy is found in 1 Ti 3:14-15...
 a. That we might know how to conduct ourselves in God's family, the
 church
 b. E.g., Paul's instruction to men regarding prayer - 1 Ti 2:1-8
 
2. In 1 Ti 2:9-15, Paul addresses the women, and gives instructions
 concerning...
 a. Their adornment - 1 Ti 2:9-10
 b. Their submission - 1 Ti 2:11-15
 
[His instructions may seem antiquated, but women seeking to please God
will do well to give earnest heed. Consider, then, what is written
about...]
 
I. THE ADORNMENT OF WOMEN
 
 A. "IN LIKE MANNER..."
 1. Just as men are to pray 'everywhere', 'without wrath and
 doubting' - 1 Ti 2:8
 2. So these instructions to women apply 'everywhere', 'without
 wrath and doubting'
 3. "The apostle had stated particularly the duty of men in public
 worship (1 Ti 2:8), and he now proceeds to state the duty of
  women. All the directions here evidently refer to the proper
 manner of conducting public worship, and not to private duties;
 and the object here is to state the way in which he would have
 the different sexes appear." - Barnes
 a. "He had said that he would have prayers offered for all
 people (1Ti 2:1ff), and that in offering such petitions he
 would have the men on whom devolved the duty of conducting
 public devotion, do it with holy hands, and without any
 intermingling of passion, and with entire freedom from the
 spirit of contention." - ibid.
 b. "In reference to the duty of females in attendance on public
 worship, he says that he would have them appear in apparel
 suitable to the place and the occasion - adorned not after
 the manner of the world, but with the zeal and love in the
 cause of the Redeemer which became Christians." - ibid.
 
 B. "ADORN THEMSELVES IN MODEST APPAREL..."
 1. Lit., "adorn themselves in adorning attire"; the word modest
 means:
 a. "orderly, well-arranged, decent" - Vine
 b. "well-arranged, becoming' - RWP
 c. The NASB uses the word 'proper'
  2. "It does not, properly, mean modest in the sense of being
 opposed to that which is immodest, or which tends to excite
 improper passions and desires, but that which is becoming or
 appropriate." - Barnes
 3. What constitutes 'proper' apparel is further defined by Paul as
 he continues...
 
 C. "WITH PROPRIETY AND MODERATION..."
 1. Propriety means "a sense of shame, a shrinking from trespassing
 the boundaries of propriety, proper reserve" - Hendriksen
 2. Moderation (translated 'sobriety', KJV) means "sanity; then
 sober-mindedness, moderation of the desires and passions. It is
 opposed to all that is frivolous, and to all undue excitement
 of the passions. The idea is, that in their apparel and
 deportment they should not entrench on the strictest decorum.
 Doddridge." - Barnes
 3. The point is to avoid extremes: "Be not the first by whom the
 new is tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside." - Pope
 
 D. "NOT WITH BRAIDED HAIR, GOLD, PEARLS OR COSTLY CLOTHING..."
 1. Note that Paul is not dealing with brevity of clothing per se
 a. Rather, clothing and hairstyles designed to draw the
 attention of others
 b. Of course, drawing attention through brevity of clothing
 would violate the spirit of the letter, as well as the word
 translated before as "propriety" or "shamefacedness" (KJV)
 2. Is Paul condemning all adorning of the hair or wearing of
 jewelry?
 a. Compare what Peter wrote in 1 Pe 3:3-4
 1) Both appear to be a use of the comparative 'not'...
 a) Where 'not' is not used as a literal prohibition
 b) But to compare one thing to another (not this..but
 this)
 2) For example, look at Jn 6:27
 a) Did Jesus condemn working for food?
 b) No, He was emphasizing what is most important
 b. Sarah evidently adorned herself such that her beauty could
 not be hidden (cf. Gen 12:14-15), but her true beauty was
 adornment of a meek and quiet spirit - 1 Pe 3:5-6
 3. "It cannot be supposed that the mere braiding of the hair is
 forbidden, but only that careful attention to the manner of
 doing it, and to the ornaments usually worn in it, which
 characterized worldly females. It is not to be supposed that
 all use of gold or pearls as articles of dress is here
 forbidden; but the idea is, that the Christian female is not to
 seek these as the adorning which she desires, or is not to
 imitate the world in these personal decorations." - Barnes
 
 E. "BUT, WHICH IS PROPER FOR WOMEN PROFESSING GODLINESS, WITH
 GOOD WORKS..."
 1. Here is where the emphasis is to be, not on outward apparel!
 2. As per 1 Pe 3:3-4: "Do not let your adornment be [merely]
 outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on
 [fine] apparel - rather [let it be] the hidden person of the
 heart, with the incorruptible [beauty] of a gentle and quiet
 spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (NKJV)
 3. Good works befits women professing godliness (godly piety)
 - e.g., Dorcas, Ac 9:36,39
 
[Sisters in Christ, what do men notice most about you? Attention to
physical adornment, or your godly conduct? Be careful not to let the
physical take precedent and block out the spiritual! Now consider
Paul's instructions regarding...]
 
II. THE SUBMISSION OF WOMEN
 
 A. "LEARN IN SILENCE WITH ALL SUBMISSION...TO BE IN SILENCE"
 1. The word "silence" (NKJV, ASV, NRSV) - 1 Ti 2:11-12
 a. Translated "quietness" (KJV), "quietly" (NASB)
 b. Found here and in Ac 22:2 ("all the more silent") and 2 Th
 3:12 ("work in quietness")
 c. Related to the word used in 1 Ti 2:2 ("peaceable life")
 2. "The apostle goes on to give some other instructions to women,
 how they should behave themselves in public worship, in the
 church of God;" - Gill
 a. "he would have them be learners and not teachers, sit and
 hear, and learn more of Christ, and of the truth of the
 Gospel, and to maintain good works;" - ibid.
 b. "and he would have them learn in silence, and not offer to
 rise and speak, under a pretense of having a word from the
 Lord, or of being under an impulse of the Spirit of the
 Lord, as some frantic women have done;" - ibid.
 c. "and if they should meet with anything, under the ministry
 of the word, they did not understand, or they had an
 objection to, they were not to speak in public, but ask
 their own husbands at home; see 1 Co 14:34." - ibid.
 d. "And thus, they were to behave with all subjection; both to
 the ministers of the word, and to their own husbands; - ibid.
 3. Thus women should "listen attentively to instruction, without
 attempting to teach in public" - Barnes
 
 B. "DO NOT PERMIT A WOMEN TO TEACH OR TO HAVE AUTHORITY..."
 1. Note that this pertains to "over a man"
 a. Compare his comments with those in 1 Co 14:34-37
 b. Women may certainly teach other women, children - cf. Ti 2:
 3-4
 2. Both 1 Ti 2:11-12 and 1 Co 14:34-37 appear to deal with the
 conduct of women in the public assemblies and worship of the
 church
 
 C. REASONS AND REASSURANCES FOR SUCH CONDUCT...
 1. Reasons for the submission of women in the church - 1 Ti 2:
 13-14
 a. Adam was formed first, then Eve
 1) "Man was made as the lord of this lower creation and
 placed in the garden, and then the woman was made of a
 rib taken from his side, and given to him, not as a lord,
 but as a companion." - Barnes (cf. Gen 2:7-23)
 2) "All the circumstances combine to show the subordinate
 nature of her rank, and to prove that she was not
 designed to exert authority over the man; compare notes
 on 1 Co 11:8-9." - ibid.
 b. Adam was not deceived; Eve being deceived, fell into
 transgression
 1) Neither the serpent nor Eve deceived Adam; he allowed
 himself to be persuaded by Eve after she ate - cf. Gen
 3:17
 2) Eve was deceived by the serpent, which she readily
 acknowledged - Gen 3:13
 3) The woman's susceptibility to deception is thus offered
 as a reason why women are not to have a leadership role
 over men in the church
 2. Reassurances for women who learn in submission - 1 Ti 2:15
 a. "She will be saved in childbearing" (NKJV)
 1) "To be understood not of a temporal salvation, or being
 saved through childbearing, through the perilous time,
 and be delivered out of it..." - Gill
 2) "...for though this is generally the case, yet not
 always, nor always the case of good women. Rachel died in
 child bed." - ibid.
 b. But though subject to man, with no leadership role in the
 church, and susceptible to bearing children in pain and
 sorrow (cf. Gen 3:16), a woman can be saved as well as a man
 - cf. Ga 3:28
 c. She can be saved even in this function (childbearing), not
 by means of it - RWP
 1) Paul is not saying women must bear children to be saved,
 for he teaches elsewhere the value of the single life
 - cf. 1 Co 7:32-35
 2) Yet generally speaking, this is God's creative purpose
 for women (motherhood)
 d. "Provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with
 modesty (self-restraint)"
 1) Faith, love, holiness - virtues necessary for salvation
 2) Modesty (self-restraint) - virtue necessary for submission
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. In a world obsessed with fashion and equality, it is not easy to be a
 'daughter of Sarah' today
 
2. But for women 'making a claim to godliness'...
 a. Their adornment will be modest and discreet, accompanied with good
 works
 b. Their service will be faith, love, and holiness, accompanied by
 submission and self-restraint
 
In the words of Peter, such conduct is "...very precious in the sight of
God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in
God also adorned themselves..." - 1 Pe 3:4-5

－－《Executable Outlines》

The importance of intercession

All be saved

Come to the truth

I. First to pray for

1. Kings and those in authority

2. Godliness and peacefulness

3. Please God our savior

II. What men should be

1. Without anger

2. Without disputing

3. Pray everywhere

III. What women should be

1. Dress modestly

2. Learn in quietness

3. Keep holiness with propriety

－－ Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》