Bible Groups

First Letter to Timothy - Chapter 2

This Chapter deals with good order in the worshipping communities. All people should be prayed for, and especially secular rulers, not just Christians. Peace in the country enables Christians to live their faith quietly. Christians should be seen as respected citizens, to be respected by all, including non-Christians. The Church is no longer an isolated sect but a visible community fully compatible with good citizenship.
1 Every kind of prayer should be made for all - 4 different kinds given.
2 And especially pray for kings and society leaders. So that the Christian community may live its faith peaceably , respectful of God and neighbours. Jews prayed for Government officials. Until AD 66 Jews made sacrifices in Temple for the emperor. 1 Clement AD 96: "Give them, O Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, that they may exercise without offence the rule thou hast entrusted to them". Jeremiah urged the exiled Jews to pray for Babylon (Jer 29:7) - if Babylon is at peace, the Jews can be too. The Romans allowed the Jews to pray to their God on behalf of the emperor.
3 This is how Christians should live. Stability benefited the gospel. Effective rulers, even if they don't acknowledge God, are still helping spread the gospel by ensuring stability.
4 Because Christ desires all men to be saved - in case some objected to praying for pagans, even for enemies of the church.
5 The desire for all men to be saved follows from belief in One God. One God, one mediator, Jesus the man. Not pagan gods, or angels, or Caesar, who might be seen as mediating between God and men. While the Jews prayed to the one God, Christians pray to the same God through Jesus Christ.
6 Christ gave himself as a ransom for all men - again emphasising that all can be saved through Christ. There was a cost. Jesus gave himself voluntarily. And secured our freedom. Since Jesus died "for all", Christians are right to pray "for all". As always prayer should lead us to think - about God's ways needing Christ and secular rulers.
7 Paul states his authority as preacher and apostle, a teacher to the Gentiles. He is an example of God reaching out to the Gentiles, who had been excluded by the Jews from the covenant community. Paul was much criticised for preaching to the Gentiles - hence his emphasis - he was not lying.
8 Paul encouraged the Christians to follow the Jewish practice of holding hands up to God, palms upwards, when praying. Lifted hands are "holy" if the person has committed himself to God. More important is attitude to others when praying: must not be anger or out of sorts with neighbours or community members. So Paul wants both men and women at prayer to free themselves from their stereotypes of macho, quarrelsome men and fashion conscious women, so that both may make creative contributions to society.
9 Difficult verse - how culture dependant was Paul's guidance about women? The basis is that there should be order during worship. Behaviour or dress should not be such as would bring gospel or the community into disrepute, or be a stumbling block to unbelievers. So to have women preaching in a culture that does not accept this would cause unnecessary problems - for the spread of the gospel. Keep the main objective in mind! With many community members from lower classes or slaves, ostentatious dress or jewels would cause dissension. How do we apply this today? Are revealing clothes or bare midriffs appropriate in the UK? Is it wise to distract men towards lust - or women towards jealousy? There is a close proximity in church which we should be aware of. Applies to men too - sloppy jeans could indicate disrespect - for God and the community.
10 Character is what matters - do not let your dress mislead or distract from the gospel.
11 In Paul's culture women could not be seen to be teaching or ruling over men. Although Priscilla led the way in correcting Apollos (Acts 18:26) - but perhaps not in public. A clearer understanding of this verse is perhaps that women should be allowed to study quietly, without interruption, and in submission to God. Not prevented from learning.
12 And Paul instructed how women should preach or prophesy (1 Cor 11:5). Chief quote vs ordination of women. This verse could also be understood as "I do not mean to imply I am now setting up women over men as men have been in authority over women". Perhaps needed to say this to Timothy in Ephesus, where a big cult and dominant temple was to Artemis (Diana), where all the priests were women. In this context, having said there is no longer male & female, and women should be allowed to study in peace, perhaps Paul needed to make clear he was not advocating setting up women leaders in the new Christian community. It was not to emulate the cult of Artemis. The word translated as "have authority over" could be translated as "being bossy" or "try to dictate" or "seize control". Women should be free to develop whatever gifts they have in God's service.
13 A somewhat selective argument in favour of females subjugation - not acceptable today! Which also indicates how we may perhaps selectively use and interpret the OT!
14 You could argue that there was no serious transgression until Adam succumbed! Or "Look what happens when women are not allowed to learn"! Adam knew what he was doing when he sinned.
15 Hardly an adequate sop! Yet women do have a major role in child-bearing, including bearing the Saviour. Faith &c not stated as more important. But fair to say that when women bear children and nurture they are fulfilling their roles as women, as God intended. And Paul seems to be saying that men's God-given role is to be teachers, women to be mothers. God's salvation is promised to all, women and men, who follow Jesus in faith, love and holiness - and that includes those who contribute through childbearing.

Paul's Letters to Timothy

First Letter to Timothy - Chapter 2