I Timothy 2
Prayer for all menverses 1-4
I exhort therefore – that – first of all
supplications – prayers – intercessions – giving of thanks
be made for all men
for kings – and all that are in authority
That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty
for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior
WHO will have all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth
One mediatorverses 5-6
For there is one God – and one mediator between God and men
the man Christ Jesus
WHO gave HIMSELF a ransom for all
to be testified in due time
Calling of Paulverses 7-8
Whereunto – I am ordained a preacher – and an apostle
(I speak the truth in Christ and lie not)
a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity
I will therefore that men pray everywhere – lifting up holy hands
WITHOUT wrath and doubting
Instructions to Christian women and menverses 9-15
In like manner also
that women adorn themselves in modest apparel
with shamedfacedness and sobriety
not with braided hair – gold
pearls – costly array
but (which becomes women professing godliness)
with good works
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection
but I suffer not a woman to teach
nor to usurp authority over the man
BUT to be in silence
FOR Adam was first formed – THEN Eve
and Adam was not deceived
but the woman being deceived
was in the transgression
NOTWITHSTANDING she shall be saved in childbearing
if they continue in faith and charity
and holiness with sobriety
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men (1162 “supplications” [deesis] means requests, prayer, entreating, requests, an earnest or urgent request to God, pleas, petition, want or need)
DEVOTION: Every believer should have a prayer list. Our prayer list should start with our own personal family. This includes our relatives on both sides in a marriage. Our prayer should be for the salvation of each one on that list.
The second list should be made up of those who attend our local church. This should include missionaries that the church supports.
The third list should include those who serve as representatives in our world. These include politicians, police, firemen, and other local officials.
When I began the devotional I had each person list those in their church and address book by alphabetical letters. On the first day of the month they would pray for the “A’s” on their prayer list and then “B’s” and so on.
Many found this helpful in the fact that they could tell their relatives and friends that they were praying for them each month. So at least once a month they were praying for them. This could be an encouragement to them and also a step of obedience for every believer.
We can pray more often as the LORD speaks to us regarding the individuals on our list. Without a list our prayer life can be unorganized and sometime inactive.
CHALLENGE: We need to challenge ourselves to pray for the ones we care about especially regarding their salvation.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (3316 “mediator” [mesites] means one who intervenes between two, arbitrator, reconciler, a medium of communication, or umpire)
DEVOTION: This is a memory verse for all Christian’s to have on their mind. Prayer is essential to our growth in the LORD. Christ gave us the perfect example of communicating with the Father. HE gave us what is called the “LORD’S prayer” which is really the disciple’s prayer. HE taught the disciples how to pray.
HE in the gospel of John gives us an example of a long prayer to the Father regarding HIS relationship to believers. This is the proper “LORD’S prayer” which is found in John 17.
Our place is to realize that we are to pray to the Father in Jesus’ name through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us understand what and who we should pray for on a regular basis. HE is the one who brings people to our mind to pray for on any given day and any given time of day.
Jesus Christ is our representative to the Father. HE stands between us and the Father. The Father looks at us through the sacrifice of HIS Son on the cross and grants our requests on the basis of that relationship. If we are out of fellowship with HIM HE will not answer our prayers. If we are not treating our spouse right HE will not answer our prayers. If we think we don’t need to pray because HE knows what we need before we pray we are being disobedient and HE will not bless our prayers.
We have the best lawyer in the world working for us in every situation we find ourselves and we need to show our dependence on HIM if we want to grow and see HIS blessings in our life.
CHALLENGE: Go to HIM in prayer continually!!!!
: 9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. (127 “shamefacedness” [aidos] means modesty, bashfulness, reverence, regard for others, respect, decency, propriety, reserve, or self-respect)
DEVOTION: There is a sense sometimes that women were to be looked down on by the church. That is not the case. Women had a key role in the support of the ministry. They supported the ministry of Jesus Christ. They supported the ministry of Paul. They were given responsibility in the local church.
The instruction here is mainly dealing with coming to worship services or times of prayer. There should be a sense that people were to be looking to Jesus in their prayer time and not looking around at what others were wearing. It was a matter of concentration.
If there were women coming in all dressed up the other women and the men would be looking at them rather than concentrating on worshiping the LORD. It was a distraction. Paul wanted all the women to dress modestly. He gave some examples of improper dress for worship services.
Today we find that some churches are more of a show place for the latest dress or jewelry rather than a place to concentrate on God. People in these churches will be looking around to compare themselves with others in their dress rather than their Christian life.
The rich are not to cause the poor to be jealous. The poor are not to look at the rich with envy. This is what the LORD wants and too often it is happening and each group has thoughts that they are either better Christians because of their dress or bad Christians because they have not been blessed with expensive clothes or jewelry. Wrong thoughts on both sides!!
There can also be the other side today where so many people dress down for church that it can cause a distraction as well. Coming to church in a disrespectful way can cause a problem. We need to meet a happy medium in our dress code at church.
CHALLENGE: In our times of worship we should be able to concentrate on the LORD rather than the dress of those who attending our church services.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (538 “deceived” [apatao] means beguile, delude, to cheat, seduce, divert, mislead, or trick)
DEVOTION: Paul is brave. He talks about what women should do and not do. This is under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is not just a man telling women how to act. Remember that God is the author of the Word of God not man.
He starts the chapter dealing with prayer for all those who are in authority. He continues with prayer that the message of the gospel will spread to all. He informs us that there is only one mediator between God and man and that is Jesus Christ.
Finally, he states that it was the LORD who put him into the ministry. He was called to be a preacher, apostle and teacher of the Gentiles.
He states that men are to lift up holy hands in prayer. And then goes on and states that in “like manner” women are to dress in modest apparel. He makes the statement twice that women are to learn in silence. This word “silence” means to not be unruly, to be settled down or to be disturbing. This does not mean to say nothing. Peter says that they are to have a quiet and submissive spirit. Paul also states that they are not to usurp authority over the men.
Why does he make these statements? Based on the fact that in the Garden of Eden the woman was mislead by a trick of Satan. Satan asked questions that seemed to confuse Eve to the point that she doubted the instructions of the LORD. Paul seems to be implying that women are more gullible and susceptible to error like Eve was in the garden.
She in turn ate of the fruit and shared it with Adam. This is a truth that comes out of the first temptation in the Garden of Eden. Satan misled the woman, and the man knew exactly what he was doing. He wanted to stay with his wife and so decided to stay by disobeying a direct command of God to not eat of the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden.
There is fine relationship between man and woman established in the Bible. Each is to be submissive to each other. One is the head. Our Western thinking does not surprise God. Many in our world think that Paul’s words are cultural. Many think that the creation and fall were not really what happened at the beginning.
God has a chain of obedience that is presented many places in the Word of God. We have the responsibility to obey HIS Word, not just the sections we like in the Word. It has been around since the beginning. The Devil has tried to cause the world to get men and women to question God’s instructions.
Are we willing to obey all of the Word of God? Are we following the teachings of the Word of God in the churches we attend on a regular basis?
CHALLENGE: Remember men are not to look down on women as they are fellow believers. Women are to remember that the Word of God is the final authority.
:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. (4997 “sobriety” [sophrosune] means 1 soundness of mind. 2 self-control, sobriety. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: This verse is talking about being a serious-minded individual. Both Men and women have the obligation to be serious-minded (not sobriety as we think of it as only being abstinent from alcohol). But Paul points out that there are three virtues which should particularly characterize Christian women—faith, love, and holiness.
It is easy for both men and women to become absorbed in the affairs of everyday life, and this is especially true for women who have infants and preschoolers. So, the temptation is for them to take their focus off of the LORD, and their spiritual lives end up getting marginalized as a result. Many years pass before they realize that their walks with God have suffered from this kind of focus. It is a rare woman who can remain focused on the things of the LORD during these early childbearing years.
There is also a sense in while being serious-minded has to do with the things of the future and the return of the LORD. We need to be preparing for His return, and keep our eyes fixed on this as the purpose of our lives. No doubt Paul saw women as being more prone to the temptation of living for the moment based on their childbearing, and is cautioning them to be characterized by serious thinking in this regard.
The end of being a serious-minded individual is that she will be characterized by faith, love, and holiness. It is certainly not unlike Paul to come up with trios of things, and in 1 Corinthians 13 he mentions faith, hope, and love (hope in place of holiness here in this passage). Yet, these three things are the things that all of us need to model both in the relationships in our own homes as well as in relationships with those outside the home.
CHALLENGE: Are you serious about the things of the Lord? Are Bible reading and prayer a part of the daily disciplines of your life? It is never too late to get a grip on these things and make them priorities. We need to make an extra effort to make serious strides in developing our walk with the LORD. (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Supplicationsverse 1
Prayersverse 1
Intercessionsverse 1
Giving of thanksverse 1
Prayer for kingsverse 2
Prayer for all in authorityverse 2
Men pray everywhere lifting up holy handsverse 8
Prayer without wrath and doubtingverse 8
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 3, 5
Sight of Godverse 3
God our Saviorverse 3
One Godverse 5
Creatorverse 13
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
One Mediatorverse 5
Manverse 5
Christverses 5, 7
Jesusverse 5
Christ Jesusverse 5
Gave HIMSELFverse 6
Ransom for allverse 6
Testified in due timeverse 6
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
All menverses 1, 4
Kingsverse 2
Gentilesverse 7
Women:
Modest apparelverse 9
Shamefacednessverse 9
Sobrietyverse 9
Not with broided hairverse 9
Not with costly arrayverse 9
Godlinessverse 10
Good worksverse 10
Learn in silenceverse 11
Subjectionverse 11
Not to teach menverse 12
Not usurp authorityverse 12
Silenceverse 12
Eveverse 13
Deceived by Satanverse 14
Saved in childbearingverse 15
Faith verse 15
Charityverse 15
Holiness with sobrietyverse 15
Men
Men pray everywhereverse 8
Without wrath and doubtingverse 8
Adam formed firstverse 13
Adam not deceivedverse 14
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Lieverse 7
Wrathverse 8
Doubtingverse 8
Deceivedverse 14
Transgressionverse 14
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Exhortverse 1
Supplicationsverse 1
Prayersverse 1
Intercessionsverse 1
Giving of thanksverse 1
Quiet and peaceable lifeverse 2
Godlinessverse 2
Honestyverse 2
Good and acceptableverse 3
Savedverses 4, 15
Knowledge of the truthverse 4
Ransomverse 6
Ordainedverse 7
Truthverse 7
Faithverses 7, 15
Verityverse 7
Men pray everywhereverse 8
Lifting up holy handsverse 8
Without wrath and doubtingverse 8
Women in modest apparelverse 9
Good worksverse 10
Charity verse 15
Holinessverse 15
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Exhortverse 1
Paulverses 1-15
Exhorts fellow believersverse 1
Ordainedverse 7
Preacherverse 7
Apostleverse 7
Teacher of the Gentilesverse 7
Speak truth in Christverse 7
Lie notverse 7
Teacher of Gentilesverse 7
Last Things (Future Events)
Due timeverse 6
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QUOTES regarding passage
11, 12 The teaching of these two verses is similar to that found in 1 Corinthians 14:33–35. There Paul tells’ the women that they are not allowed to talk out loud in the public services; here he says that they are to “learn in quietness and full submission.” Titus 2:5 suggests that he means a wife is to be submissive to her husband. But it may well have the wider application of “submission to constituted authority, i.e., the officials and regulations of the Church” (Ramsay, quoted in Lock, p. 32).
The attitude of the Greeks toward women’s place in society was not altogether uniform. Plato gave them practical equality with men. But Aristotle thought their activities should be severely limited, and his views generally prevailed. Plutarch (Moral Essays, p. 785) sounds much the same note as Paul does here.
The expression “full submission” needs to be treated intelligently. Vine offers this helpful comment: “The injunction is not directed towards a surrender of mind and conscience, or the abandonment of the duty of private judgment; the phrase ‘with all subjection’ is a warning against the usurpation of authority, as, e.g., in the next verse” (p. 45).
Specifically Paul says, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man.” Some have even said that the apostle’s prohibition excludes women from teaching Sunday school classes. But he is talking about the public assemblies of the church. Paul speaks appreciatively of the fact that Timothy himself had been taught the right way by his godly mother and grandmother (2 Tim 1:5; 3:15). The apostle also writes to Titus that the older women are to train the younger (Titus 2:3, 4). Women have always carried the major responsibility for teaching small children, in both home and church school. And what could we have done without them!
The word silent translates en hēsychia, exactly the same phrase that is rendered “in quietness” in v. 11. Quietness is an important Christian virtue. Paul was especially opposed to confusion in the public services of the church (1 Cor 14:33). (Earle, R. (1981). 1 Timothy. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, pp. 361–362). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
11. Learn (μανθανέτω). Comp. 1 Cor. 14:35.
In silence (ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ). See on peaceable, ver. 2. Rev. renders quietness; but the admonition concerns the behaviour of women in religious assemblies. Comp. 1 Cor. 14:34. The word is used in the sense of silence, Acts 22:2: with the broader meaning quietness in 2 Th. 3:12.
12. Suffer (ἐπιτρέπω). Lit. turn over to; thence, permit. See 1 Cor. 14:34.
Usurp authority (αὐθεντεῖν). N. T.o. oLXX, oClass. It occurs in late ecclesiastical writers. The kindred noun αὐθέντης one who does a thing with his own hand, Wisd. 12:6, and also in Herodotus, Euripides, and Thucydides. Ἀυθεντία right, 3 Macc. 2:29. The verb means to do a thing one’s self; hence, to exercise authority. The A. V. usurp authority is a mistake. Rend. to have or exercise dominion over. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 4, p. 225). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
(2:11, 12) Paul is still dealing with the conduct of women in the assemblies. This admonition to the effect that women are to learn in silence with all subjection, is made clear as to its meaing by I Corinthians 14:34, 35, where the women were disturbing the church service by asking their husbands questions, presumably about that which was being preached. The silence here and in our I Timothy passage has to do with maintaining quiet in the assembly, and does not forbid a woman to take an active part in the work of the church in her own sphere and under the limitations imposed upon her in the contextual passage (I Tim. 2:12).
The correct understanding of Paul’s words, “I suffer not a woman to teach,” are dependent upon the tense of the Greek infinitive and the grammatical rule pertaining to it. In the case of the infinitive, the Greek has a choice between the present and aorist tenses, and he can use either at will, since the time element in the tense of the infinitive is not considered. When the Greek desires to refer only to the fact of the action denoted by the infinitive, without referring to details, he uses the aorist. Should he use any other tense, he is going out of his way to add details, and the student must pay particular attention to his choice of the tense.
Dana and Mantey in their Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament (p. 199) have this to say on the subject: “The aorist infinitive denotes that which is eventual or particular, while the present infinitive indicates a condition or process. Thus pisteusai (πιστευσαι) (aorist) is to exercise faith on a given occasion, while pisteuein (πιστευειν) (present) is to be a believer; douleusai (δουλευσαι) (aorist) is to render a service, while douleuein (δουλευειν) (present) is to be a slave; hamartein (ἁμαρτειν) (aorist) is to commit a sin, while hamartanein (ἁμαρτανειν) (present) is to be a sinner.” Thus, didaxai (διδαξαι) (aorist), is to teach, while didaskein (διδασκειν) (present 2:12), is to be a teacher. Paul, therefore, says, “I do not permit a woman to be a teacher.” The context here has to do with church order, and the position of the man and woman in the church worship and work. The kind of teacher Paul has in mind is spoken of in Acts 13:1, I Corinthians 12:28, 29, and Ephesians 4:11, God-called, and God-equipped teachers, recognized by the Church as those having authority in the Church in matters of doctrine and interpretation. This prohibition of a woman to be a teacher, does not include the teaching of classes of women, girls, or children in a Sunday School, for instance, but does prohibit the woman from being a pastor, or a doctrine teacher in a school. It would not be seemly, either, for a woman to teach a mixed class of adults.
The expression, “usurp authority,” Vincent says, is not a correct translation of the Greek word. It is rather, “to exercise dominion over.” In the sphere of doctrinal disputes or questions of interpretation, where authoritative pronouncements are to be made, the woman is to keep silence.
Translation. Let a woman be learning in silence with all subjection. Moreover, I do not permit a woman to be a teacher, neither to exercise authority over a man, but to be in silence. (Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (1 Ti 2:9–11). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.)
2:11–12. In emphasizing godly conduct for women, Paul stressed, with Peter, “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:4). The females in the congregation should receive instruction from the male leadership with quietness and full submission. They should not attempt to turn the tables by clamoring for the office of congregational teacher or by grasping for authority over men. Rather they should, literally, “be in quietness.” The word, hēsychia, translated “quietness” in 1 Timothy 2:11 and silent in verse 12, does not mean complete silence or no talking. It is clearly used elsewhere (Acts 22:2; 2 Thes. 3:12) to mean “settled down, undisturbed, not unruly.” A different word (sigaō) means “to be silent, to say nothing” (cf. Luke 18:39; 1 Cor. 14:34). (Litfin, A. D. (1985). 1 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 735). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Quiet learning (v. 11). “Silence” is an unfortunate translation because it gives the impression that believing women were never to open their mouths in the assembly. This is the same word that is translated “peaceable” in 1 Timothy 2:2. Some of the women abused their newfound freedom in Christ and created disturbances in the services by interrupting. It is this problem that Paul addressed in this admonition. It appears that women were in danger of upsetting the church by trying to “enjoy” their freedom. Paul wrote a similar admonition to the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 14:34), though this admonition may apply primarily to speaking in tongues.
Respecting authority (vv. 12–15). Women are permitted to teach. Older women should teach the younger women (Titus 2:3–4). Timothy was taught at home by his mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15). But in their teaching ministry, they must not “lord it over” men. There is nothing wrong with a godly woman instructing a man in private (Acts 18:24–28); but she must not assume authority in the church and try to take the place of a man. She should exercise “quietness” and help keep order in the church.
Paul gave several arguments to back up this admonition that the Christian men in the church should be the spiritual leaders. The first is an argument from Creation: Adam was formed first, and then Eve (1 Tim. 2:12–13). (Paul used this same argument in 1 Cor. 11:1–10.) We must keep in mind that priority does not mean superiority. Man and woman were both created by God and in God’s image. The issue is only authority: man was created first.
The second argument has to do with man’s fall into sin. Satan deceived the woman into sinning (Gen. 3:1ff; 2 Cor. 11:3); the man sinned with his eyes wide open. Because Adam rejected the God-given order, he listened to his wife, disobeyed God, and brought sin and death into the world. The submission of wives to their own husbands is a part of the original Creation. The disorder we have in society today results from a violation of that God-given order.
I do not think Paul suggested that women are more gullible than men and thus more easily deceived; for experience proves that both men and women are deceived by Satan. On one occasion, Abraham listened to his wife and got into trouble (Gen. 16). Later on, she gave him counsel and God told him to obey it (Gen. 21). In my own pastoral ministry, I have benefited greatly from the encouragement and counsel of godly women; but I have tried not to let them usurp authority in the church. In fact, the godly women I have known have no desire to “run” things in the church.
The creation of humans and their fall both seem to put the woman in an inferior position, but she does have a ministry from God (1 Tim. 2:15). There was probably a close relationship in Paul’s mind between what he wrote here and what Moses wrote in Genesis 3:16—the promise of the Saviour who would be “made of a woman” (Gal 4:4). It was through a woman that the Saviour came into the world. (Keep in mind that Jesus had an earthly mother but not an earthly father—Matt. 1:18ff; Luke 1:34–35.)
But Paul teaches a practical lesson (1 Tim. 2:15). He promised that the woman would “be kept safe through childbirth” (niv) if “they” (both husband and wife) continued in sincere dedication to the Lord.
Does this mean that Christian mothers will never die in childbirth? History and experience both tell us that they do. God has His purposes, and His ways are far above our thoughts (Isa. 55:8–9). Paul laid down a general principle that encouraged the believing women of that day. Their ministry was not to “run” the church, but to care for the home and bear children to the glory of God (1 Tim. 5:14). Their home congregation would give them abundant opportunities for teaching the Word and ministering to the saints (see Rom. 16:1–6).
Godly women do have an important ministry in the local assembly, even though they are not called to be teachers of the Word in a pastoral sense. If all is done “decently and in order,” then God will bless. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 218–219). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
2:11 A woman must … receive instruction. Women are not to be the public teachers when the church assembles, but neither are they to be shut out of the learning process. The form of the Gr. verb translated “receive instruction” is an imperative: Paul is commanding that women be taught in the church. That was a novel concept, since neither first century Judaism nor Greek culture held women in high esteem. Some of the women in Ephesus probably overreacted to the cultural denigration they had typically suffered and took advantage of their opportunity in the church by seeking a dominant role in leadership. quietly … submissiveness. “Quietly” and “submissiveness” (“to line up under”) were to characterize the role of a woman as a learner in the context of the church assembly. Paul explains his meaning in v. 12: Women are to be silent by not teaching, and they are to demonstrate submission by not usurping the authority of the pastors or elders.
2:12 I do not allow. The Gr. word for “allow” is used in the NT to refer to allowing someone to do what he desires. Paul may have been addressing a real situation in which several women in Ephesus desired to be public preachers. to teach. Paul used a verbal form of this Gr. word that indicates a condition or process and is better translated “to be a teacher.” This was an important, official function in the church (see Ac 13:1; 1Co 12:28; Eph 4:11). Thus Paul is forbidding women from filling the office and role of the pastor or teacher. He is not prohibiting them from teaching in other appropriate conditions and circumstances (cf. Ac 18:26; Tit 2:3, 4). exercise authority over. Paul forbids women from exercising any type of authority over men in the church assembly, since the elders are those who rule (5:17). They are all to be men (as is clear from the requirements in 3:2, 5). remain quiet. See note on v. 11.
2:13, 14 A woman’s subordinate role did not result after the Fall as a cultural, chauvinistic corruption of God’s perfect design; rather, God established her role as part of His original creation (v. 13). God made woman after man to be his suitable helper (see note on Ge 2:18; cf. 1Co 11:8, 9). The Fall actually corroborates God’s divine plan of creation (see notes on Ge 3:1–7). By nature Eve was not suited to assume the position of ultimate responsibility. By leaving Adam’s protection and usurping his headship, she was vulnerable and fell, thus confirming how important it was for her to stay under the protection and leadership of her husband (see notes on 5:11, 12; 2Ti 3:6, 7). Adam then violated his leadership role, followed Eve in her sin, and plunged the human race into sinfulness—all connected with violating God’s planned roles for the sexes. Ultimately, the responsibility for the Fall still rests with Adam, since he chose to disobey God apart from being deceived (Ro 5:12–21; 1Co 15:21, 22).
2:15 women. That Paul does not have Eve in mind here is clear because the verb translated “will be preserved” is future, and he also uses the plural pronoun “they.” He is talking about women after Eve. will be preserved. The Gr. word can also mean “to rescue,” “to preserve safe and unharmed,” “to heal,” or “to deliver from.” It appears several times in the NT without reference to spiritual salvation (cf. Mt 8:25; 9:21, 22; 24:22; 27:40, 42, 49; 2Ti 4:18). Paul is not advocating that women are eternally saved from sin through childbearing or that they maintain their salvation by having babies, both of which would be clear contradictions of the NT teaching of salvation by grace alone through faith alone (Ro 3:19, 20) sustained forever (Ro 8:31–39). Paul is teaching that even though a woman bears the stigma of being the initial instrument who led the race into sin, it is women through childbearing who may be preserved or freed from that stigma by raising a generation of godly children (cf. 5:10). through the bearing of children. Because mothers have a unique bond and intimacy with their children, and spend far more time with them than do fathers, they have far greater influence in their lives and thus a unique responsibility and opportunity for rearing godly children. While a woman may have led the human race into sin, women have the privilege of leading many out of sin to godliness. Paul is speaking in general terms; God does not want all women to be married (1Co 7:25–40), let alone bear children. if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. The godly appearance, demeanor, and behavior commanded of believing women in the church (vv. 9–12) is motivated by the promise of deliverance from any inferior status and the joy of raising godly children. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Ti 2:11–15). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 11. Let the woman learn in silence, &c.] The apostle goes on to give some other instructions to women, how they should behave themselves in public worship, in the church of God; 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; and he would have them learn in silence, and not offer to rise and speak, under a pretence 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; and if they should meet with any thing, 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 Cor. 14:34, 35. And thus, they were to behave with all subjection; both to the ministers of the word, and to their own husbands; obeying from the heart the form of doctrine delivered to them; and submitting cheerfully to the ordinances of Christ; the whole of which is a professed subjection to the Gospel, and which becomes all professing godliness.
Ver. 12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, &c.] They may teach in private, in their own houses and families; they are to be teachers of good things, Tit. 2:3. They are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; nor is the law or doctrine of a mother to be forsaken, any more than the instruction of a father; see Prov. 1:8 and 31:1, 2, 3, 4. Timothy, no doubt, received much advantage, from the private teachings and instructions of his mother Eunice, and grandmother Lois; but then women are not to teach in the church; for that is an act of power and authority, and supposes the persons that teach to be of a superior degree, and in a superior office, and to have superior abilities to those who are taught by them: nor to usurp authority over the man; as not in civil and political things, or in things relating to civil government; and in things domestic, or the affairs of the family; so not in things ecclesiastical, or what relate to the church and government of it; for one part of rule is to feed the church with knowledge and understanding; and for a woman to take upon her to do this, is to usurp an authority over the man: this therefore she ought not to do, but to be in silence; to sit and hear quietly and silently, and learn, and not teach, as in ver. 11. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 285–286). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The term “dress” (katastolē) describes the outward deportment of the women as expressed in the clothes they wear. To practice “decency and propriety” demands that the women not flaunt their wealth or their beauty. The former word shows reserve in matters of sex, and the latter word indicates a mastery of the appetites, particularly in matters of sex. The two terms refer to inner virtues. (New American Commentary)
The word translated dress (katastolē) probably refers to demeanour as well as attire. The emphasis falls on the modesty accompanying the dress. Only orderly or decent conduct accords with the spirit of Christian worship. This reflects a right attitude of mind, for Paul was shrewd enough to know that a woman’s dress is a mirror of her mind. He seems to be ruling out any outward ostentation as not being in keeping with a prayerful and devout approach. The words with decency and propriety are added as an explanation of acceptable dress. Again it is a question of dignity and seriousness of purpose, as opposed to levity and frivolity. Paul leaves no doubt as to what he means by adding a list of prohibitions relating to outward adornments. (D. Guthrie)
The word “shamefacedness” is aidōs (αἰδως). In earlier Greek it was sometimes blended with the sense of aischunē (αἰσχυνη) (shame), though it was used also of the feeling of respectful timidity in the presence of superiors, or of penitent respect toward one who has been wronged. It is the feeling of a suppliant or an unfortunate in the presence of those from whom he seeks aid, of a younger toward an older man. It is a feeling based upon the sense of deficiency, inferiority. or unworthiness. The word is a blend of modesty and humility. (Wuest)
Mary writes (PA): Be careful: I got a message from you or it shown on your wall here.. Please tell all the contacts in your messenger list not to accept friendship request from Andrea Wilson. She is a hacker and has the system connected to your Facebook account. If one of your contacts accepts it, you will also be hacked, so make sure that all your friends know it. Thanks. Forwarded as received. Hold your finger down on the message. At the bottom in the middle it will say forward. Hit that then click on the names of those in your list and it will send to them THIS Is REAL
Building-Vine-Body
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)
There are three wonderful figures in the New Testament that depict the relationship of the individual believer to all other believers and to Christ Himself. Christians are like little branches in the great vine, which is Christ. They are stones in a great building of which He is the foundation and cornerstone. They are all members of the great body of which He is the head. In each case, they have been placed “in Christ,” and they derive all life and meaning from Him.
As a stone lying alone on the ground is useless and ugly, so would be a professing Christian who is not truly in Christ. But we, “as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5) as “the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Similarly, a branch without its vine and roots is lifeless. Jesus said: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The members of a body are functionless without the head to direct them. “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 12:18), and it is intended that we “may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together…maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Outside of Christ, we are useless, and lifeless, and without direction. In Him, we become a beautiful temple, a fruitful vine, and a strong body.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Through parables, Jesus gives instruction on the proper perspective of wealth.
INSIGHT
It’s hard to let go of the temporal and lay hold of the eternal. And the temporal world can hold on to rich and poor alike through money. Both the greedy and the envious live as if there were no eternal realm.
Jesus often speaks about a true and good perspective on money. Perhaps His financial teaching can be summed up by this: Our faith should be in God, not money. We must be careful always to trust God who supplies the money rather than to trust the money itself.
(Quiet Walk)
GOD’S WORK THROUGH THE TRUTH
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
Some teach that all we have to do, having told God that we want to be delivered, is to believe He has done it, and then we shall eventually find that it has happened. Now that teaching is also put like this: You must say to a man who is constantly defeated by a particular sin, “I think your only hope is to take it to Christ, and Christ will take it from you.”
But what does Scripture say in Ephesians 4:28 to the man who finds himself constantly guilty of stealing, to a man who sees something he likes and takes it? What am I to tell such a man? Am I to say, “Take that sin to Christ and ask Him to deliver you”? No. What the apostle Paul tells him is this: “Let him that stole, steal no more.” Just that. Stop doing it! And if it is fornication or adultery or lustful thoughts, again, stop doing it, says Paul. He does not say, “Go and pray to Christ to deliver you.” No. You must stop doing that, he says, as becomes the children of God.
My friends, we have become unscriptural. If you want further evidence, lest somebody thinks it is only the teaching of Paul, let me come to the teaching of the apostle Peter, which is exactly the same—it is the whole teaching of Scripture, which we seem to have forgotten. We read in 1 Peter 1:14-15, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” It is something that you have to do. You must turn your back on these things because you are a child of God. Peter does not say, “Surrender it to Christ and ask Him to deliver you from it.” What he says is, “Realize who you are and stop doing it!”
A Thought to Ponder: You must turn your back on these things because you are a child of God. (From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 54-55, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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