1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2

Shawn Bumpers / General

1 Timothy 2 / Peace; Behavior; Order; Men; Women

Christian behavior inside and outside of the church setting

 

Introduction

As we have already noted, Paul wrote this letter to Timothy and the church in Ephesus in order to strengthen the church.

They needed to be prepared for an influx of Jewish believers from Israel.

This meant that the primarily Gentile churches outside of Israel would see an influx of these Christians from Israel.

That would be done in several ways.

• First, the Pastor needed to be re-affirmed in his calling.

Timothy … to whom Paul wrote this letter, had grown discouraged.

Some in the church were questioning him and his calling … primarily because of his youth, but also because he held strictly to the doctrines handed down by Paul.

• Second, the true doctrines of the church needed to be affirmed.

Also in chapter 1, Paul pointed out that one feature of false teachings is they place the burden of works on those who are saved by grace.

The flesh loves anything that it can claim some part or responsibility of.

Things like The Shack, Jesus Calling, the Circle Maker among so many other books and movies … they all deviate from scripture in very dangerous ways.

There are also subtle adjustments that are often made to scripture … allegorizing it to make us the hero rather than Christ.

A good example that we talked about last Sunday was taking biblical text that is descriptive and making it prescriptive.

But sometimes the deceptive power isn’t in subtlety, but in the spectacle.

1 Timothy 2:12 NKJV
And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

And many people don’t realize what the Prosperity Doctrine actually teaches.

But the Prosperity Doctrine actually teaches:

• The Abrahamic covenant is a means to material entitlement.

• Jesus’ atonement extends to the “sin” of material poverty

• Christians give in order to gain material compensation from God

• Faith is a self-generated spiritual force that leads to prosperity

• Prayer is a tool to force God to grant prosperity

Modelism says that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not distinct persons in the godhead, but are instead different modes of existence of a single entity.

It states that God cannot exist in more than one mode at a time:

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

There are many doctrines in scripture, and the Bible is a deep and rich book, so how do we know what is just wrong teaching and what is heretical teaching?

Sometimes incorrect teaching isn’t heretical, it’s just bad … still dangerous, but not on the level of heresy.

• First-order doctrines are the core claims of Christianity that define true faith from counterfeit faith …

• Second-order doctrines lead to different denominational traditions …

• Third-order doctrines are those theological opinions that Christians can disagree about and yet still be a part of the same church or group of churches …

V1-2

1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV

Let all things be done decently and in order.

It would seem that Timothy was having some problems applying this principle to the church in Ephesus.

The public worship services were losing their order and effectiveness because both the men and the women members of the church were disobeying God’s Word.

The Greek word for “exhort” is παρακαλέω and means, “To urge, implore, exhort.”

Here, Parakaleō is used in the sense of urging of someone to do something.

And what does Paul list first of all?

What does he say is Primary?

• Supplications are requests, and prayers is “orations” … that is worship and adoration.

• Intercessions is “petitions” or requests … which could be your own requests or the requests of others.

• And Giving Thanks is appreciation for what God has done.

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We are not “speaking into existence” our desires.

Woe to the person who receives by God’s permissive will their own desires in exchange for God’s perfect will.

Here, in our chapter, Paul is calling the whole church to pray.

A pastor should be praying for the congregation and praying as he prepares the message, and the congregation should be praying for one another and for the pastor.

Paul says in verse 1 that, “All men” need our prayers.

Jeremiah 29:7 NKJV
And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

Of course, Paul’s motive is more than keeping peace; it is also to proclaim the gospel, which Paul states in verses 3 and 4.

Even when we can’t respect the men or women who are in authority, we are to respect their offices and pray for them.

In fact, it is for our own good that we do so: “That we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Tim. 2:2b). 

“Quiet” is ἤρεμος “tranquil” and it refers to circumstances around us.

“Peaceful” is ἡσύχιος meaning “well ordered” and it refers to a calm attitude within us.

V3-4

In verse 3 we have that phrase, “good and acceptable” in reference to the outlook of God.

The word “good” or Kalos is a key word in Paul’s pastoral epistles.

Certainly, prayer is a very good practice and brings with it many good benefits.

But prayer is also pleasing to the Lord. 

This idea of prayer that is good and acceptable, or good and “pleasing” to God suggests that we must pray according to the will of God.

1 John 5:14–15 NKJV
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Watchman Nee – “Prayer is the rail for God’s work. Indeed, prayer is to God’s will as rails are to a train.”

What is God’s will?

Well, Paul says it’s the salvation of lost souls, for one thing. 

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:14 NKJV
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

John 12:32 NKJV

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

If God doesn’t want anyone to perish, then why are so many lost?

John 6:37 NKJV

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

Both are taught in the Bible and are harmonized in God’s great plan of salvation, yet there is a mystery there.

V5-7

Many believers do not realize that prayer is based on the work of Jesus Christ as Savior and Mediator.

They might wonder how that can be when prayer was around prior to His first incarnation.

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

You may have heard the term Godhead used to describe this “hard to describe idea” of One God expressed in 3 distinct persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Biblically, all three Persons of the Trinity have the same essence and nature.

For instance, in regards to the Godhead, our salvation is based on:

• The Father’s power and love (John 3:16; 10:29),

• The Son’s death and resurrection (1 John 2:2; Ephesians 2:6), and

• The Spirit’s regeneration and seal (Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5).

The three Persons of the Godhead voluntarily submit to each other in their roles.

• The Father sent the Son into the world (1 John 4:10) and the Son never sends the Father.

• The Holy Spirit is sent by Jesus and “proceeds from the Father” to testify of Christ (John 14:26; 15:26).

• Jesus is perfectly submitted His will to the Father’s (Luke 22:42; Hebrews 10:7).

So, God is one, as Paul says in verse 5.

The Greek word is ἀντίλυτρον Antilytron and means just that … Redemption Price.

Matthew 20:28 NKJV

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

John 16:8 ESV

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Now Paul is getting to addressing structure in the church and to set the stage, he addresses gender roles.

Paul stated definitely that men should pray in the local assembly … everywhere the church meets.

1 Corinthians 11:4–5 NKJV
Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.

Paul stated three essentials for effective prayer.

• The first was “holy hands.” 

Psalm 66:18 NKJV

If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.

• The second essential for effective prayer is, “Without wrath.”

• The third essential that Paul gives for effective prayer is, “Without Doubting.”

But, we need to stick with Paul’s intent here … and he uses a Greek Word, διαλογισμός that means “disputing.”

V9-10

The emphasis in this section (1 Tim. 2:9–15) is on women in the local church, where and how they are to serve.

And the issue is not women being subject to men, but being subject to the LORD.

In verse 9, Paul addresses modest dress.

Paul did not forbid “dressing up,” but rather excessive “dressing up” and clothes that might be a distraction to others.

1 Peter 3:3–4 NKJV
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.

The word translated “modest” simply means “decent and orderly, appropriate.”

 

V11

“Silence” here is an unfortunate translation because it gives the impression that believing women were never to open their mouths in the assembly.

The proper way for anyone to learn is submissively and “quietly.”

 

V12-15

Women are permitted to teach.

Older women should teach the younger women (Titus 2:3–4) and the more mature Christians ladies should share with those who are younger in Christ.

Titus 2:3–4 NKJV
the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

But Paul’s not just voicing an opinion here.

In fact, he gave several arguments to back this up. 

• The first is an argument from Creation.

• The second argument has to do with man’s fall into sin. 

Now, look back at verse 15 because this one can be kind of confusing.

One could read this and conclude that any woman who has born a child is saved.

The preceding verse speaks of Eve’s deception at the Fall and the subsequent consequences.

Genesis 3:16 NKJV
To the woman He said:

“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”

The problem with that, however, is the verb used here σῴζω (sōzō) always carries the meaning of spiritual salvation in Paul’s letters.

1 Timothy 5:14 NKJV

Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully.