1 Timothy 2

1. Historical Background:

The Bible doesn’t provide every detail about the historical background of a certain passage, though everything that is necessary for what God wants to communicate is.  It isn’t necessary to know that during the time of this writing, Emperor Nero was in power who was particularly hostile towards Christians, committing them to the gladiator arena and blaming them for a fire that he may have started himself.  It wouldn’t be necessary to know these things, but it is nevertheless the backdrop to Paul’s message to Timothy when he said,

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for 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 Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

vv1-4

To be Christian in these days was to automatically be judged politically regardless if you welcomed it or not. So Paul is instructing Christians how to behave for the sake of the Gospel.

In chapter one we concluded that Paul is writing to a disciple left in charge of an unknown number of house churches where the leaders need correcting.   The discussion on women’s dress apparel implies modesty was apparently an issue that came up in the report to Paul along with the other problems the church was experiencing.

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; vv.9

2. What do we learn about God?

God Desires Everyone to Be Saved (v4)–Paul instructs Timothy to organize prayer in the church that we all pray for all people,  particularly people in authority and in government (v2).  This isn’t calling for Christians to politically endorse someone, remember the emperor in power at the time was killing Christians.

To be a Christian at that time immediately put you at odds with everyone politically.  Everywhere in the Roman empire, Christians were being described as evil and malicious.  Think about this for a moment,  in a world where religious and pagan ceremonies took place in public temples, Christians were meeting in private homes and sometimes at night to avoid persecution–this made people suspicious of what Christians were doing.

So Paul is saying, we don’t want the world to be suspicious of us, we have the attitude to live quiet and peaceful lives in godliness and honesty (v2).   We don’t want to hide the gospel message like it is some evil thing that must be hidden, but God wants all men to come to the knowledge of the truth (v4).  Let them see that you want to live peaceably with people, show them that you actually support the government in prayer.

Today we are more likely to protest government than to pray for them.  No one was ever convinced they need the gospel by insulting or protesting against them.  Paul says God chose him to preach the Gospel to people in faith and verity (v7) instead of anger and controversy (v8).  Contrast to two attitudes here and tell me which one you think is more persuasive.

So Paul is saying that people should recognize what God wants here and make your life to reflect that, He wants all people to be saved.  The Christian life isn’t about your comfort, your way, your political agenda.  God will one day judge all sin and corruption, all the things we might get upset and protest about, but until that day comes, He wants all men and women to come to the knowledge of the Gospel and be saved.  God chose the church to be the means of how the gospel message is proclaimed in all the earth, and so it must know how to behave in the government it is situated in, for the gospel’s sake.

“In like manner, that women adorn…” (v9) I don’t think the discussion here on women’s clothing is suddenly a separate issue.  I still think Paul is talking about the God who wants everyone to be saved, so what does that have to do with a Christian woman’s dress?

God’s heart is that he wants everyone to be saved, so where must a person look to be saved? The focus should be on Christ, and Christians ought to make the focus of lives to be about Christ.  It’s apparent that the way some ladies were dressing had become an issue.  One of the issues was modesty (v9).  It’s an issue that came up in their church, we can’t go back in time to see how they were dressing, but apparently, it was so skimpy that Paul needed to address it.

It wasn’t just a modesty issue though, it wasn’t just about covering up skin.  God wants Christian ladies and men to be focused on Christ and the gospel, but the fancy clothes they were wearing was telling a different story. “Gold, pearls, costly array” seem to say that these ladies are flaunting and intentionally dressing to draw attention to themselves.  That’s how the world thinks,

1 John 2:16

¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The world is interested in attracting attention to oneself, the Holy Spirit is interested in attracting attention to Christ.  It is deeper than just a modesty or clothes issue, but the women who had this problem in Ephesus were revealing that they were not under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Imoddesty is asking others to pay attention to your body and not to Christ.  And for those who are dressed to impress are asserting their importance in a place where Christ should receive the glory.  So Paul is writing and saying in effect, “look, God wants all people to know the Gospel, but the way your dressing is sending a hypocritical message self-centered message.”

Let the women learn in silence with all subjection…vv11 This too was also said with the idea that God wants all men to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Verse 12 seems to indicate that women were assuming teaching positions and assuming authority over the congregation. Paul’s response in v13 explains that creation shows us that God’s intends gender to have distinctions in the church and family life.  Sexual distinction is not the same as saying sexual inequality.  We know from other scripture that people in heaven do not have a gender, but are like the angels.

Matthew 22:30

³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Humanly speaking, I can understand why a woman might feel that she could accomplish more with the same authority as a pastor or teacher, but it comes down to whether or not a person believes God knows what He is talking about when it comes to gender roles in the church.  If God is right, and we are wrong, then a woman who voluntarily places herself in subjection to pastoral authority is far more effective then asserting her own authority.

Many critics of the Bible use verses like this to say the Bible teaches gender inequality.  That conclusion is the opposite of what is happening here. That fact that Paul is addressing this in the ancient world goes to show the vital importance a woman has in society, in family, and in church.  In the ancient world, women were viewed as property of men, but God frequently contradicted this narrative.

Two books in the Bible have a woman’s name showcasing their faith. Though they were in subjection, still their testimony has taught untold millions the truth of God. Though Eve was found in transgression (v14), God still honored her to be the mother of Christ (v15) without the influence of any man.  Jesus must needs to go to Samaria because there was a lady there abused by men that God wanted to use to bring that city to Christ.  The greatest evidence of the Gospel is the resurrection of Christ to which God chose a woman to be the first witness.

We continue to believe the lie Satan whispered in Eve’s ear when we challenge the roles God gave to women. Of course, there has been injustice in the world, injustice happens when you sin against God, but there is no point in saying one “believes God” but reject what He has to say about gender.  Our purpose for protesting Him comes from a desire to judge God and place yourself in authority to judge. His purpose is that all people could be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth of which there are no alternate versions.

3. How does the passage point to Jesus?

⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ⁶ Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Our reason to live peaceably with all, even contrary men, is because we have been ransomed by Jesus Christ.  He approached the world in humility, born in a manger.  Though He could have been wrapped in kingly robes, gold and pearls, He was wrapped in “grave clothes”.  Because He did not come to live for Himself or flaunt His riches.  He came because His Father wants all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

We pray for kings and all those in authority because when Jesus was being put death on the cross for us, he prayed for His persecutors saying “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

We learn in silence and with all subjection and pray for kings and those in authority because even Jesus not only subjected Himself to His Father’s authority, but also to earthly authorities. He was “silent” as he stood before wicked Herod and answered Pilate not a word (See John 19:9). He told Pilate, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above (See John 19:11).”

Jesus did all these things before us so that all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.  Therefore those “who profess godliness let us show forth with good works (v10),  namely the works of Lord that not only saved us but gave us an example.

4. Application

Make your applications specific and write down what you’ll do–not just being hearers of the word but doers also.

“I will write down verse 1 and 2 on an index card and this afternoon when I pray, I will read the card and pray for those in authority in our city, state, country, and authorities in Taiwan.”

“When I go to Walmart later today and if I see that young man, I will invite him to a bible study.”