1 Timothy 2

Pray for political leaders; God wants all saved 1
One mediator 5
Women to dress modestly 9
Women to be submissive 11
Text Comments
 1 ¶ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
 2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
 3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
.4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
.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.
 7  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.
.8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Often more than one verse should be read in passages linked to.
  1 - Therefore Paul had charged Timothy to be a good soldier for Christ 1ti0118.
  1 - First ... prayers Good advice. How easy it is to do the work of God without a personal saving relationship.
  2 - Kings Monarchy was the form of government at the time. Advice is on not being antigovernment in general. See ro1301, ac0529, 1pe0213.
  2 - Honesty The Greek word means respect.
  4 - Who will have all ... saved Literally, "who wills." Without this none could be saved. We certainly don't deserve salvation. The lost will have refused grace. tt0211, jn0317, ro0918f, 2pe0309.
  4 - Knowledge of the truth By experience.
  5 - One mediator This relates to the mystery of the incarnation. We come to the Father only through Christ jn1406. This is why we pray in Jesus' name jn1414. We 

can pray in Christ's name without saying the words, "In Jesus name amen." We pray in recognition of Christ as our contact with heaven.
  Can any angel or human be our mediator? Not in our relationship to God. The word is also used for a person who seeks harmony between two individuals. And we can pray that the Holy Spirit will reach other individuals who are not praying for themselves. They may be thus led to seek God. Salvation is an individual matter between God and people. Only Christ, who died in our place v6, can stand in our place before the Father.
  5 - The man Christ Jesus An emphasis on His divinity and humanity. The name "Christ" means "the anointed one" and represents His divinity. "Jesus" was His human name mt0121.
  7 - Preacher The Greek word means "herald," one who announces messages for a king.
  8 - I will To "will" is to desire with resolve." Paul stresses the importance of the proper attitude in prayer.
  8 - Men Greek andres means males. This is not to say that the counsel would apply to women who pray. Apparently prayer was the responsibility of men in the churches. See on 1co1434.
  8 - Holy hands Those who thus represented the church in prayer were to have pure behavior ps02403f, ja0408.
  Should we lift our hands? If the gesture expresses our solemn reaching up to our Mediator in heaven, if it is not associated with fanaticism, and if it does not lead others into fanaticism, we have no reason not to. We may pray at any time and in any position. Kneeling expresses our reverence and closing our eyes helps us focus on the One we cannot see.
  8 - Doubting The word should be "arguing" or "fighting." We need to have a forgiving and harmonious spirit mt0522. confessional booth image © shown in image, see website
.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;
 10  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

  9 - In like manner Paul has addressed the weaknesses men tend to have and he now turns to the women.
  9 - Adorn Literally "to put in order" We might say "to make neat."
  9 - Shamefacedness Or "self-respect" or "modesty."
  9 - Broided Literally, something woven, twisted together, of braided. In the context hair (and other things) should not make a statement that is not in harmony with reverence for Christ. I have heard that the term is used for the practice of weaving strands of gold or silver into the hair.

Also see on 1pe03. Image © Corel
.11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
.14 And Adam was not deceived but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.		   Silence ... subjection Each culture has social expectations for appropriate behaviors. Paul shows that it is proper to respect these See on 1co1434. (already linked with v8). We cannot deny that God has also given different roles to men and women. Counsel for bishops at beginning of the next chapter is clarified by this.
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