Conduct in the Church.
1 Timothy Ch.2:1 to Ch.3:13.
Verses 1 – 7 – Instructions concerning Prayer.
Often the last priority – because it demands self-discipline. It ought to be the first priority. Don’t miss the giving of thanks here – give it prominence.
Believers suffered persecution from Rome, especially from Nero after the fire in Rome in July 64 AD. Paul had been released from prison and he urged prayer for civil rulers and salvation for humanity, having a wider vision and interest in prayer, so that stability of life would mean that the Gospel would be unhindered. Believers could live peaceful and godly lives. The word ‘eusebia’ – used for godliness – is used ten times in the Pastoral Epistles. They were hard times in which to live godly in Christ Jesus
Verse 3. Perhaps some at the Ephesus church questioned the validity of prayer. Times were hard under Rome.
Verses 5-6. ‘One God – one mediator’, see Eph. 4:4-6. Remember the seven ‘ones’. Only one way to God through the God-Man Mediator Christ Jesus – a ransom price obtained at the cross. God desires the salvation of humanity.
Verse 7 – Paul underlines his Apostleship with the Gospel message to Gentiles, to strengthen Timothy’s stand against opposition by Jewish exclusivism.
Verse 8. Men in leadership must have clean hands and a pure heart, no doubting and free from anger and dissension. This is necessary in praying men with holy lives – otherwise sin breaks the vital fellowship with God, essential in prayer times. Ps.26:6 says, ‘I will wash my hands in innocency: so will I compass your altar, O Lord’. Broken human relationships hinders prayer. Matt. 5:22-24; Ch.6:12; 1st Peter 3:7.
Verses 9-12. Women. Internal adornment essential rather than external. There should be modesty with decency. Expensive clothing is only wrong when they indicate misplaced values. 1st Peter 3:3-5. Paul was shrewd enough to know that a woman’s dress is a mirror of her mind.
Shamefaced is better rendered ‘modesty and self-control, dignity and serious-minded, rather than frivolity’. A devout and godly woman becomes a blessing to many and pleasing to the Lord, having standards much higher than non-Christian women. A woman’s adornment is not what she puts on, but a loving service she gives out, verse 10.
Verses 11-12 relate to public worship – mainly women’s subjection to men – but remember, husbands love your wives, is not only Christian marriages, it is also the Divine order for life. See verse 13. 1st Cor. 14:34-35 is Church order too, but would include the home – no division of behaviour in church or home. Heaven’s standards should prevail in every situation.
The word for ‘silence, or quietness’ is ‘hesychia’ , v11, does not mean complete silence, or no talking. It means ‘settled down, undisturbed , not unruly’. This is implied elsewhere. Acts 22:2; 2nd Thess. 3:12. A different word ‘sigao’ means to be silent and say nothing. (Luke 18:39; 1st Cor. 14:34).
Verses 13-15. Priority of man over creation in a position of superiority over woman. 1st Cor. 11:9. Eve was deceived, or beguiled. Adam sinned openly. The woman did not deceive the man, she persuaded him! The Holy Spirit led Paul to realise a woman can more easily be led astray, having this aptitude as the ‘weaker sex’. The entry of sin into the world is attributed to Adam in Romans 5:12 onwards.
A quiet, settled and undisturbed manner of life is of great worth to God because it shows an understanding and acceptance of His design for the human race, as revealed in Genesis Ch. 2; 1st Cor. 11:8-10. Adam was formed first, then Eve. Gen. 2:7-25. Leadership is male. Otherwise it is a departure from the Divine order for life. The woman is the ‘helper’ for man – a vital role. Gen. 2:18. She should respond with that attitude, honouring man or her husband and the Lord essentially.
Verse 15 is very difficult. A woman will find satisfaction and inner fulfilment of life by living out these four virtues of a Christian woman. She can be a mother, helper to her husband, a home-maker, with the specially gifted ability to care for children – a family builder. This fulfils God’s desire and design for woman as wife and mother, not seeking the male role, for which she is not designed, but living out verse 15(b) ‘faith, love, holiness with sobriety (self-restraint with serious attitudes). Such values in a woman is priceless virtue. In the sight of the Lord these are of immense worth and value, in the Church, society and the home. This is where a woman shines and often the man fails, when he attempts to exchange roles in our modern society. This is in opposition to God’s pattern for living and husband, wife and children lose out when exchanging roles. This has been so clear and obvious in recent decades and succeeding generations. God’s wisdom is right – hold to it!
Proverbs 31:10 says, ‘who can find a virtuous woman? Her price is far above rubies”. The verses following, in Proverbs 31, expand this glorious statement.