I Timothy

By Joyce Webb 2024

Chapter 2    Verse 1-15

Verse 1 Paul said—I strongly encourage you to pray.
Make supplication—meaning—ask humbly—ask with deep desire and be serious.
Intercession—meaning—to speak to someone in authority— for them to bless or help someone.
Give thanks.
Do this for the good of all men.

Verse 2 Do this for kings.
Do this for leaders in authority.
So that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life—–and be able to do this in a godly way and in honest living.

Verse 3 Doing this—is good and acceptable to God.

Verse 4 God —who wants all men to be saved—–and to come to the knowledge of truth.

Verse 5 For there is one God. One mediator between God and man.

(Here is a verse for you to remember. For those who say it does not matter who you pray to. Or they say—everyone has their own god.)

(Mediator—-is a person who stands between two people—and tries to make peace between them. Jesus does this for us.

Jesus stands between man and God and pleads (asks) for us. Jesus says to God the Father—please accept this person—for my sake—because I paid for his sin—and he has asked for forgiveness—I have forgiven him. God the Father listens to Jesus, and for Jesus‘ sake—-God listens to us.)

Verse 6 Jesus—who gave himself a ransom (payment) for all people. This is a testimony that is true.

Verse 7 To this testimony of Jesus—I am called and ordained (appointed) to be a preacher, and an apostle—-a person who has been recognized as having full knowledge of Christ and his teaching and is able to teach others).

(Some say—an apostle can only be someone who has seen Jesus or been with Jesus.
Paul lived at the same time as Jesus. He was not a follower of Jesus at that time.

Later, after Jesus went back up into heaven the disciples were preaching about Jesus. One of Jesus‘ followers, Stephen, was preaching and the Jewish leaders became angry with him. They picked up stones to throw at him to kill him.

Paul was there watching and he held the coats of those who were throwing stones.)
Also, Paul did see Jesus in a vision on the road to Damascus. Jesus spoke to Paul.)

Paul said—I speak the truth. I do not lie.
I am a teacher to the Gentiles—-in faith and truth.

Verse 8 I want men everywhere to pray—-lifting up their hands in prayer. To do this—without anger—-to pray without doubting.

Verse 9 Women should pray also.

And they should dress in a modest way —in a style not showing off their bodies—-
and not showing off —by wearing fancy braided hair and gold jewelry, or pearls, or costly clothes.

(Modest—meaning—-”the middle of the road” idea—
not sloppy, not sexy, not overly rich and showy.)

Verse 10 They should dress in a way that becomes a woman who says she is a godly person. A person who does good works.

Verse 11 Let the woman learn in silence and be under the authority of the leaders.

Verse 12 I do not allow a woman to teach. I do not allow a woman to take authority over a man, but to be in silence.

Verse 13 For Adam was made first, and then the woman. Eve.

Verse 14 Adam was not deceived. But the woman was deceived by Satan and sinned.

Verse 15 The woman will be saved in childbearing, if they continue in the faith and in good works, with holy sober living.
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There has been much discussion through the years about Verses 11-15.

The culture and ways of doing things was different in Paul’s time.
And the culture of those countries —is different than our American way.

Cultures have changed. The way people live has changed.
Countries and culture are still different from place to place.

An American traveling to other countries needs to do certain things in keeping with what that country allows or accepts.

In today’s America—-women can be in charge of things.

Some churches in America—still preach what Paul says here about women not being leaders and teachers in the church.

They are very strict about it. And there is much argument among some of the people about it.

In most churches in America—women are allowed to be leaders and teachers.

They are allowed to speak out in discussion groups.

I do think that a woman in leadership needs to lead carefully.

To be respectful to others —especially to men.

There is still the thinking in the minds of many—-that men should be the leaders.

And some would say—that the Bible teaches that—and it has not changed.

Yet—there are times and places where there is no man who is willing , or able, or available—to be the leader—but there is a woman who will do it.

So, a woman in leadership—needs to act and speak wisely and carefully.