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Verses115
Chapter2
THEUNIVERSALITYOFTHEGOSPEL(1Timothy2:17)
2:17SothenthefirstthingIurgeyoutodoistoofferyourrequests,
yourprayers,yourpetitions,yourthanksgivingsforallmen.Prayfor
kingsandforallwhoareinauthority,thattheymayenjoyalifethat
istranquilandundisturbed,andthattheymayactinallgodliness
andreverence.Thatisthefinewaytolive,thewaywhichmeetswith
theapprovalofGod,ourSaviour,whowishesallmentobesaved,
andtocometoafullknowledgeofthetruth.ForthereisoneGod,
andoneMediator,betweenGodandman,themanJesusChrist,who
gavehimselfaransomforall.ItwasthusheborehiswitnesstoGod
inhisowngoodtimes,awitnesstowhichIhavebeenappointeda
heraldandanenvoy(Iamspeakingthetruth:Idonotlie),ateacher
totheGentiles,ateacherwhosemessageisbasedonfaithand
truth.
Beforewestudythispassageindetailwemustnoteonethingwhichshines
outfromitinawaythatnoonecanfailtosee.FewpassagesintheNew
Testamentsostresstheuniversalityofthegospel.Prayeristobemadefor
allmenGodistheSaviourwhowishesallmentobesavedJesusgave
hislifearansomforall.AsWalterLockwrites:"God'swilltosaveisas
wideashiswilltocreate."
ThisisanotewhichsoundsintheNewTestamentagainandagain.
ThroughChristGodwasreconcilingtheworldtohimself(2Corinthians5:18
19).GodsolovedtheworldthathegavehisSon(John3:16).ItwasJesus'
confidencethat,ifhewaslifteduponhisCross,soonorlatehewoulddraw
allmentohim(John12:32).

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E.F.Browncallsthispassage"thecharterofmissionarywork."Hesays
thatitistheproofthatallmenarecapaxdei,capableofreceivingGod.
Theymaybelost,buttheycanbefoundtheymaybeignorant,butthey
canbeenlightenedtheymaybesinners,buttheycanbesaved.George
Wishart,theforerunnerofJohnKnox,writesinhistranslationoftheFirst
SwissConfession:"TheendandintentoftheScriptureistodeclarethat
Godisbenevolentandfriendlymindedtomankindandthathehath
declaredthatkindnessinandthroughJesusChrist,hisonlySonthewhich
kindnessisreceivedbyfaith."Thatiswhyprayermustbemadeforall.God
wantsallmen,andso,therefore,musthisChurch.

Bengel'sGnomon

(i)Thegospelincludeshighandlow.BoththeEmperorinhispowerandthe
slaveinhishelplessnesswereincludedinthesweepofthegospel.Both
thephilosopherinhiswisdomandthesimplemaninhisignoranceneedthe
graceandtruththatthegospelcanbring.Withinthegospelthereareno
classdistinctions.Kingandcommoner,richandpoor,aristocratand
peasant,masterandmanareallincludedinitslimitlessembrace.

Expositor'sBible

(ii)Thegospelincludesgoodandbad.Astrangemaladyhassometimes
afflictedtheChurchinmoderntimes,causingittoinsistthatamanbe
respectablebeforeheisallowedin,andtotookaskanceatsinnerswho
seekentrytoitsdoors.ButtheNewTestamentisclearthattheChurch

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book:1Timothychapter:2

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exists,notonlytoedifythegood,buttowelcomeandsavethesinner.C.T.
Studdusedtorepeatfourlinesofdoggerel:
"Somewanttolivewithinthesound
OfChurchorChapelbell
Iwanttorunarescueshop
Withinayardofhell."
Oneofthegreatsaintsofmoderntimes,andindeedofalltime,wasToyohikoKagawa.Itwasto
ShinkawathathewenttofindmenandwomenforChristandhelivedthereinthefilthiestandmost
depravedslumsintheworld.W.J.Smartdescribesthesituation:"Hisneighbourswereunregistered
prostitutes,thieveswhoboastedoftheirpowertooutwitallthepoliceinthecity,andmurdererswhowere
notonlyproudoftheirmurderrecordbutalwaysreadytoaddtotheirlocalprestigebycommitting
another.Allthepeople,whethersick,orfeeblemindedorcriminal,livedinconditionsofabysmalmisery,
instreetsslipperywithfilth,whereratscrawledoutofopensewerstodie.Theairwasalwaysfilledwith
stench.AnidiotgirlwholivednextdoortoKagawahadvilepicturespaintedonherbacktodecoylustful
mentoherden.Everywherehumanbodiesrottedwithsyphilis."Kagawawantedpeoplelikethat,andso
doesJesusChrist,forhewantsallmen,goodandbadalike.
(iii)ThegospelembracesChristianandnonChristian.Prayeristobemadeforallmen.TheEmperors
andrulersforwhomthisletterbidsuspraywerenotChristianstheywereinfacthostiletotheChurch
andyettheyweretobebornetothethroneofgracebytheprayersoftheChurch.ForthetrueChristian
thereisnosuchthingasanenemyinallthisworld.Noneisoutsidehisprayers,fornoneisoutsidethe
loveofChrist,andnoneisoutsidethepurposeofGod,whowishesallmentobesaved.
THEWAYOFPRAYER(1Timothy2:17continued)
Fourdifferentwordsforprayeraregroupedtogether.Itistruethattheyarenottobesharply
distinguishedneverthelesseachhassomethingtotellusofthewayofprayer.
(i)Thefirstisdeesis(Greek#1162),whichwehavetranslatedrequest.Itisnotexclusivelyareligious
worditcanbeusedofarequestmadeeithertoafellowmanortoGod.Butitsfundamentalideaisa
senseofneed.Noonewillmakearequestunlessasenseofneedhasalreadywakenedadesire.Prayer
beginswithasenseofneed.Itbeginswiththeconvictionthatwecannotdealwithlifeourselves.That
senseofhumanweaknessisthebasisofallapproachtoGod.
"Letnotconsciencemakeyoulinger,
Noroffitnessfondlydream
Allthefitnessherequireth
Istofeelyourneedofhim."
(ii)Thesecondisproseuche(Greek#4335),whichwehavetranslatedprayer.Thebasicdifference
betweendeesis(Greek#1162)andproseuche(Greek#4335)isthatdeesis(Greek#1162)maybe
addressedeithertomanorGod,butproseuche(Greek#4335)isneverusedofanythingelsebut
approachtoGod.TherearecertainneedswhichonlyGodcansatisfy.Thereisastrengthwhichhealone
cangiveaforgivenesswhichhealonecangrantacertaintywhichhealonecanbestow.Itmaywellbe
thatourweaknesshauntsusbecausewesooftentakeourneedstothewrongplace.
(iii)Thethirdisenteuxis(Greek#1783),whichwehavetranslatedpetition.Ofthethreewordsthisisthe
mostinteresting.Ithasamostinterestinghistory.Itisthenounfromtheverbentugchanein(Greek
#1793).Thisoriginallymeantsimplytomeet,ortofallinwithapersonitwentontomeantohold
intimateconversationwithapersonthenitacquiredaspecialmeaningandmeanttoenterintoaking's
presenceandtosubmitapetitiontohim.Thattellsusmuchaboutprayer.IttellsusthatthewaytoGod
standsopenandthatwehavetherighttobringourpetitionstoonewhoisaking.
"ThouartcomingtoaKing
Largepetitionswiththeebring
Forhisgraceandpoweraresuch,
Nonecaneverasktoomuch."
ItisimpossibletoasktoogreataboonfromthisKing.
(iv)Thefourthiseucharistia(Greek#2169),whichwehavetranslatedthanksgiving.Prayerdoesnot
meanonlyaskingGodforthingsitalsomeansthankingGodforthings.Fortoomanyofusprayerisan
exerciseincomplaint,whenitshouldbeanexerciseinthanksgiving.Epictetus,notaChristianbuta
Stoicphilosopher,usedtosay:"WhatcanI,whoamalittleoldlameman,do,exceptgivepraiseto
God?"WehavetherighttobringourneedstoGodbutwehavealsothedutyofbringingour
thanksgivingstohim.
PRAYERFORTHOSEINAUTHORITY(1Timothy2:17continued)
Thispassagedistinctlycommandsprayerforkingsandemperorsandallwhoaresetinauthority.This
wasacardinalprincipleofcommunalChristianprayer.Emperorsmightbepersecutorsandthosein
authoritymightbedeterminedtostampoutChristianity.ButtheChristianChurchnever,eveninthetimes
ofbitterestpersecution,ceasedtoprayforthem.
Itisextraordinarytotracehowallthroughitsearlydays,thosedaysofbitterpersecution,theChurch
regardeditasanabsolutedutytoprayfortheEmperorandhissubordinatekingsandgovernors."Fear
God,"saidPeter."HonourtheEmperor"(1Peter2:17),andwemustrememberthatthatEmperorwas
noneotherthanNero,thatmonsterofcruelty.TertullianinsiststhatfortheEmperortheChristianprayfor
"longlife,securedominion,asafehome,afaithfulsenate,arighteouspeople,andaworldatpeace"

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(Apology30)."Weprayforourrulers,"hewrote,"forthestateoftheworld,forthepeaceofallthingsand
forthepostponementoftheend"(Apology39).Hewrites:"TheChristianistheenemyofnoman,leastof
alloftheEmperor,forweknowthat,sincehehasbeenappointedbyGod,itisnecessarythatweshould
lovehim,andreverencehim,andhonourhim,anddesirehissafety,togetherwiththatofthewhole
RomanEmpire.ThereforewesacrificeforthesafetyoftheEmperor"(AdScapulam2).Cyprian,writingto
Demetrianus,speaksoftheChristianChurchas"sacrificingandplacatingGodnightanddayforyour
peaceandsafety"(AdDemetrianum20).InA.D.311theEmperorGaleriusactuallyaskedfortheprayers
oftheChristians,andpromisedthemmercyandindulgenceiftheyprayedforthestate.Tatianwrites:
"DoestheEmperororderustopaytribute?Wewillinglyofferit.Doestherulerorderustorenderservice
orservitude?Weacknowledgeourservitude.ButamanmustbehonouredasbefitsamanbutonlyGod
istobereverenced"(Apology4).TheophilusofAntiochwrites:"ThehonourthatIwillgivetheEmperoris
allthegreater,becauseIwillnotworshiphim,butIwillprayforhim.Iwillworshipnoonebutthetrueand
realGod,forIknowthattheEmperorwasappointedbyhim....ThosegiverealhonourtotheEmperor
whoarewelldisposedtohim,whoobeyhim,andwhoprayforhim"(Apology1:11).JustinMartyrwrites:
"WeworshipGodalone,butinallotherthingswegladlyserveyou,acknowledgingkingsandrulersof
men,andprayingthattheymaybefoundtohavepurereasonwithkinglypower"(Apology1:14,17).
ThegreatestofalltheprayersfortheEmperorisinClementofRome'sFirstLettertotheChurchat
CorinthwhichwaswrittenaboutA.D.90whenthesavageryofDomitianwasstillfreshinmen'sminds:
"Thou,LordandMaster,hastgivenourrulersandgovernorsthepowerofsovereigntythroughthine
excellentandunspeakablemight,thatwe,knowingthegloryandhonourwhichthouhastgiventhem,may
submitourselvesuntothem,innothingresistingthywill.Grantuntothem,therefore,OLord,health,
peace,concord,stability,thattheymayadministerthegovernmentwhichthouhastgiventhemwithout
failure.Forthou,OheavenlyMaster,KingoftheAges,givesttothesonsofmengloryandhonourand
poweroverallthingsthatareupontheearth.Dothou,Lord,directtheircounselaccordingtothatwhichis
goodandwellpleasinginthysight,that,administeringthepowerwhichthouhastgiventheminpeace
andgentlenesswithgodliness,theymayobtainthyfavour.Othou,whoaloneartabletodothesethings,
andthingsfarmoreexceedinggoodthantheseforus,wepraisetheethroughtheHighPriestand
Guardianofoursouls,JesusChrist,throughwhombethegloryandthemajestyuntotheebothnowand
forallgenerations,andforeverandever.Amen"(1Clement61).
TheChurchalwaysregardeditasaboundendutytoprayforthosesetinauthorityoverthekingdomsof
theearthandbroughtevenitspersecutorsbeforethethroneofgrace.
THEGIFTSOFGOD(1Timothy2:17continued)
TheChurchprayedforcertainthingsforthoseinauthority.
(i)Itprayedfor"alifethatistranquilandundisturbed."Thatwastheprayerforfreedomfromwar,from
rebellionandfromanythingwhichwoulddisturbthepeaceoftherealm.Thatisthegoodcitizen'sprayer
forhiscountry.
(ii)ButtheChurchprayedformuchmorethanthat.Itprayedfor"alifethatislivedingodlinessand
reverence."HereweareconfrontedwithtwogreatwordswhicharekeynotesofthePastoralEpistlesand
describequalitieswhichnotonlytherulerbuteveryChristianmustcovet.
First,thereisgodliness,eusebeia(Greek#2150).Thisisoneofthegreatandalmostuntranslatable
Greekwords.ItdescribesreverencebothtowardsGodandman.Itdescribesthatattitudeofmindwhich
respectsmanandhonoursGod.Eusebiusdefineditas"reverencetowardstheoneandonlyGod,andthe
kindoflifethathewouldwishustolead."TotheGreek,thegreatexampleofeusebeia(Greek#2150)
wasSocrateswhomXenophondescribesinthefollowingterms:"Sopiousanddevoutlyreligiousthathe
wouldtakenostepapartfromthewillofheavensojustanduprightthatheneverdidevenatriflinginjury
toanylivingsoulsoselfcontrolled,sotemperate,thatheneveratanytimechosethesweeterinplace
ofthebittersosensibleandwiseandprudentthatindistinguishingthebetterfromtheworsehenever
erred"(Xenophon:Memorabilia,4,8,11).Eusebeia(Greek#2150)comesveryneartothatgreatLatin
wordpietas,whichWardeFowlerdescribesthus:"ThequalityknowntotheRomansaspietasrises,in
spiteoftrialanddanger,superiortotheenticementsofindividualpassionandselfishease.Aeneas'
pietasbecameasenseofdutytothewillofthegods,aswellastohisfather,hissonandhispeopleand
thisdutyneverleaveshim."Clearlyeusebeia(Greek#2150)isatremendousthing.Itneverforgetsthe
reverenceduetoGoditneverforgetstherightsduetomenitneverforgetstherespectduetoself.It
describesthecharacterofthemanwhoneverfailsGod,manorhimself.
Second,thereisreverence,semnotes(Greek#4587).Hereagainweareintherealmofthe
untranslatable.Thecorrespondingadjectivesemnos(Greek#4586)isconstantlyappliedtothegods.R.
C.Trenchsaysthatthemanwhoissemnos(Greek#4586)"hasonhimagraceandadignity,notlentby
earth."Hesaysthatheisonewho"withoutdemandingitchallengesandinspiresreverence."Aristotle
wasthegreatethicalteacheroftheGreeks.Hehadawayofdescribingeveryvirtueasthemean
betweentwoextremes.Ontheonesidetherewasanextremeofexcessandontheotheranextremeof
defect,andinbetweentherewasthemean,thehappymedium,inwhichvirtuelay.Aristotlesaysthat
semnotes(Greek#4587)isthemeanbetweenareskeia(Greek#699),subservience,andauthadeia
(Greek#829),arrogance.Itmaybesaidthatforthemanwhoissemnos(Greek#4586)alllifeisoneact
ofworshipalllifeislivedinthepresenceofGodhemovesthroughtheworld,asithasbeenput,asifit
wasthetempleofthelivingGod.HeneverforgetstheholinessofGodorthedignityofman.
Thesetwogreatqualitiesareregalqualitieswhicheverymanmustcovetandforwhicheverymanmust
pray.
ONEGODANDONESAVIOUR(1Timothy2:17continued)
PaulconcludeswithastatementofthegreatesttruthsoftheChristianfaith.
(i)ThereisoneGod.WearenotlivinginaworldsuchastheGnosticsproducedwiththeirtheoriesoftwo
gods,hostiletoeachother.Wearenotlivinginaworldsuchastheheathenproducedwiththeirhordeof
gods,oftenincompetitionwithoneanother.Missionariestellusthatoneofthegreatestreliefswhich
ChristianitybringstotheheathenistheconvictionthatthereisonlyoneGod.Theyliveforeverterrified
ofthegodsanditisanemancipationtodiscoverthatthereisoneGodonlywhosenameisFatherand
whosenatureisLove.
(ii)ThereisoneMediator.EventheJewswouldhavesaidthattherearemanymediatorsbetweenGod

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andman.Amediatorisonewhostandsbetweentwopartiesandactsasgobetween.TotheJewsthe
angelsweremediators.TheTestamentofDan(Daniel6:2)hasit:"DrawnearuntoGod,anduntothe
angelwhointercedesforyou,forheisamediatorbetweenGodandman."TotheGreekstherewereall
kindsofmediators.PlutarchsaiditwasaninsulttoGodtoconceivethathewasinanywaydirectly
involvedintheworldhewasinvolvedintheworldonlythroughangelsanddemonsanddemigodswho
were,sotospeak,hisliaisonofficers.
NeitherinJewishnorinGreekthoughthadamandirectaccesstoGod.But,throughJesusChrist,the
Christianhasdirectthataccess,withnothingtobarthewaybetween.Further,thereisonlyoneMediator.
E.F.Browntellsusthatthatis,forinstance,whattheHindusfindsohardtobelieve.Theysay:"Your
religionisgoodforyou,andoursforus."ButunlessthereisoneGodandoneMediatortherecanbeno
suchthingasthebrotherhoodofman.Iftherearemanygodsandmanymediatorscompetingfortheir
allegianceandtheirlove,religionbecomessomethingwhichdividesmeninsteadofunitingthem.Itis
becausethereisoneGodandoneMediatorthatmenarebrethrenoneofanother.
PaulgoesontocallJesustheonewhogavehislifearansomforall.ThatsimplymeansthatitcostGod
thelifeanddeathofhisSontobringmenbacktohimself.Therewasamanwholostasoninthewar.He
hadlivedamostcarelessandevenagodlesslifebuthisson'sdeathbroughthimfacetofacewithGod
asneverbefore.Hebecameachangedman.Onedayhewasstandingbeforethelocalwarmemorial,
lookingathisson'snameuponit.Andverygentlyhesaid:"Iguesshehadtogodowntoliftmeup."That
iswhatJesusdiditcosthislifeanddeathtotellmenoftheloveofGodandtobringmenhometohim.
ThenPaulclaimstohimselffouroffices.
(i)HeisaheraldofthestoryofJesusChrist.Aheraldisamanwhomakesastatementandwhosays:
"Thisistrue."Heisamanwhobringsaproclamationthatisnothisown,butwhichcomesfromtheking.
(ii)HeisawitnesstothestoryofChrist.Awitnessisamanwhosays:"Thisistrue,andIknowit"and
saysalso"Itworks."Heisamanwhotells,notonlythestoryofChrist,butalsothestoryofwhatChrist
hasdoneforhim.
(iii)Heisanenvoy.Anenvoyisonewhosedutyistocommendhiscountryinaforeignland.Anenvoyin
theChristiansenseisthereforeonewhocommendsthestoryofChristtoothers.Hewishesto
communicatethatstorytoothers,sothatitwillmeanasmuchtothemasitdoestohim.
(iv)Heisateacher.Theheraldisthepersonwhoproclaimsthefactsthewitnessisthepersonwho
proclaimsthepowerofthefactstheenvoyisthepersonwhocommendsthefactstheteacheristhe
personwholeadsmenintothemeaningofthefacts.ItisnotenoughtoknowthatChristlivedanddied
wemustthinkoutwhatthatmeant.AmanmustnotonlyfeelthewonderofthestoryofChristhemust
thinkoutitsmeaningforhimselfandfortheworld.
BARRIERSTOPRAYER(1Timothy2:815)
2:815So,then,itismywishthatmenshouldprayeverywhere,liftingupholy
hands,withnoangerintheirheartsandnodoubtsintheirminds.Evensoitismy
wishthatwomenshouldmodestlyandwiselyadornthemselvesinseemlydress.
Thisadornmentshouldnotconsistinbraidedhair,andornamentsofgold,and
pearls,butasbefitswomenwhoprofesstoreverenceGodtheyshouldadorn
themselveswithgoodworks.Letawomanlearninsilenceandwithallsubmission.I
donotallowawomantoteachortodictatetoaman.Rather,itismyadvicethat
sheshouldbesilent.ForAdamwasformedfirst,andthenEveandAdamwasnot
deceived,butthewomanwasdeceived,andsobecameguiltyoftransgression.But
womenwillbesavedthroughchildbearing,iftheycontinueinfaithandlove,andif
theywiselywalktheroadthatleadstoholiness.
TheearlyChurchtookovertheJewishattitudeofprayer,whichwastopraystanding,withhands
outstretchedandthepalmsupwards.LaterTertullianwastosaythatthisdepictedtheattitudeofJesus
upontheCross.
TheJewshadalwaysknownaboutthebarrierswhichkeptaman'sprayersfromGod.IsaiahheardGod
saytothepeople:"Whenyouspreadforthyourhands,Iwillhidemyeyesfromyoueventhoughyou
makemanyprayers,Iwillnotlistenyourhandsarefullofblood"(Isaiah1:15).Here,too,certainthings
aredemanded.
(i)Hewhopraysmuststretchforthholyhands.HemustholduptoGodhandswhichdonottouchthe
forbiddenthings.ThisdoesnotmeanforonemomentthatthesinnerisdebarredfromGodbutitdoes
meanthatthereisnorealityintheprayersofthemanwhothengoesouttosoilhishandswithforbidden
things,asifhehadneverprayed.Itisnotthinkingofthemanwhoishelplesslyinthegripofsome
passionanddesperatelyfightingagainstit,bitterlyconsciousofhisfailure.Itisthinkingoftheman
whoseprayersareasheerformality.
(ii)Hewhopraysmusthavenoangerinhisheart.Ithasbeensaidthat"forgivenessisindivisible."
Humananddivineforgivenessgohandinhand.AgainandagainJesusstressesthefactthatwecannot
hopetoreceivetheforgivenessofGodsolongasweareatenmitywithourfellowmen."Soifyouare
offeringyourgiftatthealtar,andthererememberthatyourbrotherhassomethingagainstyou,leaveyour
gifttherebeforethealtarandgofirstbereconciledtoyourbrother,andthencomeandofferyourgift"
(Matthew5:2324)."Ifyoudonotforgivementheirtrespasses,neitherwillyourFatherforgiveyour
trespasses"(Matthew6:15).Jesustellshowtheunforgivingservanthimselffoundnoforgiveness,and
ends:"SoalsomyheavenlyFatherwilldotoeveryoneofyou,ifyoudonotforgiveyourbrotherfrom
yourheart"(Matthew18:35).Tobeforgiven,wemustbeforgiving.TheDidache(compareGreek#1322),
theearliestChristianbookonpublicworship,whichdatesfromaboutA.D.100,hasit:"Letnoonewho
hasaquarrelwithhisneighbourcometous,untiltheyarereconciled."Thebitternessinaman'sheartis
abarrierwhichhindershisprayersfromreachingGod.
(iii)Hewhopraysmusthavenodoubtsinhismind.Thisphrasecanmeantwothings.Thewordusedis
dialogismos(Greek#1261),whichcanmeanbothanargumentandadoubt.Ifwetakeitinthesenseof
argument,itsimplyrepeatswhathasgonebeforeandrestatesthefactthatbitternessandquarrelsand
venomousdebatesareahindrancetoprayer.Itisbettertotakeitinthesenseofdoubt.Beforeprayeris
answeredtheremustbebeliefthatGodwillanswer.Ifamanprayspessimisticallyandwithnorealbelief

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thatitisanyuse,hisprayerfallswinglesstotheground.Beforeamancanbecured,hemustbelieve
thathecanbecuredbeforeamancanlayholdonthegraceofGod,hemustbelieveinthatgrace.We
musttakeourprayerstoGodinthecompleteconfidencethathehearsandanswersprayer.
WOMENINTHECHURCH(1Timothy2:815continued)
ThesecondpartofthispassagedealswiththeplaceofwomenintheChurch.Itcannotbereadoutofits
historicalcontext,foritspringsentirelyfromthesituationinwhichitwaswritten.
(i)ItwaswrittenagainstaJewishbackground.Nonationevergaveabiggerplacetowomeninhomeand
infamilythingsthantheJewsdidbutofficiallythepositionofawomanwasverylow.InJewishlawshe
wasnotapersonbutathingshewasentirelyatthedisposalofherfatherorofherhusband.Shewas
forbiddentolearnthelawtoinstructawomaninthelawwastocastpearlsbeforeswine.Womenhadno
partinthesynagogueservicetheywereshutapartinasectionofthesynagogue,orinagallery,where
theycouldnotbeseen.Amancametothesynagoguetolearnbut,atthemost,awomancametohear.
InthesynagoguethelessonfromScripturewasreadbymembersofthecongregationbutnotbywomen,
forthatwouldhavebeentolessen"thehonourofthecongregation."Itwasabsolutelyforbiddenfora
womantoteachinaschoolshemightnoteventeachtheyoungestchildren.Awomanwasexemptfrom
thestateddemandsoftheLaw.Itwasnotobligatoryonhertoattendthesacredfeastsandfestivals.
Women,slavesandchildrenwereclassedtogether.IntheJewishmorningprayeramanthankedGod
thatGodhadnotmadehim"aGentile,aslaveorawoman."IntheSayingsoftheFathersRabbiJose
benJohananisquotedassaying:"'Letthyhousebeopenedwide,andletthepoorbethyhousehold,and
talknotmuchwithawoman.'Hencethewisehavesaid:'Everyonethattalkethmuchwithawoman
causeseviltohimself,anddesistsfromtheworksoftheLaw,andhisendisthatheinheritsGehenna.'"
AstrictRabbiwouldnevergreetawomanonthestreet,notevenhisownwifeordaughterormotheror
sister.Itwassaidofwoman:"Herworkistosendherchildrentothesynagoguetoattendtodomestic
concernstoleaveherhusbandfreetostudyintheschoolstokeephouseforhimuntilhereturns."
(ii)ItwaswrittenagainstaGreekbackground.TheGreekbackgroundmadethingsdoublydifficult.The
placeofwomeninGreekreligionwaslow.TheTempleofAphroditeinCorinthhadathousandpriestesses
whoweresacredprostitutesandeveryeveningpliedtheirtradeonthecitystreets.TheTempleofDiana
inEphesushaditshundredsofpriestessescalledtheMelissae,whichmeansthebees,whosefunction
wasthesame.TherespectableGreekwomanledaveryconfinedlife.Shelivedinherownquartersinto
whichnoonebutherhusbandcame.Shedidnotevenappearatmeals.Sheneveratanytimeappeared
onthestreetalonesheneverwenttoanypublicassembly.ThefactisthatifinaGreektownChristian
womenhadtakenanactiveandaspeakingpartinitswork,theChurchwouldinevitablyhavegainedthe
reputationofbeingtheresortofloosewomen.
Further,inGreeksocietytherewerewomenwhosewholelifeconsistedinelaboratedressingandbraiding
ofthehair.InRome,Plinytellsusofabride,LolliaPaulina,whosebridaldresscosttheequivalentof
432,000Britishpounds.EventheGreeksandtheRomanswereshockedattheloveofdressandof
adornmentwhichcharacterizedsomeoftheirwomen.ThegreatGreekreligionswerecalledtheMystery
religions,andtheyhadpreciselythesameregulationsaboutdressasPaulhashere.Thereisan
inscriptionwhichreads:"Aconsecratedwomanshallnothavegoldornaments,norrouge,norface
whitening,noraheadband,norbraidedhair,norshoes,exceptthosemadeoffeltoroftheskinsof
sacrificedanimals."TheearlyChurchdidnotlaydowntheseregulationsasinanysensepermanent,but
asthingswhichwerenecessaryinthesituationinwhichitfounditself.
Inanyeventthereismuchontheotherside.Intheoldstoryitwasthewomanwhowascreatedsecond
andwhofelltotheseductionoftheserpenttempterbutitwasMaryofNazarethwhoboreandwho
trainedthechildJesusitwasMaryofMagdalawhowasfirsttoseetherisenLorditwasfourwomen
whoofallthedisciplesstoodbytheCross.PriscillawithherhusbandAquilawasavaluedteacherinthe
earlyChurch,wholedApollostoaknowledgeofthetruth(Acts18:26).EuodiaandSyntyche,inspiteof
theirquarrel,werewomenwholabouredinthegospel(Philippians4:23).Philip,theevangelist,hadfour
daughterswhowereprophetesses(Acts21:9).Theagedwomenweretoteach(Titus2:3).PaulheldLois
andEuniceinthehighesthonour(2Timothy1:5),andthereismanyawoman'snameheldinhonourin
Romans16:127.
Allthethingsinthischapteraremeretemporaryregulationstomeetagivensituation.IfwewantPaul's
permanentviewonthismatter,wegetitinGalatians3:28:"ThereisneitherJewnorGreek,thereis
neitherslavenorfree,thereisneithermalenorfemale:foryouarealloneinChristJesus."InChristthe
differencesofplaceandhonourandfunctionwithintheChurchareallwipedout.
Andyetthispassageendswitharealtruth.Women,itsays,willbesavedinchildbearing.Therearetwo
possiblemeaningshere.ItisjustpossiblethatthisisareferencetothefactthatMary,awoman,wasthe
motherofJesusandthatitmeansthatwomenwillbesavedasallotherswillbythatsupremeactof
childbearing.Butitismuchmorelikelythatthemeaningismuchsimplerandthatitmeansthatwomen
willfindsalvation,notinaddressingmeetings,butinmotherhood,whichistheircrown.Whateverelseis
true,awomanisqueenwithinherhome.
Wemustnotreadthispassageasabarriertoallwomen'sservicewithintheChurch,butinthelightofits
JewishanditsGreekbackground.AndwemustlookforPaul'spermanentviewsinthepassagewherehe
tellsusthatthedifferencesarewipedout,andthatmenandwomen,slavesandfreemen,Jewsand
Gentiles,arealleligibletoserveChrist.
Barclay'sDailyStudyBible(NT)

1Timothy1

1Timothy

1Timothy3

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BibliographyInformation
Barclay,William."Commentaryon1Timothy2:1"."WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudyBible".
"http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/view.cgi?bk=53&ch=2".19561959.

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