1 Timothy 2 reminds me of being able to blend in. There is very little intimidating about me. I can get along with almost anyone. I tend to look for common ground rather than points of disagreement. At the same time, I am confident in the wisdom and truth of God’s Word. Today’s lesson is about living together in peace. Paul continues his letter to the young Pastor by establishing priorities for the Christian church. Many of these instructions also apply to our interactions outside the church. First of all, “petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving” should be made “for all people”. Our attitude in prayer should be uplifting. Someone once told me that it is impossible to hate someone you are praying for. I believe that is true. Paul notes, we ought to pray for “kings and all those in authority”, adding, this facilitates living “peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”. You might be amazed to see the changes in your own attitude after praying for those in authority. Next, Paul notes that God desires “all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth”. And he declares the truth he preached: “there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus”. That is the gospel in one sentence. Paul offers one item as proof, Jesus “gave Himself as a ransom for all people”. Jesus freely exchanged His sinless life for our redemption. This message of hope cannot be offered in isolation.
Paul was “appointed a herald and an apostle”. He never stopped preaching and teaching. He was a highly educated leader in the Jewish hierarchy, and yet he gave everything up to become a “faithful teacher of the Gentiles”. Paul was persecuted for teaching the Torah to the Gentiles. He was stoned for teaching Jesus as Messiah. Few could match his knowledge and none could dispute his personal testimony. Humility means power under restrained control.
The chapter closes with instruction that seems controversial today. Paul outlined standards of behavior for Christian men and women to avoid distracting from the Savior. Perhaps knowing that things can get rowdy when men gather, he says, “men everywhere… pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing”. Holy hands are not clenched. Perhaps because open hand are used to receive and to encourage. Next Paul says women should “dress modestly, with decency and propriety”. Bible scholar Adam Clarke says Paul’s words are carefully chosen to suggest they adopt common Greek and Roman dress to avoid being offensive to the local culture. Rather than sensational apparel, Paul says they should adorn themselves “with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God”. Substance over style promotes unity. Paul reminds Timothy of Jewish and Greek decorum. “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission”. While it may make the modern woman recoil, both Roman Law and Jewish ordinance prohibited women from asking questions in a public forum. Paul adds, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man”. Men and women have equal access to God’s Spirit, and His mercy. But Paul references the original sin, taking this beyond the local cultural. He notes it was “the woman who was deceived”. Recall that God solely blamed Adam. In general, males require more accountability to fully develop. It seems, the weight of responsibility matures a boy into a man. When a man is not encouraged to lead, he tends to disengage. A church or a home without strong male involvement is weaker. The statistics on fatherless homes makes this clear. Paul closes, with a quote that the woman will be “saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness”. This likely refers to the birth of Messiah, but it may also be that a mom’s tender love will endure much to help her children come to the knowledge of the truth. Friend, are you living in peace?