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PAUL’S LETTERS TO TIMOTHY

Prayer and Women

1 Timothy 2

 

Prayer – verses 1 to 8

God wants Christians to pray in favour of everyone, because He wants everyone to be saved, through the knowledge of the Gospel, being Himself the Saviour.

It is better for the authorities (kings, presidents, governors, mayors and others) to be christians, or, at least, God fearing and favourable to the Gospel; this will avoid obstacles and persecution. Then let us pray for them.

There is “only one God", not a plurality of gods, as among the Romans, the Greeks, the Hindus and in the pagan exotic religions which are the "fashion" in certain circles today.

There is “only one Mediator" the Son of God, Who became man in order to save men, by the sacrifice of Himself as the "ransom" for us, sinners. Neither angels, nor apostles, nor Mary the mother of Jesus, nor anyone else, can be a mediator between God and the sinner.

Here is the testimony of Paul (and of the other apostles), mainly for the Gentiles. The Jews already knew that there was just one God, and awaited the Messiah as Saviour, but did not recognized him in "Jesus the Nazarene".

Oral prayer in churches should be done by men, in a spirit of love and always without rancour.

Women – verses 9 to 15

Women’s clothing must be decent, without "show" or desire to attract the attention of others. May her true adornment be her character and her christian procedure in daily life, both in church and at home (see Acts 9:36 -39).

In her general procedure, the woman should not be divisive, quarrelsome, wanting to be the leader at home or in the church. She was created to be the "helper” of man; and, both in the church and in the home, men need this help ... and enjoy it!

Both Paul, the unmarried man, and Peter, the married man, agree in this teaching (see 1 Peter 3.17), which is of the Holy Spirit who inspired them.

The task of teaching in churches is not given to women, nor preaching and praying audibly (v. 12); See also 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. The apostle supports this ban for two reasons:

1. man was the first to be created (Genesis 2:7,22);
2. woman was deceived by Satan and fell into transgression; Adam was not deceived, but sinned to please the woman. The sentence on her was: sufferings in pregnancy; subjection to her husband (Genesis 3:16).

A woman will fulfill the mission that God gave her by submitting to the “common life of home" (1 Peter 3:1-7), without aspiring to leadership, neither there nor in the church.

There are many things, even in the church, that the sisters can do - even better than their brothers do. Note how many women are mentioned in the list of workers in Romans 16: "Phoebe, serving the church in Cenchrea"; "Priscilla, a fellow worker of Paul" ; "Mary, who laboured much for Paul"; "Tryphena and Tryphosa, who laboured in the Lord"; “the beloved Persis, who laboured much in the Lord" ; “the mother of Rufus; Julia and Nereus' sister”. There may be exceptions, like Mary Slessor of Calabar, but the apostolic teaching is that the sisters should not preach, teach or pray in churches while there are brethren present.

This is the way by which a christian woman is saved, i.e. will fulfill the divine will for her from the beginning – to be a good wife and mother, with faith, love and holy modesty. Such is the biblical teaching, not the world of today’s. However, the Lord Jesus Christ was not of the world and His people also are not (John 17:16); for Christians, "your Word is truth" (John 17:17) and the believing woman will not covet what Scripture forbids her.

 

Richard Dawson Jones (1895-1987)

 

 

 

 

 

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to 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 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 

9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 
10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 
11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 
12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 
15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

1 Timothy 2