1 Timothy chapter 2

God desires all people to be saved. There is only one mediator between God and us. All believers are equal. Our eternal destiny is secure.

 


 

GOD DESIRES ALL PEOPLE TO BE SAVED

 

VERSE 1. I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men:

This verse is referred to in a famous book on continuous prayer called The Way of a Pilgrim.

 

VERSE 2. for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

 

VERSE 3. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter to Timothy and from the entire Bible.

 

VERSE 4. who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter to Timothy and from the entire Bible.

This verse is referred to in a famous book on continuous prayer called The Way of a Pilgrim.

desires. The Greek word is θέλει (“thelei”). It means to desire, wish, intend, design. God desires that people be saved. But he does not force it upon them against their will. He has given us free will.

Some people interpret this verse to mean that God will save everybody, whether people want to be saved or not.

But the word is “desires.” God desires that people are saved. But he does not force eternal salvation upon people against their will.

all people to be saved. Today’s Christian leaders could learn from the Lord Jesus. Unlike them, Jesus did not condemn sinners. Read more »

full knowledge of the truth:

Titus 1:1. Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

 

ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND US

 

VERSE 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter to Timothy and from the entire Bible.

there is one God. The LORD is one. He is God alone. He is the one God and Father of all. Beside him there is no other God. There is none like him. Read more »

mediator. The Greek word is μεσίτης (“mesités”). It means mediator, intermediary, a go-between, an arbiter. Paul describes Jesus Christ as a mediator.

one mediator between God and men. Most Christians would agree wholeheartedly with this.

Yet some professing Christians look for other mediators:

MARY AS INTERMEDIARY

Some people see the Mother of the Redeemer as an intermediary.

This happens because they have an exaggerated view of Jesus Christ as a stern judge who will damn them. That viewpoint is something like a thousand years old. It stemmed from exaggerated preaching by illiterate Catholic priests.

Catholics were told that if they sidle up with Mary, she will implore her Son Jesus until he lessens the severity of his judgment upon them.

The issue is faulty theology. Instead of seeing Jesus Christ as their Savior, these people see him as an angry severe judge.

SAINTS AS INTERMEDIARIES

Other people look to favorite saints. In early centuries, saints were held up as role-models and heros.

But over time, people looked more to their favorite saint than to Jesus Christ. Eventually, people saw Jesus Christ as a sort of “arranger” who introduced them to their ideal saint.

MEN AS INTERMEDIARIES

Some Christians imagine that women are ontologically inferior to men, and therefore must be subordinated to men.

Paradoxically, Paul alludes to such a thing:

1 Corinthians 11:9. for man wasn’t created for the woman, but woman for the man.

1 Corinthians 14:35. if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”

 

VERSE 6. who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony in its own times,

 

VERSE 7. to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

 

VERSE 8. I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.

This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the First Letter to Timothy and from the entire Bible.

This verse is referred to in a famous book on continuous prayer called The Way of a Pilgrim.

lifting up holy hands. In the Bible, lifting your hands when you pray is the norm. Most Pentecostals and Charismatics do that. But strangely, few other Christians do. Read more »

without anger. Apparently men were raging with anger during prayer. Contrast that with the biblical norm:

Psalm 133:1. See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!

Psalm 134:2. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary. Praise the LORD!

and doubting. That is, without controversy.

 

VERSE 9. In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety, not just with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing,

not just with. Some Christians say Paul forbids women from braided hair or gold, pearls or expensive clothing.

However, this verse does not forbid such things. Instead, this verse (and the next verse) says women should do good works.

 

VERSE 10. but with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness.

but with good works. Women should be noteworthy by their good works.

 

ALL BELIEVERS ARE EQUAL

 

VERSE 11. Let a woman learn in quietness with full submission.

quietness with full submission. At first glance, this verse seems to suggests that women are heirarchically subordinated to men.

However, two other verses say the exact opposite. Two out of three constitutes a majority. Thus this verse should be interpreted in the light of the other two:

Galatians 3:28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:21. subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Let a woman learn. This chapter is all about Jesus Christ being the one and only intermediary between us and God. Women need no other intermediaries.

Men are NOT intermediaries between women and God.

 

VERSE 12. But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.

 

VERSE 13. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

 

VERSE 14. Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience;

 

OUR ETERNAL DESTINY IS SECURE

 

VERSE 15. but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

saved through her childbearing. Is this saying that women can only be saved by giving birth to babies?

That would mean that Jesus Christ alone is insufficient for eternal salvation of women.

And what if a woman never gives birth? Can she be saved? Or will she be damned?

if they continue. This is confusing as well. Who is the “they”? The context seems to suggest that it is the woman’s children.

Is a woman’s eternal salvation dependent upon the faithfulness of her children?

Almost every Bible translation puts this verse like that. However, the Bible in Basic English translation sheds fresh light on this verse:

BBE translation: But if they go on in faith and love and holy self-control, she will be kept safe at the time of childbirth.

This brings out the meaning of the verse. It is about what happens to women who die while giving birth.

Even during the dangerous time of giving birth, a Christian woman’s eternal destiny is secure.

they. It refers to the women who will be giving birth.

 


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1 TIMOTHY

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.