1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV) “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. {3} This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a 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 as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time. {7} And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle–I am telling the truth, I am not lying–and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.”

 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (MSG) 1 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. 2 Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. 3 This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. 4 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: 5 that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, 6 who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. 7 This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

As Paul begins to tell Timothy how to conduct oneself in the local church (3:15), he puts prayer as the first priority (2:1, “First of all”). But Paul is not just talking about the need for prayer in general. He is talking about the need for prayer as it relates to the salvation of the lost

 1. Prayer that all be reached with the gospel is in line with God’s plan (2:1-2, 8). Prayer is not a nicety, but a necessity. God is sovereign, yet His sovereign plan includes the prayers of His people. If we are involved with God’s plan for the world, then we will be praying in line with His plan.

 A. God’s plan involves all kinds of prayer for all kinds of people.

• “Entreaties” = prayer stemming from a sense of need. Sensing our lack and God’s sufficiency, our impotence and God’s omnipotence, should move us to pray.

• “Prayers” = a general term for prayer to God….refers to requests for needs that are always present, in contrast to specific and special needs.

• “Petitions” = means to converse freely; it pictures someone who can go into the presence of the king and talk freely with him on your behalf.

• “Thanksgivings” = this points to the fact that we must express not only our petitions, but our gratitude to God for His gracious answers.

Not only do we need all kinds of prayer, but also we need to pray for all kinds of people. In his case, this included the cruel maniac, Nero, who later executed both Peter and Paul, who lit his gardens in the evenings with Christians covered with pitch, burned as human torches. Prayer is God’s means for removing tyrants and establishing peace.

It is extraordinary to trace how all through its early days, those days of bitter persecution, the Church regarded it as an absolute duty to pray for the Emperor and his subordinate kings and governors.

Justin Martyr writes: “We worship God alone, but in all other things we gladly serve you, acknowledging kings and rulers of men, and praying that they may be found to have pure reason with kingly power” (Apology 1: 14,17).

B. God’s plan involves the spread of the gospel so that all may be saved. We should pray that those in authority would govern so that we might enjoy a tranquil and quiet life. But the purpose for such a life is not that we might be comfortable and happy, but so that we can grow in “godliness and dignity” with a view toward the maximum spread of the gospel.

C. God’s plan designates men as taking the leadership in prayer.

God wants “men” (the Greek word in 2:8 means “males,” men in contrast to women) to take the leadership in the prayer life of the church.

2. Prayer that all be reached with the gospel is in line with God’s pleasure (2:3-4).

Note the words, “good” (beautiful, pleasant), “acceptable,” and “desire.” God’s desire is for the salvation of all men. The Lord told Ezekiel (33:11), “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

3. Prayer that all be reached with the gospel is in line with God’s provision (2:5-6) and God’s procedure (2:7).

That one way of salvation involves a mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. In order for God to be reconciled to sinful man, man had to pay for his sin. The price was death, because the wages of sin is death. But God provided a representative man to be the substitute for all other men through His death. He became the ransom, the one who paid the price to release us from bondage to sin and judgment. This ransom is sufficient for all who will receive it.

The Conduct Of Women In The Church (1 Timothy 2:9-15)

I didn’t write the Bible. I just try to report what it says. But sometimes people get upset with me because they don’t like the forecast. For some that’s the case when I tell you what the Bible says about the conduct of women in the church.

Being a Christian means obeying apostolic doctrine, not changing the message to be more compatible with our times. The conduct of women in the church should be marked by godliness and submission to male leadership.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 (NIV) I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

(MSG) 8 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. 9 And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions 10 but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it. 11 I don’t let women take over and tell the men what to do. 12 They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. 13 Adam was made first, then Eve; 14 woman was deceived first—our pioneer in sin!—with Adam right on her heels. 15 On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.

1. The proper attire of Christian women: not focused on outward appearance, but on godliness (2:9-10).

When a woman dresses for the worship service to attract attention to herself, she has violated the purpose of worship.

Our grooming and clothing says a lot about our values and the way we think. If a woman dresses in a sensuous manner or if by inordinate attention to grooming she emphasizes external beauty, it reveals that her emphasis is on the superficial and worldly rather than on that which is significant from God’s perspective. He is not prohibiting a woman from looking attractive, as long as she is not seductive or showy. Nor is he putting an absolute ban on a woman’s braiding her hair or wearing modest jewelry. He’s talking about emphasis. He was correcting women who went to great expense and effort to braid jewels and expensive ornaments into their hair. Their clothing was showy and expensive.

2. The proper attitude of Christian women: not assertive, but submissive to male church leadership (2:11-15).

When it comes to the roles of men and women, the Bible is clear that both male and female reflect the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Men are not superior over women nor women over men. In Christ, men and women are equal (Gal. 3:28), but at the same time, they are to fulfill different roles.

A. The realm of submission involves activities where a woman would exercise authority over a man (2:11-12).

Paul wants women to learn as long as their attitude is marked by two qualities: “quietness” and “submissiveness.”

The word translated “quietly” doesn’t mean absolute silence, but rather to have inner tranquility or peace (see 2:2). When the church gathers, however, women are to listen to the men who teach quietly … with entire submissiveness. Heôsuchia appears at the beginning of verse 11 (quietly), and the end of verse 12 (quiet), thus bracketing Paul’s teaching on the role of women with the principle of silence.

Order in the Church #3

The Priority Of Prayer (1 Timothy 2:1-7)

 

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV) “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– {2} for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. {3} This is good, and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants all men to be saved and to come to a 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 as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time. {7} And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle–I am telling the truth, I am not lying–and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.”

 

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (MSG) 1 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. 2 Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. 3 This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. 4 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned: 5 that there’s one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, 6 who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. 7 This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

 

As Paul begins to tell Timothy how to conduct oneself in the local church (3:15), he puts prayer as the first priority (2:1, “First of all”). But Paul is not just talking about the need for prayer in general. He is talking about the need for prayer as it relates to the salvation of the lost

 

1. Prayer that all be reached with the gospel is in line with God’s plan (2:1-2, 8). Prayer is not a nicety, but a necessity. God is sovereign, yet His sovereign plan includes the prayers of His people. If we are involved with God’s plan for the world, then we will be praying in line with His plan.

 

A. God’s plan involves all kinds of prayer for all kinds of people.

• “Entreaties” = prayer stemming from a sense of need. Sensing our lack and God’s sufficiency, our impotence and God’s omnipotence, should move us to pray.

• “Prayers” = a general term for prayer to God….refers to requests for needs that are always present, in contrast to specific and special needs.

• “Petitions” = means to converse freely; it pictures someone who can go into the presence of the king and talk freely with him on your behalf.

• “Thanksgivings” = this points to the fact that we must express not only our petitions, but our gratitude to God for His gracious answers.

 

Not only do we need all kinds of prayer, but also we need to pray for all kinds of people. In his case, this included the cruel maniac, Nero, who later executed both Peter and Paul, who lit his gardens in the evenings with Christians covered with pitch, burned as human torches. Prayer is God’s means for removing tyrants and establishing peace.

 

It is extraordinary to trace how all through its early days, those days of bitter persecution, the Church regarded it as an absolute duty to pray for the Emperor and his subordinate kings and governors.

 

Justin Martyr writes: “We worship God alone, but in all other things we gladly serve you, acknowledging kings and rulers of men, and praying that they may be found to have pure reason with kingly power” (Apology 1: 14,17).

 

B. God’s plan involves the spread of the gospel so that all may be saved. We should pray that those in authority would govern so that we might enjoy a tranquil and quiet life. But the purpose for such a life is not that we might be comfortable and happy, but so that we can grow in “godliness and dignity” with a view toward the maximum spread of the gospel.

 

C. God’s plan designates men as taking the leadership in prayer.

God wants “men” (the Greek word in 2:8 means “males,” men in contrast to women) to take the leadership in the prayer life of the church.

2. Prayer that all be reached with the gospel is in line with God’s pleasure (2:3-4).

Note the words, “good” (beautiful, pleasant), “acceptable,” and “desire.” God’s desire is for the salvation of all men. The Lord told Ezekiel (33:11), “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

 

3. Prayer that all be reached with the gospel is in line with God’s provision (2:5-6) and God’s procedure (2:7).

That one way of salvation involves a mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. In order for God to be reconciled to sinful man, man had to pay for his sin. The price was death, because the wages of sin is death. But God provided a representative man to be the substitute for all other men through His death. He became the ransom, the one who paid the price to release us from bondage to sin and judgment. This ransom is sufficient for all who will receive it.

 

The Conduct Of Women In The Church (1 Timothy 2:9-15)

I didn’t write the Bible. I just try to report what it says. But sometimes people get upset with me because they don’t like the forecast. For some that’s the case when I tell you what the Bible says about the conduct of women in the church.

 

Being a Christian means obeying apostolic doctrine, not changing the message to be more compatible with our times. The conduct of women in the church should be marked by godliness and submission to male leadership.

 

1 Timothy 2:8-15 (NIV) I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

 

(MSG) 8 Since prayer is at the bottom of all this, what I want mostly is for men to pray—not shaking angry fists at enemies but raising holy hands to God. 9 And I want women to get in there with the men in humility before God, not primping before a mirror or chasing the latest fashions 10 but doing something beautiful for God and becoming beautiful doing it. 11 I don’t let women take over and tell the men what to do. 12 They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. 13 Adam was made first, then Eve; 14 woman was deceived first—our pioneer in sin!—with Adam right on her heels. 15 On the other hand, her childbearing brought about salvation, reversing Eve. But this salvation only comes to those who continue in faith, love, and holiness, gathering it all into maturity. You can depend on this.

1. The proper attire of Christian women: not focused on outward appearance, but on godliness (2:9-10).

When a woman dresses for the worship service to attract attention to herself, she has violated the purpose of worship.

 

Our grooming and clothing says a lot about our values and the way we think. If a woman dresses in a sensuous manner or if by inordinate attention to grooming she emphasizes external beauty, it reveals that her emphasis is on the superficial and worldly rather than on that which is significant from God’s perspective. He is not prohibiting a woman from looking attractive, as long as she is not seductive or showy. Nor is he putting an absolute ban on a woman’s braiding her hair or wearing modest jewelry. He’s talking about emphasis. He was correcting women who went to great expense and effort to braid jewels and expensive ornaments into their hair. Their clothing was showy and expensive.

 

2. The proper attitude of Christian women: not assertive, but submissive to male church leadership (2:11-15).

When it comes to the roles of men and women, the Bible is clear that both male and female reflect the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Men are not superior over women nor women over men. In Christ, men and women are equal (Gal. 3:28), but at the same time, they are to fulfill different roles.

 

A. The realm of submission involves activities where a woman would exercise authority over a man (2:11-12).

Paul wants women to learn as long as their attitude is marked by two qualities: “quietness” and “submissiveness.”

 

The word translated “quietly” doesn’t mean absolute silence, but rather to have inner tranquility or peace (see 2:2). When the church gathers, however, women are to listen to the men who teach quietly … with entire submissiveness. Heôsuchia appears at the beginning of verse 11 (quietly), and the end of verse 12 (quiet), thus bracketing Paul’s teaching on the role of women with the principle of silence.

Adam was there ‘with’ Eve

Genesis 3:3-24 (NIV) When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Adam was ‘passive’ in that situation and it ‘encouraged’ Eve to take upon herself a role not intended…with terrible consequences.

God expects the man to lead the relationship.