FIRST TIMOTHY

Chapter 2

Introduction

Commenting on the evangelical men's movement, authors David Hagopian and Douglas Wilson state,

"The churches of our nation have been overwhelmed by a crisis in masculine confidence... Men don't come to church, or if they do come, they do not participate in any significant way. Christian women despise filling the vacuum of leadership, but they feel that they must rise to the occasion. After all, who will do it if they don't?.. [Men] have abdicated their responsibilities and consequently we are in the midst of a tremendous crisis in leadership."

Picking up on this, the very first theme for the very first Promise Keeper's conference in Boulder, Colorado, was "Where Are The Men?," indicating that they weren't involved in the church!

The roles and responsibilities of men and women in the church have been a source of controversy from the earliest days of the church's existence. There is no end in sight; even as we speak major denominations are splitting over gender issues.

The first century church at Ephesus evidently had some problems regarding the roles and responsibilities of men and women. Erring elders, teaching false doctrine, were affecting women and it was disrupting God's order and design for the church. These men were "...creep[ing] into households and mak[ing] captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts." Women were being encouraged to take a more active role in directing the affairs of the church, even desiring to be teachers over the mixed congregation.

What was Paul's authoritative response? This morning we'll see these two exhortations: #1 Men: Involve Yourselves In The Household Of God, and #2 Women: Invest Yourselves In A Godly Household.

Remember that Paul was writing to correct problems that had arisen in Ephesus. Problems in the church are often complex, in the sense that they are not isolated problems. Going wrong in one area of doctrine or practice will likely affect other areas as well.

Paul is going to exhort men, in verse eight, to greater involvement in the church. But before he does, he discusses a related problem in verses one through seven. It seems that among the false teachings of the erring elders was a sense of elitism or exclusiveness. They were not being encouraged to do the work of evangelism, or even to pray for the salvation of unbelievers. The one clear concern that runs through these opening verses is that the gospel is for everyone.

1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

If Paul has to exhort them to pray for "all men," then it's certain that they were not praying for "all men"! The church had become ingrown.

And the church seems to have fallen into disrepute with the local governing authorities, for Paul goes on to specifically exhort the believers to pray for their civil leaders:

1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Part of becoming elitist, exclusive, and ingrown is an "us" versus "them" mentality with regards to the government. We are rather to be model citizens, praying for our civil leaders, so that we can continue to preach the gospel everywhere to all men.

In chapter one Paul said, in verse fifteen,

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

The church exists to exalt Jesus... To edify believers... And to evangelize the world! Paul gives you the theological basis for the work of evangelism in verses three through seven.

1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Prayer for everyone is good, and pleases God our Savior, because the God who saved us wants the message of His salvation to reach all people! It is God's desire - God's heart - that all men be saved by the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.

God wants all men to be saved; that's an astounding statement. But it's true, and Paul gives you a series of statements to back-up his words.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

"There is One God" - The God of the Bible is the only, one, true God, and there is no other. He is God over the whole creation, over the whole human race.

"One mediator between God and men" - The whole human race has a universal need for a mediator to bring them into a relationship with God, and God has acted to provide that mediator for everyone without exclusion.

"The Man Christ Jesus" - Not just a man; the Man! The unique Person of Jesus as God and Man, representing all men, provides the universal solution to the universal need.

1 Timothy 2:6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

"A ransom for all" - Jesus paid the price for the salvation of all men on the Cross.

"To be testified in due time" - It was, and is, time to share this good news, this gospel, with everyone everywhere.

And that is exactly what Paul did:

1 Timothy 2:7 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.

By using the word "Gentiles," Paul is referring to the universal audience that the gospel is intended for.

God wants all men to be saved, and He has made a universal provision for their universal need. There is nothing exclusive about the gospel and, so, there should be nothing exclusive or elitist about the ministry of the church.

How can you reconcile God wanting all to be saved with the fact that most are not? Later, in First Timothy 4:10, you read,

1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

God, in Jesus Christ, has provided for the potential salvation of anyone, anywhere. Those who "believe," who put their faith and trust in Jesus as their personal Savior, receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

In light of the importance of the gospel, Paul now exhorts men to be involved in the household of God:

1 Timothy 2:8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;

It's a call to men to come into the life of the church. I've been critical, and continue to be critical, of certain aspects of the evangelical men's movement, but not all aspects. It is good for men to be stirred-up to their responsibilities in the church. "Lifting up holy hands" is symbolic that you are clean and right before the Lord. "Without wrath" means you are pursuing good, biblical relationships with others. "Without... doubting" means you are not involved in sinful disputings.

To all these I say. "Amen!" The typical church service has almost 60% women to 40% men attending. Married women who attend church without their husbands outnumber by four to one the men attending without their wives. Christian men need to come to church, and they need to be involved in their church, the household of God.

In Ephesus, men weren't involved as they should, and women were involved as they shouldn't! Paul has an exhortation for the ladies:

As we embark upon these words, I remind you that Paul is writing as an inspired apostle. These are not his narrow, first century opinions. They are God's order and ordinances for His church.

1 Timothy 2:9 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,

1 Timothy 2:10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

Certain Christian women were dressing inappropriately. In the first century poverty was widespread. The wealthy could dress in a style that was impossible for the poor to match. Today, good clothing is relatively affordable in Western society. But in New Testament times, a dress worn by a wealthy woman could cost up to 7,000 denarius - with 1 denarius being a day's wages for the poor!

In addition to such expensive dresses, rich women also displayed their wealth through elaborate hairstyles woven with expensive jewels. They also wore gold rings and earrings and hung gold on their sandals and dresses.

It should be noted that the Bible does not forbid women to wear good clothes, or to braid their hair, or to own and wear jewelry. Both the bride of Solomon and the Proverbs 31 woman owned expensive apparel. What is in view here is wearing such items at the inappropriate time, and for the wrong motives.

Apparently the erring elders were encouraging certain women to flaunt their wealth and be flirtatious. The Christian woman is reminded that it is the inner person, issuing forth in good works, that provide her with her real adornment.

1 Timothy 2:11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.

"Silence" is the same word translated "peaceable" in verse two, and that is its meaning here. The women had become loud, boisterous, and disruptive. Women were part of public worship. They prayed; they prophesied; they shared. Again, it was the way they went about doing these things that was wrong.

1 Timothy 2:12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

"Teach" means to be a teacher recognized by the church as having authority in matters of doctrine and interpretation and church order. It means that there is no biblical basis for a woman pastor, or a woman elder, or a woman who sits on a church board. Whenever you have those situations you have an unbiblical situation.

Why? Why can't women be pastors, elders, or board members? Why can't they teach men with authority?

Here is why:

1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

It is simply, yet profoundly, God's order for things that men take the leadership role. God established this at Creation. Priority does not indicate superiority! But it is God's design and decree that men lead.

Having mentioned Eve, Paul uses the Old Testament story of her fall as an illustration of what was happening to the women in Ephesus:

1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

Just as Satan deceived Eve, so the false teachers, who we will be told later were teaching "doctrines of demons," were deceiving the Christian women in the church! It was Eden all over again.

There is no way around it: Women were and are restricted in their roles in the household of God. Yet we recognize that women are not inferior, and in fact that they can be greatly gifted by God. Where, then, is the outlet for their ministry?

Primarily it is in the keeping of a godly household! Listen carefully to verse fifteen:

1 Timothy 2:15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

First let's see what Paul means when he says "she will be saved." He does not mean that childbearing earns a woman her eternal salvation! These women he was writing to and about were already saved. The word "saved" as used here indicates how a woman is to work out her salvation; it points to the sphere of ministry and service within which she is to work out what Jesus has worked in her.

That sphere of ministry is "childbearing." This is more than pregnancy and delivery; it is a word that encompasses all of the duties of motherhood, of raising children.

Summarizing what has been said so far, Bible commentator William Hendriksen writes,

"It is God's will that women should influence mankind through training children, not teaching men!"

As I mentioned earlier, women do participate in the church. But their roles and responsibilities in the household of God are restricted, and their priority is the maintenance of a godly household.

Not all women have children. First Corinthians Seven encourages celibacy, if you are so gifted. And there are many women in the Bible who were barren by God's design. In general terms, however, women are to marry, have children, and tend to their roles and responsibilities at home.

What happens when the kids are gone? Then these godly women turn their attention to helping a new generation of wives and mothers, as you read in Titus 2:3-5,

Titus 2:3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Titus 2:4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

Titus 2:5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

Women, unless you are celibate or barren, the primary sphere of your ministry is a godly household, and you should "continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control." If you feel compelled to teach, teach children or, if you are older, teach younger women. And teach them the specific things that are listed in Titus.

Conclusion

The testimony of the church at Ephesus was suffering because men weren't involved in the household of God the way the should have been, and women weren't investing in the godly household the way they should have been.

The testimony of the church today, even our church, will suffer for these same reasons. God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." Let's not be among those who hinder the work of God.