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| Chapter 2 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
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1 ¶ I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who will have all men to be saved and to come unto 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 am ordained a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ and lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8 It is my will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. 9 ¶ In like manner also, that women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobermindedness, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, 10 but, as becometh women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived; but the woman, being deceived, was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobermindedness. |
Timothy was having a problem in running the Ephesus churches in "a decently and ordered manner" 1 Cor 14:40. In this chapter Paul is sending Timothy instructions for the order of service in the church. However we must remember that each church is "a living" system, being led by the Holy Spirit, so a fixed order of service may not always be the right way. We must also remember that an ‘organism’ (a living object like an animal) must operate in an organized manner, or it may die. v1-8 Prayer v1 "first of all" indicates how important Paul considers prayer is. Unfortunately, often in the churches of today, pray consists of a "shopping list of wants," little praise of God and His blessings is offered. Church members need to come in prayer with hearts and mind right with God and with each others. Prayer must not be just to please others but because we want to do it and please God. Supplications is referring to a request for a felt need. Intercession to draw near to a person and talk with confidence. Our prayer life allows us to draw nearer to God in fellowship. The giving of thanks is to be part of our worship and prayer. v3 It pleases God when we pray in the way He has commanded. v4 This is the God that we can speak to in prayer, also wants all men to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 Why are so many being lost then? Salvation depends upon "the knowledge of the truth." Prayer is a part of God’s plan to reach these lost souls. v5-7 The right to Pray The right to our being able to pray is dependant upon our Saviour Jesus Christ, "one mediator between God and men. As the God-Man, Jesus is the perfect mediator between an Holy God and the weak children of God, in his perfect life and sacrificial death He was able to meet the standard set by the Holy God. His death paid the price demanded by God. God has chosen to spread the message of salvation through Jesus using His children, Paul was one of these messengers. v8 The position or attitude to pray Paul tells us that God wants "all men" to pray. 1 Cor 11:4,5 tells us that both men and women prayed in the early church. In the New Testament times it was normal for the Jew to pray with their arms held out and hands open to heaven, however, the Bible mentions many ways to place or position the body during prayer, but it is the attitude of the persons heart which matters, not the persons position. Paul mentions three important heart attitudes for prayer, "holy hands" meaning a clean heart. If we have a sin in our heart we should not expect God to reply to prayers. "Without wrath" no anger between the brothers and sisters. "Without doubting" indicates that prayer must be with faith but the original Greek word used can also can be translated disputing (argument or disagreement). To have a powerful prayer life we must be in a correct relationship with God and other believers. Mark 11:24-26 v9-15 Women in the church As we read the instructions given by Paul on the behaviour of Christian women we must remember that Paul’s teachings came from God, if we disagree with them we are disagreeing with God if you accept this claim. This passage puts emphasis (importance) upon the place and behaviour of believing women in the local church. v9 Dress Paul does not refuse to allow the use of jewellery or expensive clothes, but the unnecessary use of them to cover up the true beauty of a believing woman. see 1 Peter 3:1-6. The words translated "modest" means decent and good taste, "shamefacedness" means avoiding extreme or excessive, "sobermindedness" means good sense. v10 Ephesus was a wealthy commercial city, and it was normal for women to dress for attention or popularity. Paul tells them to show the "inner spiritual person" instead, let the beauty of Christ shine through. The Gospel message was especially important to women believers because at the time women were considered just above a slave in the Roman world. The woman has taken a place of importance in the earthly ministry of Jesus. He was born of a woman, no earthly father. See also women’s involvement. John the Baptist, Luke 1:13; His ministry Luke 8:1-3; at the crucifixion Luke 23:27; Luke 23:49,55; resurrection Luke 24:1-11. In the early Church:- Dorcas Acts 9:36ff; Lydia Acts 16:14ff; Priscilla Acts 18:1-3; Phoebe Romans 16:1 v11 "Learn in silence," a poor translation, in the next verse it appears that some women were taking their new freedom to disturb the worship 1 Cor 14:33-35. v12-15 Authority Paul does not say a woman cannot teach Titus 2:3-4 but must not ‘lord it over men’ A woman can teach a man in private Acts 18:24-28 but should keep quite in a church worship. Paul uses creation as an argument, Adam was created first, Eve second, but both were created in the image of God, therefore there was no difference in superiority, just man was created first. Secondly, Satan deceived the woman Genesis 3:1ff, then Adam was caused by Eve to sin, knowing it was sinning against God, Adam also disobeyed God. This does not mean that women can be mislead more than men, both are equally opened to the lies of Satan. v15 Suggests that a woman believer is protected in child birth, history tells us this is not true. God has His plan in all situations. Perhaps Paul is referring to Genesis 3:15,16 or the blessings for her as a believer in motherhood. |
Easy English Translation
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