1 Timothy 2

Paul exhorts believers to offer prayers for all people, especially for rulers, so that they may live quiet and peaceable lives, as God desires all to be saved through the one mediator, Christ Jesus. He instructs men to pray everywhere with holy hands, and women to adorn themselves modestly and learn in silence, not exercising authority over men, citing the order of creation and the Fall.

The apostle Paul begins by urging comprehensive prayer for all people, particularly for kings and those in authority, so that believers may lead quiet and peaceable lives in godliness and honesty. This practice is deemed good and acceptable to God, who desires the salvation and knowledge of truth for all, emphasizing the singular nature of God and the unique mediation of Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom. Paul affirms his own commission as a preacher and teacher to the Gentiles. He then directs men to pray universally, lifting up holy hands without anger or doubt. For women, the instruction is to adorn themselves with modesty, sobriety, and good works, rather than elaborate outward display. Furthermore, women are to learn in silence with all subjection, and are not permitted to teach or usurp authority over men, a directive grounded in the order of creation (Adam first) and the circumstances of the Fall.

In 1 Timothy chapter 2, the apostle Paul provides foundational instructions concerning public worship and the conduct of believers. He begins with a strong exhortation for all forms of prayer—supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings—to be made for all humanity. This includes specific mention of kings and all who are in positions of authority, with the purpose that believers might live quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty. Paul emphasizes that such prayer is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He underscores the theological basis for this universal desire, stating there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. Paul then reaffirms his own divine appointment as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles, speaking truth in Christ. Transitioning to specific roles in worship, he wills that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, free from wrath and doubting. For women, the instruction is to adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, explicitly cautioning against elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or costly array. Instead, their adornment should be good works, which properly become women professing godliness. Furthermore, Paul directs that women learn in silence with all subjection. He explicitly states, "I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." The rationale for this instruction is provided by referring to the order of creation, "For Adam was first formed, then Eve," and the events of the Fall, where "Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." The chapter concludes with a statement regarding women being "saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."