1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2:1–15 (NLT)

1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

First and foremost, we are to be a people who pray. The words “supplications,” “intercessions,” and “giving of thanks” refer to the various forms of prayer that we are to offer for all men.

2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

We are to pray for kings and even for presidents because they are in positions of authority only by the predetermined counsel of God.

No wonder he decreed that all the world should be taxed ( Luke 2:1). He was, after all, Caesar Augustus—Caesar, the “august one,” Caesar, “the highest.” But wait a minute. While Caesar Augustus was breaking campaign promises and raising taxes, what was really going on? Carrying the Messiah in her womb, Mary resided in Nazareth. Yet hundreds of years previously, the prophet Micah had declared that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Therefore, Mary and Joseph set out on the difficult and dangerous journey from Nazareth in the north to Bethlehem in the south not in response to an edict from Caesar, the “august one”—but in obedience to God, the Almighty One.

What if we looked at politics today believing that it is God who is truly on the throne? Wouldn’t that be a radical concept for Christians? Yes, we have a responsibility to pray and to make supplications. But we are also to give thanks for all men no matter what side of the political spectrum they represent, for all rulers are used by God to fulfill prophecy and to accomplish His will ultimately.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

1 Timothy 2:2 (b)

…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

I’ve noticed that those who are radically involved in the Christian political scene are rarely quiet or peaceful. On the contrary, there seems to be an anger about them. And sometimes I wonder if this is really what the Lord intends for us. How much better it would be, in my opinion, if we would do less talking and more praying concerning political matters.

In Jeremiah 29, we see the Lord saying to His people, “You’re going to be held captive here in Babylon for seventy years. So go ahead and allow your kids to marry, build houses, plant gardens, and pray for the peace of Babylon. While you’re here, make it better if you can. But don’t get too rooted, because you’re only here for seventy years.”

So, too, we are only here in this Babylon called earth for seventy years or so. We’re to pray, plant gardens, and leave it in a better condition than we found it—be that environmentally, politically, economically, or sociologically. Therefore, I do think it’s important to vote and participate in the system, to be knowledgeable and wise. But in so doing, we must never forget that one day soon, this whole world is going to be folded up (Hebrews 1:12). Therefore, we need not take it too seriously.

3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,

4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

After Paul tells us we should be talking to God about men—praying for people and leaders and politicians—he says we also have the responsibility to talk to men about God and to share with them the truth of the gospel.

5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

When everything was going wrong and everything was coming down, Job said, “I wish there was a Daysman—an umpire, a mediator—between God and me” (see Job 9:33). And now Paul comes on the scene, using the same terminology, saying, “There is. There’s a Mediator, a Bridge between infinite God and finite man because God Himself became a Man in Christ Jesus.”

We are to follow the example of Jesus, who was willing to come and be the Daysman, the Mediator, the Savior between a holy God and sinful men. We’re not to be fault-finders, political anarchists, people who are angry, or those who are bitter. We’re to pray with thanksgiving and supplication and to follow the example of our Savior in the ministry of mediation.

God is everywhere, all knowing, all powerful. He sees the beginning and end of things all at once. He is so big and great, but how do we know that he cares about us? Ministry of Jesus

6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

Although people repeatedly and flippantly call on God to damn others, nothing could be further from His heart. Because He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), He gave Himself a ransom for all.

7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

“I truly have been called to share with people and to pray for people,” says Paul. And so have you.

8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

Paul doesn’t say, “I want men to clench fists and sign petitions.” He says, “I want men to lift hands and pray.”

I find it interesting that when the Bible talks about prayer, we see men raising their hands, lying prostrate on their faces, lifting up their eyes, and standing. What we never see throughout Scripture concerning prayer is someone folding his hands and closing his eyes. Yet that is precisely how we teach our kids to pray! I know why we do this. All parents do. Closed eyes and folded hands keep kids out of trouble! But now that we are adults, let’s realize that there’s great liberty in prayer. I often find myself prostrate before the Lord in times of intensity of prayer or worship. I also love to walk as I pray. I would encourage you to explore different postures of prayer—all the while remembering that it’s not the position of the body that matters, but the position of the heart.

9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.

10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

the godly woman is one who is embarrassed by immodesty.

being alert to what you are advertizing body wise and to who you are dressing to impress.

11 Women should learn quietly and submissively.

12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

In the Book of Titus, Paul instructs older women to teach younger women how to walk in practical godliness. However, they are not to teach men in matters of doctrine or theology, but are to learn in silence. You might think this sounds terribly chauvinistic. But Paul goes on to give his reason.…

13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve.

14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 2)

“Eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God,” Satan promised Eve ( see Genesis 3:5). Thus, Eve was deceived not by a desire to do something illicit, but by a desire to be godly.

I firmly believe women have an innate desire to be spiritual. They want to extract all they can from Scripture. They want to know what it really means to worship. They want their eyes to be opened, to know how to be lovers of God. Satan took advantage of this, and the woman was thereby deceived. Therefore, it is men who are to instruct the church in doctrine.

What are the women to do?

Paul goes on.…

15 But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 2

The Greek word sozo, or “saved,” meaning “the full orb of God’s blessing”—that women will be “saved in childbearing”—does not refer only to the fact that they won’t die bearing children, but that they will experience the full orb of God’s blessing in raising children. Although there are exceptions, although there are women who are uniquely called to separate themselves for service to the Lord, the rule of thumb for the church is that women are to pour themselves into their kids, for there they will find their greatest blessing.

If a woman must work, she should carefully make her job selection in such a way that her job does not in any way pull her emotions or her energy away from her family. You see, Moms, by the time people come to me as a pastor, they’ve usually been beaten up by life. Moms, on the other hand, have the opportunity to love and shape fresh, new lives that haven’t been messed up by the world. This is not a popular position. But look at our culture. We’re paying the price for turning away from these very simple and basic premises. Everyone is trying to figure out why our kids have gone so awry. But God has already told us: Men should lead the church. Women should lead the kids.

So, too, as the bride of Christ, where will I also be saved? Where will I most fully experience God’s blessing? In child-bearing. There is no joy like that of seeing someone born again. That’s why Jesus said when one sinner comes into the kingdom, there’s a party in heaven (Luke 15:10).

Has it been a while since you shared the Lord with someone? If you haven’t led someone to Jesus, you’re missing out, for all of us will discover that the full orb of salvation is, indeed, found in seeing other folks born again