The following is my honest reading of 1 Timothy 2. This is a pretty controversial chapter, and so I was hoping on some feedback to my analysis of the chapter, and your own thoughts on the chapter.
~ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
A key expression stands out to me in telling me why Paul is writing this part of his letter: live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This tells me that Paul is intending to address some conflict that Tim has probably written to him about.
~ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Peace and quiet, godliness and holiness: these things please God. Fair enough.
~ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
Paul makes a comment about mediation, and specifically the qualification of Jesus Christ as mediator between God and man.
~ This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostleI am telling the truth, I am not lyingand a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
Having addressed Christs credibility, Paul speaks of his own credibility. This is the first indication to me that Pauls intention is to act as some kind of mediator for his audience; plausibly as mediator between two groups that were conflicting over some doctrinal issue.
~ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
In a very positive expression about prayer, Paul brings up anger and disputing; no doubt a condition of his audience that he wishes to mediate. Here he specifically addresses the men, perhaps because they were the ones in charge, or perhaps because they were the ones causing the anger and disputes.
I take special note of the expression, I want. This tells me that Paul is saying something personal about how he manages, or would manage, things. Perhaps that means this is one of those times where he is speaking from his own opinion, without inspiration. However, he doesnt say that exactly, so if that is the case, it is only insinuated at best. So, maybe this bit is inspired, and maybe it isnt. Its difficult to say for sure what exactly to take from I want.
~ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Again, Paul uses that expression, I want. As I said, I dont know what to make of that.
If the comments about men alluded to their anger and disputes, and addresses it without accusing, I would take these comments about women similarly. If I assume there were men in Pauls audience that were angry and disputing, then it seems natural to also assume there were women adorned with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, and expensive clothing.
Perhaps these women that were so elaborately adorned were creating some trouble for the congregation, maybe just from what they were wearing, but maybe because of something else they were bringing to the congregation. My guess is that the next part completes this picture
~ A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.
My impression is that this line is addressing a specific characteristic of these elaborately adorned women.
Maybe they were recent converts from a cult, like the Isis cult, where they were in charge of their congregations. As priestesses in this cult, they may have grown accustomed to being recognized for their elaborate clothing hair and jewelry. They may have been used to making loud interruptions during services, similar to the ways some charismatic churches host outbursts of shouts or speaking in tongues. Doing what came naturally to them, these women may have been interrupting the Christian services, encouraging people to do the kinds of cult like things they used to do to honor Isis, or whoever their pagan god had been.
Does this verse regard all women in general, or is Paul addressing specifically those people prone to such behavior? It really is difficult for me to say for sure. If I just look at the statement, in isolation from its context, then I would say that it is a general statement applying to all women, but when I consider its context, it seems to me that he means to apply it to a specific disturbance in the congregation Tim is dealing with.
My example for why I feel justified comes from my reading of a different verse Paul wrote. Romans 14: 14 reads, I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If I try to argue that this, and its surrounding context, is about absolutely everything, the counterargument will likely be that the context is specifically about dietary law, so Paul means this verse to also only apply to dietary law, even though he makes this sweeping statement.
Well, if Romans 14:14 is only about food, and not actually about everything, then using that same reasoning, I have no problem understanding Pauls statement about a woman learning in quietness and submission as referring to a specific context as well.
~ I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.
This is an I statement. Paul tells Tim what he permits. This is a description of his practices and principles. Does he hold this standard because of some divine inspiration, or simply because this is his personal opinion about best practices?
Though Im not trying to call all of his teachings into question as potentially just his opinion, Paul is very specifically identifying these as things he upholds in his personal practice of church leadership. Is he telling Tim that he must emulate Paul in this standard, or is he simply meaning to offer it as an example of something that works for him?
~ 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 childbearingif they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Okay, well, I'm still trying to figure out what Paul is up to with these statements
I personally dont know many Christians that are even aware Paul said this, and no church Ive ever been to uses this part as a part of their argument for what they are upholding in their position on women, so
~ I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
A key expression stands out to me in telling me why Paul is writing this part of his letter: live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This tells me that Paul is intending to address some conflict that Tim has probably written to him about.
~ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Peace and quiet, godliness and holiness: these things please God. Fair enough.
~ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
Paul makes a comment about mediation, and specifically the qualification of Jesus Christ as mediator between God and man.
~ This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostleI am telling the truth, I am not lyingand a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
Having addressed Christs credibility, Paul speaks of his own credibility. This is the first indication to me that Pauls intention is to act as some kind of mediator for his audience; plausibly as mediator between two groups that were conflicting over some doctrinal issue.
~ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
In a very positive expression about prayer, Paul brings up anger and disputing; no doubt a condition of his audience that he wishes to mediate. Here he specifically addresses the men, perhaps because they were the ones in charge, or perhaps because they were the ones causing the anger and disputes.
I take special note of the expression, I want. This tells me that Paul is saying something personal about how he manages, or would manage, things. Perhaps that means this is one of those times where he is speaking from his own opinion, without inspiration. However, he doesnt say that exactly, so if that is the case, it is only insinuated at best. So, maybe this bit is inspired, and maybe it isnt. Its difficult to say for sure what exactly to take from I want.
~ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Again, Paul uses that expression, I want. As I said, I dont know what to make of that.
If the comments about men alluded to their anger and disputes, and addresses it without accusing, I would take these comments about women similarly. If I assume there were men in Pauls audience that were angry and disputing, then it seems natural to also assume there were women adorned with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, and expensive clothing.
Perhaps these women that were so elaborately adorned were creating some trouble for the congregation, maybe just from what they were wearing, but maybe because of something else they were bringing to the congregation. My guess is that the next part completes this picture
~ A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.
My impression is that this line is addressing a specific characteristic of these elaborately adorned women.
Maybe they were recent converts from a cult, like the Isis cult, where they were in charge of their congregations. As priestesses in this cult, they may have grown accustomed to being recognized for their elaborate clothing hair and jewelry. They may have been used to making loud interruptions during services, similar to the ways some charismatic churches host outbursts of shouts or speaking in tongues. Doing what came naturally to them, these women may have been interrupting the Christian services, encouraging people to do the kinds of cult like things they used to do to honor Isis, or whoever their pagan god had been.
Does this verse regard all women in general, or is Paul addressing specifically those people prone to such behavior? It really is difficult for me to say for sure. If I just look at the statement, in isolation from its context, then I would say that it is a general statement applying to all women, but when I consider its context, it seems to me that he means to apply it to a specific disturbance in the congregation Tim is dealing with.
My example for why I feel justified comes from my reading of a different verse Paul wrote. Romans 14: 14 reads, I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If I try to argue that this, and its surrounding context, is about absolutely everything, the counterargument will likely be that the context is specifically about dietary law, so Paul means this verse to also only apply to dietary law, even though he makes this sweeping statement.
Well, if Romans 14:14 is only about food, and not actually about everything, then using that same reasoning, I have no problem understanding Pauls statement about a woman learning in quietness and submission as referring to a specific context as well.
~ I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.
This is an I statement. Paul tells Tim what he permits. This is a description of his practices and principles. Does he hold this standard because of some divine inspiration, or simply because this is his personal opinion about best practices?
Though Im not trying to call all of his teachings into question as potentially just his opinion, Paul is very specifically identifying these as things he upholds in his personal practice of church leadership. Is he telling Tim that he must emulate Paul in this standard, or is he simply meaning to offer it as an example of something that works for him?
~ 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 childbearingif they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Okay, well, I'm still trying to figure out what Paul is up to with these statements
I personally dont know many Christians that are even aware Paul said this, and no church Ive ever been to uses this part as a part of their argument for what they are upholding in their position on women, so
