AM Bible Study Group; April 16, 2014
1 Timothy 2:8-10<
Theme: Paul describes how men and women are to conduct themselves together in corporate worship.
(Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
We are entering into a section of Paul’s letter that is often controversial. It has to do with the conduct of men and women in the place of public worship.
The controversy in our day is usually not over what it says about men, but about women. And sadly, there is often good reason for that controversy. Paul’s teaching about the conduct of women in the church has frequently been misunderstood, misrepresented and misused; and as a result, the vital contribution of women in the body of Christ has not been allowed to flourished as it should. That, of course, should never happen. But neither should the clear teaching of God’s word be suppressed out of a fear of misunderstanding or misuse. We all in the body of Christ—both women and men—need to have the humility and reverence, under the rule of the Holy Spirit, to submit to what God’s word clearly says; and to allow our experience to be governed by God’s word rather than interpret God’s word by our experience. When it comes to both genders, we should show submission to God’s word, and genuine love and respect for one another.
It’s important to remember that Paul, in this passage, is not speaking of every area of life; but specifically of the conduct of the church in corporate worship. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he speaks of the kind of conduct which most benefits the congregation as a whole, and that best honors the Lord in orderly worship. Note that he speaks of . . .
I. THE CONDUCT OF THE BROTHERS IN WORSHIP (v. 8).
A. "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere . . ." Paul had been speaking in verses 1-7 about the vital importance of prayer in the congregation. A church of God’s people ought to be a place characterized by prayer; and Timothy—as a good pastor—was to make sure that such was the case. Throughout those verses, however, it was left in a somewhat undefined sense who it was that was to be doing the praying. It seems as if it was to characterize the whole congregation. But now, in verse 8, Paul gets specific and urges that the males of the congregation take the lead. This, of course, should not in any respect be taken to mean that women were not to pray. The Bible assumes, in fact, that they will pray (1 Corinthians 11:5)—and even in the public place of worship. But it is men who are to take the lead as the normal pattern in the house of God—"everywhere". This should be looked upon as an encouragement for godly men to rise up and do their duty. There are some cultures that are, sadly, characterized by passivity and and spiritual indifference on the part of men. God certainly wants the women to pray. But everyone is blessed when men assume their proper role, cease being passive or hesitant or fearful, and take the spiritual lead in the prayer-life of the church.
B. And notice carefully how they are to do so. Paul says first that they are to pray everywhere—"lifting up holy hands . . ." How wonderfully suited this exhortation is to men! They use their hands to work. Their ‘hands’ are the tools of the business of everyday life. And those hands are to be holy! God will not hear prayers that are offered up from men whose hands are filthy with sin. In Isaiah 1:15, God says, "When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood." This would mean that men must live holy lives—in their business dealings, in their use of money, in their sexual integrity, and in their treatment of their family. It’s particularly important to remember that God will not hear the prayers of a man who treats his wife harshly. Peter writes, "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered." The work of prayer by men in the church is too vital to be done with anything but holy hands.
C. Note further that the men are to pray "without wrath and doubting . . ." This speaks to the inward attitude of the men—and to their outward relationships as well. To pray "without wrath" means to have one’s own heart right before God with respect to the frustrations and trials of life. We’re told to be angry—but not to sin in our anger (Ephesians 4:26). Sometimes Christian men can seem well-regulated in their tempers—until they begin to pray. Then, they say things in an angry spirit in prayer that are dishonoring to the cause of Christ. As the Bible warns us, "the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). And to pray without "doubting" means more than simply being sure of the reliability of prayer. The word that is translated "doubting" speaks of an argumentative and quarreling spirit. Men may disagree about minor theological matters—and they may even be in disagreement with each other in the best ways they ought to pray about things. But they must set their personal agendas aside and come together in genuine love and unity in prayer if they want their prayers to be effective.
II. THE CONDUCT OF THE SISTERS IN WORSHIP (vv. 9-10).
A. Paul unites his exhortation to the men with his exhortation to the women when he says, "in like manner also . . ." Just as men are to pray with propriety before God in public worship, so are the women. Paul goes on to urge "that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation . . ." The manner of a woman in the household of worship should never be to draw attention to herself in an improper way. The words "modest" or "propriety" (translated "shamefacedness" in the King James Version; but best understood as "shame-fastness"—that is, holding the potential for shame in check), and "moderation" should make it clear enough that the idea is NOT that women should be hidden from view. Rather, it’s that they should always follow patterns of dignity and honor in their manner of presenting themselves in God’s house—whatever that may mean from culture to culture, and from time period to time period.
B. Paul says that they are to adorn themselves "not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing . . ."; and in saying this, he doesn’t mean that there should be no care for such things. One of the Bible’s great heroines of faith was Lydia of Philippi. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira. She was a very refined and tasteful women who was in the fashion business; and yet she was a humble follower of Christ and a great servant of God’s people. Similarly, Dorcus of Joppa was a woman who was much loved in the household of God for the tunics and garments she made for others. The Proverbs 31 woman was praised for the fact that she made tapestry for herself, and because her clothing was fine linen and purple. Paul is not—in any respect—condemning tasteful fashions and beauty. Rather, what he is warning against is ostentatiousness—an inappropriate display of wealth or fashion, in an attempt to impress our outdo others, that distracts from a sincere worship of God. In ancient times, a woman’s hair was often braided in such a way as to make an outlandish fashion statement or to position herself in the upper levels of society. "Gold" and "pearls" should be understood—not merely as a prohibition against jewelry—but in the context of "costly clothing"; that is, as exhibitions of pride that are unbecoming of a woman of God.
C. Timothy was to discourage his sisters in Christ from ostentatiousness in dress and adornment in the place of worship; "but" as Paul says, encourage that "which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works . . ." One of the great heroines of faith in this respect was Phoebe—a deaconess from Cenchrea—"for indeed she has been a helper of many", Paul wrote, "and of myself also" (Romans 16:2). As Peter writes, "Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God" (1 Peter 3:2-4). Such a godly inner-attitude of heart—expressed in outward works of godlinesss—is the greatest expression of beauty that there is. And it is wonderfully beautifying to the place of worship in the household of God.
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One of the worst things we could do in response to a passage like this is to make a "list" of do’s and don’ts. What a nightmare that would be! This isn’t speaking of hard-and-fast absolutes anyway, but of attitudes of the heart. Men need to have an attitude of reverence for God, in the public gathering of worship, that moves them to rise up and do their duty. And women need to also have an attitude of reverence toward God that moves them to present themselves in dignity and honor in worship.
Perhaps the best single "rule" of all—if things could be summed up in a single rule—is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."