1 Timothy 2:6-10

 

1 Tim 2:6 (KJB)

Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

Ransom - Instead of

Testified - Witness, proof or evidence

Due - One’s own

 

Paul continues on stating that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only mediator of the new covenant, had ratified the covenant by giving himself as a ransom. The word “ransom” means that He stood in the place where the redeemed should have stood, and that was for eternal damnation but He took our place and granted all the Elect of God eternal life instead and He took the wrath of God upon Him as payment for our sins. Then in the second part of this verse Paul speaks about the Lord being a testimony in His own time. When the Lord was here on earth, He was manifested as the Son of God in the flesh who became a ransom for all the Elect. Now that He is back in Heaven, He is manifested in the lives of all those who are to become saved. (2 Cor 6:2 KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Christ is now manifest in salvation. When a person is unsaved, they exude characteristics of the unsaved but when they become saved, the exude characteristics of the Lord Jesus Christ because of the new nature.

 

1 Tim 2:7 (KJB)

Whereunto 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.

 

Now the Apostle Paul builds on the previous verse stating that Christ had died for the salvation of the Elect and for the purpose of sending this message forth, he was ordained or appointed as a preacher of that Gospel and an Apostle, which would be one who has seen the risen Christ. Since the letter of Timothy was on the private side, Paul wanted to confirm to Timothy that he was telling him the truth in Christ. Timothy would know that if Paul makes that type of affirmation, then it could not be disputed. Paul states that he is a preacher to the Gentiles by the appointment of God. (Acts 9:15 KJV) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: However, the Jews had eventually rejected Paul and then he made his ministry exclusively to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:46-47 KJV) Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. {47} For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. It would be through the saved coming out of the Gentile nations that would bring the gospel to the ends of the world, just as we see today. Since the Jews rejected Christ, they could never bring the true Gospel to the world. (Mat 21:43 KJV) Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. The nation would be the body of Christ which contained both saved Jews and Gentiles.

 

1 Tim 2:8 (KJB)

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

 

Men - Males

 

Paul was not only wishing but it was much stronger than that. It was like he was commanding or willing that men should pray constantly. Lifting up of the hands meant it was symbolizing the position of the heart as it the hands were lifted up, the heart was also toward Heaven. It also prevented them from doing other things with their hands. Do you ever see people in church pray and with their hands they are doing something else like looking for something or getting ready to run out the door, so they are gathering their things. The raised hands was a gesture of worship and single heartedness toward God. Then Paul states that those who pray must do it with clean and convicted heart, convicted that God will answer those prayers in His timing and manner. There should be no anger and disputings when praying or else God may not hear the prayer. Prayer must be done with a heart of faith and not a contentious attitude expecting God to answer us the way we want Him to. Paul had already spoken of who we need to pray for such as kings and there were probably many in the churches who would not like to pray for Caesar, instead they would rather God struck him dead but that was not God’s plan. We are to be in prayer for those who lead the nations and without any grumbling or complaining about their politics. Lifting up of the hands was done as far back as Abraham. (Gen 14:22 KJV) And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

 

1 Tim 2:9 (KJB)

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

 

Modest - Virtuous, honorable, or respectable

Shamefacedness - Reverence or discreetness

Sobriety - Moderation or good sense

Broided - Braided or entwined

Array - Clothing

 

Now Paul turns to the women and since Ephesus was the center of Diana worship, no doubt the women who were members of that cult were adorned in all kinds of fancy clothing and jewelry on the outside but on the inside they were spiritually dead. Those women who were saved out of that cult may have brought the manner of dressing from the cult to the church. Paul here gives the manner in which the women should dress. First of all they dress in modest apparel. This means that their body should be covered and not exposed. How many times do you go to a church and see young women with skin tight pants and spaghetti strap tops in church? How much attention is a man going to pay to the sermon or to the Lord when he is sitting close to a woman dressed like that. Ladies, if you dress like that, how would you ever know that a man likes you for you and not just your body? If you dress modestly you will know! Then Paul states they should not be having a party like demeanor. They should be in church with a reverent attitude, showing good sense that they know where they are. (Lev 19:30 KJV) Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. One of the things ancient Israel did not do was to reverence the sanctuary of God. He is a holy God and is not to be treated like His house is a night club. I grew up in the Hungarian Reformed Church and before the service started, everyone was silent and prepared for the service. I have been in other churches where I was waiting for the waitress to come around and see what we wanted from the bar. He who has ears to hear!

 

Then Paul goes on to speak about the braiding or the hairstyles. Women can spend countless hours and much money on hairstyles, especially every time some actress on TV changes theirs. I remember when Sarah Palin was the Vice-Presidential Candidate in 2008. Women flocked to their Optometrists to purchase the same type of glasses Sarah had. In fact, there was a three month wait for them since so many ordered them. Then Paul goes on concerning costly array which is clothing and jewelry of gold and pearls. Women’s jewelry is a billion dollar business and no matter what they buy, they are not satisfied. Then women’s clothes is a billion dollar business and I am not speaking about required clothing but clothing which is purchased according to latest trends. Now Paul is not stating that women should dress in potato sacks but they can look nice but not alluring. Paul wants the Christian women to show the beauty of their salvation and not focus on just the outside appearance. The difference between those who are saved and not saved must be seen in their appearances.

 

1 Tim 2:10 (KJB)

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

 

The truly saved woman will be more concerned about the doing of good works for the sake of the Gospel than trying to win a beauty contest. (Prov 31:30 KJV) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Beauty is vain because the biggest enemy of beauty is the clock. I once had long hair back in the 60’s and 70’s but now what used to be waves is all beach. The woman who will yield a fruitful life is the one that fears the Lord and will live the most satisfying life instead of trying to keep up with younger women. I live in a retirement community and believe me there is no shortage of 70 and 80 year old women trying to look 20. Christian women need to assess their life to make sure that it is of a more spiritual nature than a physical nature. Christian women, like men, need to be involved in the Gospel, and there is always a place if one truly seeks it.

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