The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

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- Chapter 2 -

And so I beg you, first of all, to make supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings for all men,

for kings, and for all who are in high places, so that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and chastity.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

who wants all men to be saved and to arrive at an acknowledgment of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus,(a)

who gave himself as a redemption for all, as a testimony in its proper time.(b)

Of this testimony, I have been appointed a preacher and an Apostle, (I speak the truth, I do not lie) as a teacher of the Gentiles, in faith and in truth.

Therefore, I want men to pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without anger or dissension.

Instructions to Women

Similarly also, women should be dressed fittingly, adorning themselves with compunction and restraint, and not with plaited hair, nor gold, nor pearls, nor costly attire,(c)

but in a manner proper for women who are professing piety by means of good works.

Let a woman learn in silence with all subjection.

For I do not permit a woman to teach, nor to be in authority over a man, but to be in silence.

For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

And Adam was not seduced, but the woman, having been seduced, was in transgression.

Yet she will be saved by bearing children, if she has continued in faith and love, and in sanctification accompanied by self-restraint.

Footnotes

(a)2:5 One mediator:Christ is the one and only mediator of redemption, who gave himself, as the apostle writes in the following verse.(Challoner)

(b)2:6 a redemption for all:He is also the only mediator, who stands in need of no other to recommend his petitions to the Father. But this is not against our seeking the prayers and intercession, as well of the faithful upon earth, as of the saints and angels in heaven, for obtaining mercy, grace, and salvation, through Jesus Christ. As St. Paul himself often desired the help of the prayers of the faithful, without any injury to the mediatorship of Jesus Christ.(Challoner)

(c)2:9 The word ‘verecundia’ does not simply mean ‘modesty.’ It often means shame, but in this context, it is more of the meaning of recoiling from anything that would be shameful. Compunction expresses this meaning in English fairly well, referring to an exercise of conscience occasioned by the prospect of wrongdoing. The word ‘sobrietate’ in this context does not refer to restraint in drinking, nor in thinking, but to restraint in the manner of dressing and grooming.(Conte)

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men,

for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony at the proper time,

to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.

Instructions to Women

In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety, not

(a)

with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing,

but with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness.

Let a woman learn in quietness with full submission.

But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.

For Adam was formed first, then Eve.

Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience;

but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with sobriety.

Footnotes

(a)2:9 The word for “not” is the negative particle “μη” which denies an expected idea, as opposed to the usual word for “not” (ου) which denies a fact. Thus “μη” in this context is denying an expected idea (that women can be properly dressed without good works).