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March 06, 2011 |
| Order in the Church | ||
This lesson begins a new section based on 1st Timothy where the Apostle Paul gives Timothy instructions on maintaining the order of the church. At the time, Timothy was in Ephesus, a city that was previously under Greek control, but then under Roman control, and is now in the western part of Turkey.
When this epistle was written the Roman world had many religions. The traditional Greek and Roman gods were still worshiped. Some people still worshiped the emperor as a god. Later some would worship the Sun as Sol Invictus. And there were many religions and gods from countries that were conquered by the Romans such as Isis from Egypt. Judaism was also practiced throughout the Roman world.
Each of these religions had specific practices associated with it. Paul’s letter spells out the practices that should be part of the Christian church and it seems clear that his intent is to keep out the practices of other religions.
1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
A different translation says this a little better "1 Therefore, I beg of you that before all things, you will offer supplications to God, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving, for the sake of all people,
2 for the sake of Kings and Rulers, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil way of life in complete reverence to God and purity."1
We see that we should offer 4 things to God
These are to be offered on behalf of all people, but in this case Paul emphasizes kings and the people that they have placed in authority.
The purpose of these offerings is that Christians may lead Christian lives. This epistle was likely written while Nero was Caesar. Nero is known for his persecution of Christians and for killing them in horrible ways. So Paul is saying that Christians should pray for and on behalf of all people even those who mistreat Christians and kill them.
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
When Paul says "This is good" he is referring back to the start of the first verse. So his point is that it pleases God for us to pray like this even for the worst people. One reason this pleases God is that prayer reshapes our attitude toward the people we pray for. It is difficult to hold on to anger or hate for someone that you are praying for. And perhaps through your prayers and through your actions directed by a Christian attitude that person may come to salvation and the Christian way.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
Having said that God wants all people to know the truth, Paul now moves into a statement on one aspect of that truth. We accept that statement as doctrine in the Christian church. There is one God and one mediator between man and God. That mediator is the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah.
Why do we need a mediator between man and God? We are incapable on our own of living lives that are acceptable to God. A mediator is a one who works with both sides to reach an agreement. So in this case Jesus acts as a mediator by pleading our case before God. For example he might express how each of us tries but sometimes we slip but that’s to be expected because of the world that we live in. And he might say that we are truly repentant when we slip.
But mediation works both ways. Jesus might also say to us that we are doing good but we can do better and he might point out areas in our lives where we can improve.
But there is only one who is able to mediate between God and man. Only that person who is fully God and fully man and who sacrificed himself for all people is capable of taking on that role. No pastor, preacher, priest, or pope is able to stand in that role, nor is any other man able to do so.
7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
The purpose that Paul refers to is witnessing to the truth and bringing others to salvation. He goes on to explain that he was appointed to this role as a herald (one who announces the king’s arrival) and an apostle (one sent to promote an idea).
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Another translation says it this way. "8 I desire, therefore, that men would pray in every place, lifting their hands in purity without rage and without scheming"2 This helps us to avoid trying to figure out what holy hands might be.
So Paul’s message in this verse is that Christians should pray from a pure heart. They should not be praying out of anger or raging against a person in their prayers. They should not be bringing disputes or schemes into their prayers. Of course we understand that to include an exception to ask for guidance or forgiveness.
"The lifting up of hands in worship and prayer is an ancient practice as well as a modern one. But Paul’s point is not primarily about what we do with our hands when we pray. It is, rather, that genuine prayer should be characterized by personal holiness."3
"Paul probably singles out the men for this instruction because of specific circumstances in the Ephesian church". We can only guess at what those were. From the context here of prayer for everyone and especially kings and leaders and with the mention in this verse of praying without anger, disputing, and scheming, we might imagine that they were praying against people rather than for people. But we cannot know for sure.
9 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, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Another translation says verse 9 this way "9 Likewise also the women shall be modest in fashion of dress, their adornment shall be in bashfulness and in modesty, not in braiding with gold or with pearls or in gorgeous robes"4
As Paul pointed out a specific problem with the men in the previous verse he now points out a problem with the women. From the text it appears that some of the women had gotten into lavish displays of wealth and perhaps into a competition. "Ephesus in Paul’s day has a significant number of wealthy residents. We can expect that some members of the church are among them. People typically enjoy displaying their wealth; doing so gives a sense of prestige and power. But for those who know the good news of the gospel, such displays are inappropriate."5
We should not think that braided hair was considered a lavish display. As we see in the other translation the problem was hair that was braided with gold and pearls. Fancy clothes were also part of the problem. But we shouldn’t focus on the particular examples that Paul gives from his time. What is lavish in one place might be common in another. The examples only serve to explain the problem and so get the people to look at what they are doing and the reasons for it and the effects it is having on others.
Paul says that instead of adorning themselves lavishly women should adorn themselves with good deeds such as loving, kindness, caring, helping, and so on.
Next we get into some verses that have caused a lot of trouble in the church for people accepting the leading of women’s equality groups.
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
It is important to understand Paul’s often misunderstood views on the role of women in the church. Only by looking at everything he says on the topic, here and elsewhere, does a complete picture appear. First, before God, men and women are equals. Neither gender nor color nor wealth nor any other human physical characteristic has any value before God.
But God created man and woman with different capabilities, and attitudes to suit them to different roles in the home and the church. This is why Paul is referring to Adam and Eve here. If you look around our society I believe you will see that there are differences between the way men and women do things and solve problems.
Of course not every woman is the same as another nor is every man the same as another. We all have different abilities. But generally we see that groups of men naturally fall into hierarchical relationships so they can work together as a group. Women tend to fall into sharing relationships that produce a resilient support system. A functioning society needs both kinds of relationships. But most men aren’t at their best in a sharing relationship and most women aren’t at their best in a hierarchical relationship. Of course there are exceptions.
But just as your boss is not a better person than you because he is your boss, being a man does not indicate superiority over women. They are only different roles. Not every person has the skills to serve in the roll of a boss and that’s a good thing because a complete system needs both bosses and workers.
Paul only makes quick references to the creation account of Adam and Eve. He assumes his audience is already aware that Eve was created to be a helper and that God went to Adam for an account of their sin. But this is the foundation for his teaching.
1. How are we to treat people in authority, even ones who do wrong?
2. Who should we pray for?
3. How should we not pray?
4. Should a Christian woman seek the presidency, or a congressional seat?
1 Aramaic New Testament in Plain English
2 Aramaic New Testament in Plain English
3 NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, Spring 2011, Unit 1, March 06, Section II, A
4 Aramaic New Testament in Plain English
5 NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, Spring 2011, Unit 1, March 06, Section III, A