CHAPTER 2

(A.D. 65)

EXHORTATION

¹I exhort therefore (resumes and develops Pauls charge to Timothy, which began in I Tim. 1:18), that, first of all (it is as if Paul said, the most important point in this exhortation concerns the universal scope of prayer), supplications (personal needs), prayers (petitions), intercessions (in this case, an approach to God on the basis of an accepted relationship), and giving of thanks (Praise and Worship), be made for all men (lends credence to the idea that we should pray about everything);

²For kings, and for all who are in authority (Civil Government); that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (This speaks of Government thats free of turmoil, about which prayer can have a great effect.)

³For this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour (refers to this being the Will of God and for all the obvious reasons);

GODS WILL

⁴Who will have all men to be saved (presents Salvation, which is universal in virtue and aim), and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. (This pertains to Salvation through Jesus Christ and what He did at the Cross [Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:3-6; 10:9-10].)

ONE MEDIATOR

⁵For there is one God (manifested in three Persons God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (He can only be an adequate Mediator Who has sympathy with and an understanding of both parties, and is understandable by and clear to both; in other words, Jesus is both God and Man, i.e., Very God and Very Man);

⁶Who gave Himself a ransom for all (refers to the fact that our Lords Death was a spontaneous and voluntary Sacrifice on His Part; the word ransom refers to the price He paid, owed by man to God, which was His Precious Blood [I Pet. 1:18-20]), to be testified in due time. (This refers to the planning of this great Work, which took place before the foundation of the World [I Pet. 1:18-20], unto the due time of its manifestation, which refers to when Christ was Crucified).

TRUTH

⁷Whereunto I am ordained a Preacher, and an Apostle (presents the highest calling of the fivefold Ministry [Eph. 4:11]), (I speak the Truth in Christ, and lie not;) (was said because it seems some were denying his Apostleship) a teacher of the Gentiles in Faith and verity (in Faith and Truth).

⁸I will therefore that men pray everywhere (proclaims the absolute necessity of prayer on the part of the Child of God), lifting up Holy hands (a surrendered spirit), without wrath and doubting. (This speaks of an angry spirit, which is caused by doubting the Word of God.)

WOMEN

⁹In like manner also (refers to the fact that women should pray to the Lord in like manner as the men), that women adorn themselves in modest apparel (presents that which is consistent with what she is, a Child of God), with shamefacedness (Christian women should not be bold or forward toward men) and sobriety (the idea of self-restraint); not with broided hair (not the same meaning as now, but rather an extremely ostentatious display), or gold, or pearls (the Apostle is not condemning these things, but rather promoting the adornment of Christian character, which is to be the attraction of Christian women), or costly array (tells us that when either men or women live primarily for dress and outward show, then it is wrong);

¹⁰But (which becomes women professing Godliness) with good works.

¹¹Let the woman learn in silence (its meaning is made clear in I Cor. 14:34-35) with all subjection (Eph. 5: 22-25).

¹²But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man (if a male teacher is more qualified, he should take the lead; otherwise the woman can do so), but to be in silence (silent regarding teachings unless there is no qualified man, which is the case at times.)

¹³For Adam was first formed, then Eve (the creation model).

¹⁴And Adam was not deceived (seems to imply the man is stronger regarding the will), but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (This facility of deception on her part seems to suggest to the Apostle her inferiority to man in intellectual strength, and the consequent wrongness of allowing the woman an intellectual supremacy over man as it regards authority.)

¹⁵Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing (pertains to protection from the Lord regarding the woman, and her offspring; the greater meaning of childbearing as used here refers to Jesus being born into the world through the Virgin Mary, who would save lost humanity), if they continue in Faith and Charity (love) and Holiness with sobriety. (A Godly life must be the example if the great Promise of God, as given here, is to be claimed.)