Chapter 2
The subject seems to change drastically here. First two verses:
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. [1Ti 2:1-2 ESV]
From turning church members over to Satan to praying for ALL people.
2021-2, Duties of a pastor maybe. A daily schedule for Timothy to hold to.
These verses, which I believe are profound:
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. [1Ti 2:5-6 ESV]
(It seems that all I am doing lately is copying over the MSB notes. It's like I'm not "figuring it out for myself" but I am "soaking it up" from John MacArthur. This seems like the wrong thing, it seems shallower. But then again, Paul never says not to listen to good teachers, just not to false teachers...)))
As Jesus is the ONLY mediator between God and man, there is NO way of salvation besides him. I cringe for those who follow Islam where Jesus is "only a prophet", for those who look to their priests or the Pope for absolution, to those who think they themselves can just be good enough for God to accept. This says Jesus only. There is my old argument - still valid I believe - that if I must be baptized to get to heaven, then I need a man BESIDES Jesus to mediate for me. MSB says the definite article is missing before Jesus Christ, so the interpretation is more like "Christ Jesus, himself a man" than the above "the man Jesus Christ".
Much much MSB discussion of these verses. Can't really afford not to include most of it. So...
"a ransom" Here, a ransom for all, but in Jesus' own words in Mt. 20:28, a ransom for many. Not all will be ransomed, though Christ's death was sufficient to ransom all. Only those for whom atonement was made are ransomed. Christ on the cross was not just about paying a ransom, but about becoming a substitute for the just wrath of God toward sinful men. Jesus substituted only for those who wold be saved. This is Calvin's Limited Atonement. MSB says to take "for all" in two ways. 1, there are temporal benefits of the atonement that accrue to all people universally, and 2) Christ's death was sufficient to cover the sins of all people. Christ's death is therefore unlimited in its sufficiency, but limited in its application. Since it is sufficient for all, God can offer salvation to all based on that sufficiency. But only the elect will respond, and only the elect receive the offered salvation.
LIMITED ATONEMENT
An interesting, and uncompromising use of pronoun:
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; [1Ti 2:8 ESV] MSB says the word here is men, exclusively. He is not including women in this. This verse is also about men, not women, being the leaders in the church. We don't see references to this one, likely because there is just no arguing with this one. vs 9 makes it even more clear that Paul meant MEN in vs 8 by switching to instruction for women in vs 9. It goes on. Vs 8 was on purpose, and Paul goes into some detail about how women are to behave in church. I am sure that some would say this was because of the culture, but if so, we would NOT have vs 13, referring to God's "type" for the roles of men and women.
2021 - It says "the men". The definite article makes this an address to men only. Even ESV lacks the footnote implying it might mean both men and women. But do note that vs 9 starts with "likewise the women". Definite article here also. So to what does likewise refer? To raising hands and praying, as the men do (which seems just fine) but then the restrictions begin in vs with "also". As in "women can pray like the men do, but also the women need to do these things - dress modestly, don't get crazy with your hairdo, or wear overmuch jewelry in church. She is to be submissive in church - even if nowhere else! She is not to teach. "didasko" is used 97 times in 91 verses. Should be pretty conclusive as to what it means. She's not to exercise authority over men, and for the second time, she's to be quiet in church. Vs 18 gives the reason. The woman was deceived by Satan. A contrast with Adam is implied. She was deceived, not realizing that she'd been duped. Adam knew, and chose to sin anyway. The responsibility for sin entering the world falls squarely on Adam, as the head, not on the woman as his helpmate. She sinned when she usurped Adam's role as head, and decided on her own to eat that fruit at the urging of, and believing the lies, of Satan. Adam knew. His is the fault. They both violated the roles that God intended for them at the creation. MSB notes mention more than once that we are talking here about inside the church. Women's role and deportment in the assembly, and so on.
2024 - The word used for "men" in vs 8 is the Greek "andras", which is the accusative plural masculine of "aner". This word is NEVER "anthropos" which is so often translated "mankind" and so includes all humanity regardless of gender. This word ALWAYS means male. The word is used 215 times in the KJV, and is most often translated simply "man", (156 of the 215 times). It is also translated husband, sir, and fellow. 2x it is untranslated.
2024 - So in vs 8 we have Paul's expectations for how men are to conduct themselves in the church emphasized to Timothy. In vs 9 we have the expectations for how women are to behave in church. These two verses are not set up as contrasts of each other so much as expectations of each.
2024 - Vs 11 though goes beyond the basic expectations and specifically addresses matters that Paul knows have been issues in some churches, and he want to make certain that Timothy understands what is NOT ok for women in church.
2024 - Vs 13 tells us that this is a UNIVERSAL principle, based on creation order, and is NOT about the local culture, the world culture, the pagan culture or anything else. I can see a pretty decent argument that this is not even confined to the conduct of women in the church. If it is based on creation order, then it is about the authority/submission principle between men and women in ALL public circumstances. We might restate it as "Women are never to assume authority over men." Quiet persuasion in private is, I think, the proper redress of women.