1 Timothy 2:8-15 What God Delights to See
1 Tim 2:8-15
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling; 9likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
When the people of God gather, Paul encourages the believers to pray.
• Not just for themselves and their needs, but more importantly, for all people and their salvation in Christ.
• That’s the heart of God, and that’s what we cover in the preceding passage.
Continuing from there, Paul gave instructions on the conduct of men and women when they gather in church. He shared THREE concerns here for Timothy:
• (1) men and their attitudes in prayer, (2) women and their dressings, and (3) the roles of men and women in church.
• It’s easy to just tell you these 3 pointers, but to understand what Paul means will be more difficult.
It is difficult because we are unclear whether Paul’s instructions are universal — meant for all churches for all times — or specific to the situation in Ephesus, making them more local and cultural.
• Or a bit of both, some addressing the needs in Ephesus and others for all times.
• Christians differ in their views on this, and the debate is still ongoing among scholars today. We should not expect to get a simple answer from one sermon.
But we can draw out some important and timeless principles and consider how we can obey God’s will and apply them today.
(1) MEN PRAYING WITH PURE HEARTS (2:8)
2:8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling.
Both men and women are called to pray; we know that from the preceding text. The call to pray for everyone is for all believers.
• Men are mentioned because they are the ones leading in worship and prayer in those days.
Paul says, “…pray lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling”.
• The emphasis is not on the posture of hands but the posture of the heart – not harbouring resentment or bitterness against one another.
• That’s the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Matt 5:23-24 “23So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
This reminds us of the words from the Psalms:
• Psalm 24:3-4 “3Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.”
• Psalm 66:18 “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
• The condition of our hearts is more important than our pious appearance.
Luke 18:9-14 - Jesus shared this interesting story of a Pharisee coming before God, looking pious and saying…
• 18:11“God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.”
• 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
• Jesus: “14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other.”
God looks at the heart. The Pharisee looks righteous by man’s standards, but he was filled with pride.
• The tax collector, whom everyone despises, came with humility and repentance.
We come before God with “clean hands and a pure heart.” (Ps 24:4)
• He sees our hearts. There is no camouflaging.
Paul is not stressing “lifting hands” but “without anger or quarrelling” when we pray.
• The Bible shows different postures when people pray – Abraham stood, David sat, Daniel knelt, and Jesus looked up to heaven.
(2) WOMEN DRESSED TO HONOUR GOD (2:9-10)
9likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
Naturally, this applies to men too. We are to dress well when we come together in worship. Paul finds a need to address the women because of the situation in Ephesus.
Paul gave three comments on HOW women should adorn themselves:
1. Dress with modesty and self-control. Some translations use words like with decency, propriety, and discreetly.
• Ephesus was renowned for its worship of the goddess Artemis (Romans called goddess Diana). We read that in Acts 19 when Paul first arrived at Ephesus.
• There were temple priestesses dressed to impress and temple prostitutes dressed to seduce.
• Paul urged the women not to be influenced by these, but rather, dress modestly and respectfully when they come before God.
2. Not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire. NIV: Not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes.
• This was something common in the cultural context of the Greco-Roman world.
• Braided hairstyles mean elaborate designs (see picture), which are very time-consuming.
• Usually, expensive ornaments are added to the hair, like gold, pearls, or jewels. It is a display of status, vanity or wealth. It’s to show off.
3. 2:10 But with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
• Don’t go for the extravagant, showy hairstyles that draw attention to yourself, to outward beauty or status.
• Instead, go for inner beauty. Cultivate godliness that is expressed in good works.
• Pay attention to your character, which is more valuable than good looks. Be modest but not vain, dress elegantly and not excessively.
• We come to honour God and not draw attention to ourselves.
We see Paul telling Timothy later in 4:7b-8 “Rather train yourself for godliness; 8for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
This is a good reminder for us today. In a culture obsessed with the outward – how we look – Paul says pay more attention to the inner quality of a godly and Christlike life.
• Godliness – that’s the important quality God is looking for.
• We don’t have to be too concerned about how people see us; be more concerned about how God sees us.
• We honour Christ in the way we live, both in and out of the church.
Let me end this point with the words of Peter. He said it beautifully in 1 Peter 3:3-4.
• “3Do not let your adorning be external — the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear — 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.”
(3) MEN AND WOMEN PLAYING OUR ROLES (2:11-15)
We have come to the most difficult part of Paul’s instructions. He now addresses a concern about teaching and authority in the church.
2:11Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
This is one of the most debated texts in the NT.
• How we read it will depend on how we understand Paul’s words in their context—both the immediate situation in Ephesus and the broader teaching of Scripture.
Let me share the two differing views, and then extract some principles that we can learn.
THE FIRST VIEW is to see this as addressing a local and cultural issue in Ephesus.
• OUTSIDE INFLUENCE - The city was known for the worship of the goddess Artemis, and its temple of Artemis had female priests and leaders.
• Women can be influenced by their conduct, and they behave the same way in church, talking like them and causing disruptions.
• FALSE TEACHERS - Women are less formally educated than men in that culture, and they are vulnerable to being misled by false teachings.
• It is better to have quiet learners than “uneducated” women speaking and causing confusion.
• Paul gave his reason by referring to the creation. Adam came first, then Eve, but Eve took the initiative and was deceived first.
Those taking this view believe that Paul was giving instructions on a specific situation in Ephesus, and not a universal ban on women from teaching or leadership.
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THE SECOND VIEW sees Paul’s instruction as more universal, and that women should not take up teaching roles that rule over men.
• It stems from Paul’s reference to creation – man was made first, and he takes the lead. The woman submits to his leadership.
• In the fall, Eve took the lead and Adam abdicated his responsibility. He failed to provide oversight.
This relationship of headship-submission is clear in MARRIAGE. God has designed men and women to have distinct roles.
• Paul has already spoken about it to this church in Ephesians some 2-3 years ago.
• Eph 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church…”
• Eph 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”
• And because he loves her, 5:22 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
This headship or leadership of the man in marriage and life is not one of power or dominance, but love and sacrifice.
Those taking this SECOND VIEW believe that this authority-submission relationship applies also to the church.
• While women can teach in many aspects, they should not take on leadership roles that are seen to be “exercising authority over men”.
Having said that, we need to understand that Paul recognises the contributions of women in ministry. I highlighted two passages here.
• Romans 16 – Paul greeted several of his co-workers who are prominent in the early church, women who worked hard and held certain responsibilities in ministry. Among them are deacons and teachers.
• 1 Corinthians 11 – When teaching on propriety in worship, Paul provides instructions for women praying and prophesying in the church. So we have women ministering.
• While recognising that men and women are distinct and there is authority-submission in their roles, this can be expressed in ministry in more ways and fewer restrictions.
• Those who are called and gifted to teach do so with the authority of Scripture, and not their own.
LESSONS FOR TODAY:
1. SEEK GOD with “clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4).
• Watch the posture of our heart.
2. Cultivate the INNER BEAUTY of a godly and Christlike life, not the outward appearance of piety.
• Seek to be godly. Seek to be like Christ.
3. Men and women, let us PLAY OUR ROLES WELL – at home and in church - and serve God faithfully with all that He has given us.
May this Body of Christ display the beauty of Christ each time we gather.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, teach us all—men and women alike—to walk in humility, honouring the roles You have given, not seeking our own way but submitting to Yours, not seeking self-glory but ascribing all praise and glory to You.
Let our conduct and life reflect the beauty of Christ and the message of the Gospel.
In Christ’s Name, we pray, AMEN.
