SCRIPTURE: 1 TIMOTHY 2
Memory Verse:
“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.” (1 Timothy 2:9-11)
INSTRUCTIONS ON WORSHIP (vs. 1-13)
- Request, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for every one – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (vs. 1-2)
- Lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. (v. 8)
- Women must dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes but with good deeds. appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (vs. 9-10)
- A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. She should not teach or have authority over a man. She must be silent. (vs. 11-12)’
Paul was appointed a herald, an apostle and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. He preached this gospel: God our Savior wants all men to be saved and to come to a 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 men – the testimony given in its proper form.
THOUGHTS:
Paul urged us to pray for each other and for our leaders in government so that the doors of ministry will be kept open and souls will be won to Christ. Failure to pray for people in authorities may result in wars and closure of mission fields.
Human beings are separated from God by sin. The only one person in the universe who can become our mediator between us and God is Jesus, who is both God and man. Jesus’ sacrifice brought new life to all people. Have you let Jesus bring you to the Father?
Some Christian women were trying to gain respect by looking beautiful rather than by becoming Christlike in character. Some thought that they could win unbelieving husbands to Christ through their appearance. But beauty begins inside a person which cannot be duplicated by the best cosmetics and jewelry.
During Paul’s time, women were not allowed to study so they were uneducated. That is why Paul did not want women to teach because they did not have enough biblical knowledge to discern the truth. Paul was telling Timothy not to put women into a position of leadership who was not yet mature in the faith.