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"I desire that, in every place, the men should pray." We need to separate what Paul is saying in these verses and what he is not saying. First, he is establishing the priority of prayer. We only have to look in our own lives to see how prayer has lost the importance that it should have. Even in our churches, prayer has been delegated to the minister. Many churches has discontinued Prayer meetings and even those who continue to have them, have a small attendance.
Some one has said, "Much prayer, much power." Most people who really know how to pray, first, get their hearts right with God. Secondly, they pray because they truly want to and not just because they think that they should. And finally, they pray because they have something to say, someone who needs prayer, something that is worthy of God's attention.
Here, Paul suggests variety in prayer. First, ask for things that we sincerely think that we need. Secondly, worship in prayer, showing reverence for the one to whom we pray. Thirdly, pray for others. Have a prayer list of those who are in need of our prayers. Finally, we need to consider what God has done in our lives and thank Him for it.
Paul says, "I urge that you should pray for ALL MEN." Remember the term "all men" means men, women and children. No one is outside the need of prayer. Also he urges that we pray for the lost, that they might come to know Christ, pray for the saved, that they might have Grace sufficient for their needs, Pray for friends and pray for those who might consider themselves your enemy.
Paul especially mentions those in authority. In his day, there was much opposition to Christianity from the authorities. So Paul believed that we should pray that they might become more tolerant, if not converted.
Then he gives three reasons why we should pray. One, it keeps the lines of communication open with the Lord. Two, it is pleasing to the Lord and three, it accomplishes more that we think here on earth.
Now what is Paul saying in verse 8? "I desire then, that in every place, the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling." First of all, I do not believe that Paul is saying that ONLY men should pray in church. Secondly, I do not believe that Paul is talking about the position of our hands when we pray. What then is Paul talking about? I believe that he is speaking of the need of prayer in ALL of our services, where ever they take place and that it should be done in peace and without animosity between the brethren. The Jews customarily prayed with their arms extended toward heaven. Our tradition is with the head bowed and the eyes closed.
Actually, there are 7 positions mentioned for prayer in the Bible. Standing with outstretched hands (Ist. Kings), kneeling (Dan), standing (Luke), sitting (2nd. Sam.), bowing the head (Gen.) and lifting the eyes heavenward (John).
Paul lists 3 essentials for effective prayer.
These verses contain Paul's instructions to Timothy concerning women. He deals here with 4 areas in a woman's life. Her dress, her godly works, her learning and her respect for authority.
First, her dress. The King James Version says that women's dress should be modest, shamefacedness and sobriety. The American Standard says that it should be proper, modest and discrete. Williams says it should be modest, sensible and becoming. Beck says that it should be decent, modest and proper. The Living Bible says quiet and sensible. The Revised Standard Version says it should be modest and sensible. So we have modest, proper, discrete, sensible, becoming, decent and quiet. I doubt that many of us would agree on what is modest or even less on what is sensible in women's wear. Matthew Henry in his commentary written 175 years ago, says, women's apparel reflects their character. Modest apparel reflects a modest woman and gaudy apparel reflects a gaudy woman.
The modern commentator, Wiersbi, says, Paul is contrasting artificial beauty of the world with the true beauty of a godly life. He believes that Paul is not forbidding the use of lovely cloths and jewelry but rather the excessive use of them as substitutes for the true beauty of a meek and quiet spirit. He contends that a woman who relies upon externals will soon run out of ammunition.
Ephesus, where Timothy was, was a very wealthy town. Women normally dressed with costly hair dos, expensive jewelry and revealing cloths. These were deemed necessary to get to the top, socially. Paul expresses the need to look upon the "inner" woman, and see the true beauty that only Christ can give. Billy Graham says that a little paint never hurt any old barn.
Speaking also of women's apparel, Paul says that it should never be mistaken for man's apparel. Paul makes it very clear that there is no distinction between male and female, in Christ, but a man should never be mistaken for a female nor should a woman be mistaken for a man. Each must maintain the differences in dress, appearance and hair. Whatever constitutes that difference in each generation, must be maintained.
Speaking of godly works, Paul says that women should concentrate upon doing good works instead of their appearance. The change for women in Christ was far greater than it was for men, socially. For the first time in history, women had equality with men. Women played an important part in the life of Christ. Mary, His mother, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha and Elizabeth, John the Baptist's mother. Then later, in the work of the Gospel, there was Lidia, a rich woman of Thyatira, a seller of purple, Dorcus or Tabitha, who lived at Joppa who was full of good works and acts of charity, then Priscilla, wife of Aquila, who lived at Corinth and with whom Paul stayed when he was there. Then there were the "godly women" of Berea and Thessalonica. Paul greets at least 8 women in the book of Romans, including Phoebe, who carried the letter to it's destination and later became a "Deaconess" in the local church. So avenues of expression and service was provided for women that they never had before.
Now having said all of that, how do we equate this new found equality and position with verse 11? "Let a woman learn in silence and with all submissiveness." "I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over men." "She is to keep silent." The key word seems to "silence". The Greek word, "he-such-ia", which is translated here as silence, means, "in tranquility and not in a disturbing way". The Greek word "hu-pot-age", and which is translated subjection, means, "to seek to learn by asking questions in a way that will not disturb the peace that exists between her and her husband."
Matthew Henry in his commentary says that women must be learners and should not be allowed to be public teachers in the church. Wiersby goes deeper into the use of the word and the problem that Paul was addressing. He believes that "silence" is an unfortunate translation of the Greek. The same word is translated "peaceable" on verse 2. That might explain why earlier in this letter, Paul addressed a problem of women who created a disturbance by interrupting the service. It would appear that women were disrupting the whole church by enjoying and exercising their new found freedom. The church at Corinth had a similar problem. Wiersby believes that Paul was admonishing these women and was telling them to be quiet and listen, but he was not telling them that could never speak in church. Remember the theme of the second part of this letter is, "Let all things be done decently and in order."
The last instruction that Paul gives to women is to "respect authority". Matthew Henry says that women must never usurp authority over the man, but he goes on to say that mothers should exercise authority and teach their sons, but it must be done in private. Wiersby believes that there is an "order to things" and that this order was established at creation and because of this, women should not try to take the place of a man. There are four key words in verse 12, teach, have authority, man and silence. Perhaps the verse might better be translated, "I do not permit the wife to contradict or condemn continuously her husband but rather live in tranquility and not in a disturbing way."
Several arguments for this are used. One, in creation, Adam was formed first. Remember, Paul says priority does not mean superiority. Man and woman were both created in God's image. The issue is authority not superiority. The second argument has to do with man's fall into sin. Satan deceived the woman and the woman deceived the man, but the sin was the rejection or the disobedience of a God given order. The "order of things" as God created them, making women subject to the man does not belittle the woman, it simply establishes the order of things.
So if we do not get anything else out of these verses, let us at least agree on this, "Let all things be done decently and in order."
Next, in Paul's instructions to the church are his instructions to the church leaders.
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