In this chapter Paul treats, I. Of prayer, with
many reasons for it,
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Here is, I. A charge given to Christians to
pray for all men in general, and particularly for all in authority.
Timothy must take care that this be done. Paul does not send him
any prescribed form of prayer, as we have reason to think he would
if he had intended that ministers should be tied to that way of
praying; but, in general, that they should make supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks: supplications for
the averting of evil, prayers for the obtaining of good,
intercessions for others, and thanksgivings for mercies already
received. Paul thought it enough to give them general heads; they,
having the scripture to direct them in prayer and the Spirit of
prayer poured out upon them, needed not any further directions.
Observe, The design of the Christian religion is to promote prayer;
and the disciples of Christ must be praying people. Pray always
with all prayer,
II. As a reason why we should in our
prayers concern ourselves for all men, he shows God's love to
mankind in general,
1. One reason why all men are to be prayed
for is because there is one God, and that God bears a good will to
all mankind. There is one God (
2. There is one Mediator, and that mediator
gave himself a ransom for all. As the mercy of God extends itself
to all his works, so the mediation of Christ extends itself thus
far to all the children of men that he paid a price sufficient for
the salvation of all mankind; he brought mankind to stand upon new
terms with God, so that they are not now under the law as a
covenant of works, but as a rule of life. They are under grace; not
under the covenant of innocence, but under a new covenant: He
gave himself a ransom. Observe, The death of Christ was a
ransom, a counter-price. We deserved to have died. Christ died for
us, to save us from death and hell; he gave himself a ransom
voluntarily, a ransom for all; so that all mankind are put in a
better condition than that of devils. He died to work out a common
salvation: in order hereunto, he put himself into the office of
Mediator between God and man. A mediator supposes a controversy.
Sin had made a quarrel between us and God; Jesus Christ is a
Mediator who undertakes to make peace, to bring God and man
together, in the nature of an umpire or arbitrator, a days-man who
lays his hand upon u both,
III. A direction how to pray,
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
I. Here is a charge, that women who profess
the Christian religion should be modest, sober, silent, and
submissive, as becomes their place. 1. They must be very modest in
their apparel, not affecting gaudiness, gaiety, or costliness (you
may read the vanity of a person's mind in the gaiety and gaudiness
of his habit), because they have better ornaments with which they
should adorn themselves, with good works. Note, Good works
are the best ornament; these are, in the sight of God, of great
price. Those that profess godliness should, in their dress, as well
as other things, act as becomes their profession; instead of laying
out their money on fine clothes, they must lay it out in works of
piety and charity, which are properly called good works. 2. Women
must learn the principles of their religion, learn Christ, learn
the scriptures; they must not think that their sex excuses them
from that learning which is necessary to salvation. 3. They must be
silent, submissive, and subject, and not usurp authority. The
reason given is because Adam was first formed, then Eve out
of him, to denote her subordination to him and dependence upon him;
and that she was made for him, to be a help-meet for him. And as
she was last in the creation, which is one reason for her
subjection, so she was first in the transgression, and that is
another reason. Adam was not deceived, that is, not first;
the serpent did not immediately set upon him, but the woman was
first in the transgression (
II. Here observe, 1. The extensiveness of
the rules of Christianity; they reach not only to men, but to
women, not only to their persons, but also to their dress, which
must be modest, like their sex; and to their outward deportment and
behaviour, it must be in silence, with all subjection. 2. Women are
to profess godliness as well as men; for they are baptized, and
thereby stand engaged to exercise themselves to godliness; and, to
their honour be it spoken, many of them were eminent professors of
Christianity in the days of the apostles, as the book of Acts will
inform us. 3. Women being more in danger of exceeding in their
apparel, it was more necessary to caution them in this respect. 4.
The best ornaments for professors of godliness are good works. 5.
According to Paul, women must be learners, and are not allowed to
be public teachers in the church; for teaching is an office of
authority, and the woman must not usurp authority over the man, but
is to be in silence. But, notwithstanding this prohibition, good
women may and ought to teach their children at home the principles
of religion. Timothy from a child had known the holy scriptures;
and who should teach him but his mother and grandmother?