1 Timothy 2A
Theme: Guard the faith
2. By leading a quiet life (2)
*Chapter one ended with a call for Timothy to keep faith and a good
conscience (1:18-19). As a fruit of salvation, sound words of Christ
call for godly conduct (6:3; cf. 1:5, 10, 11; 2:2, 10; 3:15-16; 4:1,
7-16). Our conscience bears witness to this, either accusing, or
defending our actions (cf. Romans 2:15). One who rejects the witness
of Bible doctrine or conscience, can damage their internal witness to
error, and suffer "shipwreck" with regard to their faith (1 Tim.
1:19-20; cf. 4:1ff.). Chapter one dealt with guarding faith from
false doctrine. Chapter two shows men and women how to guard their
faith from a bad conscience, by leading a "quiet life in all godliness
and dignity" (2:2). For men, this involves praying (1-8), and for
women, adorning themselves modestly, and learning "with entire
submissiveness" (9-15 NAS) *
A. Men should pray (1-8).
"I exhort therefore..." This links the current chapter with chapter
one, showing how men and women should keep faith and a good
conscience. Of first importance, is prayer. Men should make
"entreaties, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings", "on behalf of all
men".
Making "entreaties" means asking God for what you need, and shows your
dependence on His supply. "Prayers" refers to communication
directed towards God. "Petitions" means "a falling in", or "meeting
with". This may refer to our free and bold access to the holy of
holies, before the throne of God's grace (see Heb. 4:16). This access
is provided by Christ, who serves as our High Priest, and whose blood
makes us able to stand righteous before a holy God. "Thanksgivings"
means simply to give thanks, and reflects a grateful attitude to God.
Men should pray.
The object of prayer, here, is "on behalf of all men", "kings", and
"all who are in supremacy". One reason for such requests is "that we
may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity".
"Tranquil" and "quiet", mean nearly the same thing. In Acts 22:2, a
form of one of these words is used to denote people who rioted against
Paul, but then ceased their violence, and began listening to what he
said. Being "quiet" is also described as a submissive attitude, the
opposite of trying to achieve authority over someone (1 Tim. 2:11-12).
In 2 Thess. 3:12, a quiet life refers to those who mind their own
business and work for their food, as contrasted to those who live off,
and cause trouble for others.
Christ lived a godly life, and frequently suffered persecution at the
hands of unsaved men and those in positions of authority. In 2
Timothy 3:12, it says, "And indeed, all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted". 2 Thess. 3:1-2 says, "Finally,
brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and
be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we may be
delivered from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith." One
reason to pray for all men, then, is so they will allow believers to
live tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
Another reason to pray for all men is because God "desires all men to
be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (cf. 2 Pet. 3:9).
This does not, however, mean God has decreed that all men must be
saved, or that all men will trust Christ as Savior. It seems to
refer to God's wish rather than sovereign choice.
The righteous grounds for us to ask God to save all men, is the fact
that Christ has offered Himself as a "ransom for all". Since His
death satisfied all God's righteous demands against the sins of "all
men" (1 John 2:2; cf. Heb. 2:9; 1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Peter 2:1), there is
a just basis for God to save any man, though only believers will be
saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:12-13).
God further showed His wish that all men might become saved, by
sending Paul to the Gentiles with the gospel (1 Tim. 2:7). Only those
who trust Christ as Savior, will be saved, and faith comes by
hearing the proclaimed Word of God (Rom. 10:17). God, however, only
imparts saving faith to those whom He sovereignly chose (Rom. 8:33;
9:11; 11:5, 7, 22, 28; 2 Timothy 2:10). That God can desire and
provide for all men to be saved, but sovereignly choose and save only
some, is among truths which are said to exceed our comprehension
(Romans 11:33-36).
For all the above reasons and persons, God wants "men in every place
to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension." Prayer
is a means God uses to promote a quiet, godly life for believers, and
thus guard their conscience and faith.
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Christ died for our sins, and God raised Him from the dead.
Rely on this finished work alone for salvation (1 Cor. 15:1-3;
Eph. 2:8-10). www.pulpitfire.org
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Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to
be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men: Philippians 2:6-7
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