Lessons

Timothy Study – Part 5. The lesson on February 11, 2007 continues in the Timothy study in chapter 2. This chapter primarily covers two topics: Prayer and Women in the church. There has been some controversy in the fact that Paul said in verse 1, “I Exhort”. Some have said that this isn’t the Word of God but instead Paul’s opinion. We believe that it is God’s Word and that not only will this chapter cover prayer and women in the church but, it’s really a question of God’s will vs. my will . Meaning, will you listen to what God says or will you follow your own will? Paul addresses this in the first verse where he tells us to pray for others, which is God’s will. We normally would want to pray for ourselves but it’s others that we should be praying for. Supplications involves praying for others spiritual supplies or needs. Intercessions involves praying for others problems. Prayer is a petition mainly to the one that can give it (God). One thing that also comes with a pastoral letter, is the concept of meddling. Do you pray for others that are supposed to be godly friends but are demonstrating ungodly behavior? The scripture says that we are to pray “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” There is nothing that disrupts peaceable godliness than someone that’s being antagonistic. Romans 12:17-21 says to live peaceably with all men… and “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” From God’s perspective it is a good thing to pray for those that are your enemy! God’s desire is that all men be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. As it says in 1 John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world”. The most important aspect of prayer is not that you will change God’s mind about something, but rather you will receive the peace of God from praying as it says in Philippians 4:7” And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The second subject covered in this chapter is women in the church which starts in verse 9. This was a problem in Ephesus which had a bunch of situations where women were adorned with ungodly clothing and behavior. Titus 2:3-5 explains the behavior of godly women in the church. The head of the women is the man. The head of the man is Christ. The head of Christ is God. God has established headship in the church as it says in 1 Corinthians 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.” This is the line of authority that we are to follow. This is hard for some women to follow. Nevertheless, the end of the matter is that “… she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Tim 2:15). Why? The woman has to learn the Word of God in order to train the children in the fear and admonition of the Lord