1 Timothy 2

A Gospel-Shaped Prayer Life

The Target of Prayer (1-4)

Paul began to lay out the gospel lifestyle by calling followers to prayer, the kind of prayer that would concentrate on God's desire for all to be saved. Paul called for all kinds of prayer (1) to be prayed for all kinds of people (2), so our example could be godly, dignified, and peaceful, leading people to the truth (3-4).

The Motive of Prayer (5-7)

Paul then told Timothy why we pray—because there is one Mediator between God and man, and He gave Himself as the means by which the whole world was liberated (5-6). This was the truth Paul was devoted to and the faith into which he sought to bring the Gentile world (7).

The Call to Prayer (8-16)

Because Paul was focused on the salvation of the world, he wanted everyone to pray, so he addressed two problems at the church in Ephesus. First, he called on men to replace their rage, which was leading to a great deal of arguing, with prayer for their world (8). Second, Paul called for women to concentrate more on their conduct than their clothing (9). The men were angry and arguing; the women were dolling themselves up, seeking prominence and power over men. Paul was calling for the ladies to put less emphasis on attracting attention and power with their looks and to quiet down the sensual attire (10), and instead, let the Christ-like equality of the Body of Christ be at work within them (11-12). Men were to take the initiative in the protective sense within the fellowship, as was the order of creation (13). Men were also to allow women to take up their roles in leadership and non-leadership functions, as the salvation and continuing of their gender was made possible through women giving birth to them (14-16).

1 Timothy 3

The Importance of Character

Not only was faith-behavior to be evident in all who followed Christ, but also those who led His house were to have a proven and observable kind of faith-behavior. This faith-behavior was essential because of the way character is formed in followers. No longer is character shaped by keeping the Law but by following Jesus, which is one of the key themes of Paul’s letter, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Above all else, an elder is enlisted into a group of Jesus-followers who, by nature, set the example for the church of a lifestyle committed to following Jesus.

Lifestyle of Elders (1-7)

Overseer, elder, and pastor are essentially three titles for the same person. In Acts 20:28, Luke used three words to describe the same person. The first qualification for an elder was to be above reproach (1a). To be above reproach has the connotation of being beyond the grasp of sustained criticism when it comes to specific issues Paul defined in these next few verses, known as qualifications. Paul was not assuming perfection in leadership; he was assuming that in times when an elder was not behaving his best, he would respond to his failures in ways that would silence the criticism of his leadership team (who were doing the evaluating). Paul was a leader who endured heavy criticism within and without the church, but his leadership team could verify his true character.

A leader was to be:

• married to no more than one wife 

• calm tempered

• restrained and disciplined

• regarded as honorable

• welcoming to others

• one who could teach (2)

• not prone to drunkenness

• peaceful in word and action

• not one to enter arguments

• generous and not seeking wealth (4)

• a leader of his household 

• a diligent father (5)

• well practiced in following Jesus (6)

• respected by others (7)

Obviously, this list is not a precise litmus test; Paul was letting Timothy know that an elder must conduct his life, not perfectly, but in such a way that his following of Christ dominated his behavior (1b-7).

Lifestyle of Deacons (8-13)

The word “deacon” means “servant,” and Paul directed Timothy to set men and women into this office or function as well. When Paul used the word “likewise” (8), he was clearly meaning deacons were to have oversight or a leadership role in the church similar to the elders, for they too were examples of how to follow Jesus. The qualifications for deacons are different—the most glaring being that they were not required to teach. Instead of being able to teach, deacons were to “hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience” (9). The “mystery of faith” was a term Paul used to describe the entire plan of the gospel to save the world (spirit, soul, and body) through Jesus Christ. The plan was kept secret for centuries within the covenants promised to Israel but was finally revealed and realized in the Person of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:4-13; Colossians 1:26-27). Paul listed some basic qualities to be looked at in a deacon’s life, closing him/her off to accumulating criticism (10). Deacons were to be devoted to the gospel of Jesus, serving it as their conscience directed them. 

The wives were also to be above reproach, not gossips but steadfast and faithful (11). The word “wives” (11) was used for wives or for women. It is likely better in this case for ESV and others to have translated the word “women.” No doubt, some in the fellowship who shared leadership with elders were women and were to be held to the same “above reproach” test. For example, Junia, Phoebe, and Prisca were all women honored as leaders, with Paul calling Junia an apostle (of the church, not of Jesus Christ), Phoebe a deacon, and Prisca a pastor. Paul was listing a few of the qualifications for these roles.

When describing male deacons, Paul goes on to say, the deacons’ families and households were to be well led by the deacon who was married to only one wife. All deacons were to be those who would gain the respect of their communities and who would maintain constant assurance in the truth of Jesus (12-13).

Lifestyle of the Church (14-16)

Paul clearly stated here the purpose of this letter as defining the lifestyle of those part of God’s household—meaning those in whom God lives on the earth and who defend the truth of the gospel (14-15). Paul then, in hymn form, removed the mystery or the secrecy of who changed and redeemed the lives of followers—Jesus, who was the: 

• Incarnation

• Resurrection

• Ascension

• Grace extended, Gentiles included

• Salvation

• Fulfillment of salvation’s promise to those who believe (16)