Paul Details to Timothy the Qualifications of Leaders in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ Part 1
1 Timothy 3:1-2 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work. A Bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; KJV
Now we find the Apostle Paul completely shifts the focus of his letter to Timothy giving him instruction on what is required by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for leaders to be appointed in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, so he writes first these words, "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a Bishop, he desireth a good work." (1 Timothy 3:1) (KJV). During the time the Apostle Paul is writing this letter to Timothy, the true and faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ are undergoing intense suffering of persecutions for the sake of declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, Paul wants Timothy and all others who desire to serve our Lord Jesus Christ in any capacity to be clear of the danger that lay ahead just as he reported his trials, turmoil, and trouble to the Church @ Corinth with these words, "For we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about the affliction {and} oppressing distress which befell us in [the province of] Asia, how we were so utterly and unbearably weighed down {and} crushed that we despaired even of life [itself]. Indeed, we felt within ourselves that we had received the [very] sentence of death, but that was to keep us from trusting in {and} depending on ourselves instead of on God Who raises the dead. [For it is He] Who rescued {and} saved us from such a perilous death, and He will still rescue {and} save us; in {and} on Him we have set our hope (our joyful and confident expectation) that He will again deliver us [from danger and destruction and draw us to Himself], While you also cooperate by your prayers for us [helping and laboring together with us]. Thus [the lips of] many persons [turned toward God will eventually] give thanks on our behalf for the grace (the blessing of deliverance) granted us at the request of the many who have prayed." (2 Corinthians 1:8-11) (Amplified Bible).
The English word 'desire' is translated by the Greek word oregomai which means to stretch oneself, that is, reach out after (long for): - covet after, desire. The English phrase 'the office of a bishop' is translated by one Greek word episkopē which means inspection (for relief); by implication superintendence; specifically the Christian “episcopate”. In other words, Paul knew that there would be those who desired for such an office in the Church, but he wanted all to know the consequences of such a desire, if the person be sincere in wanting to proclaim the Gospel of Christ serving as a Bishop in His (Christ) Church. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concering the call to Gospel ministry, "Implying that there would be those who would wish to be put into the ministry. The Lord, undoubtedly, by his Spirit, often excites an earnest and irrepressible desire to preach the Gospel - a desire so strong, that he in whom it exists can be satisfied in no other calling. In such a case, it should be regarded as one evidence of a call to this work." The office of Bishop was to be as one watching over others and directing them in the ways of God the Father by virtue of what God the Father has detailed in His Word the Bible just as the Apostle Peter wrote to those who held such an office with these words, "Warn {and} counsel the elders among you (the pastors and spiritual guides of the Church) as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory (the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (disclosed, unfolded): Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion {or} constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages {and} profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly {and} cheerfully; Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory." (1 Peter 5:1-4) (Amplified Bible).
However strong the desire in a man seeking the 'the office of a bishop' we see that our Lord Jesus Christ has some prerequisites, that is, something that is required in advance of the man entering into such an office in the Church as Paul begins to detail, declare, and define those requirements with these words, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" (1 Timothy 3:2) (KJV). First, the Apostle declares that a Bishop must be 'blameless' and this English word is translated by the Greek word anepilēptos meaning (by implication) inculpable: - that is, free of guilt; not subject to blame, unrebukeable. In other words, although no Christian can ever be sinless, the Bishop of any Church should be a man that is not known to cheat others in business or meddle in peoples personal affairs or snoop around the business or home of others being nosy or a busybody as the Apostle Peter declared with these words, "But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others [infringing on their rights]." (1 Peter 4:15) (Amplified Bible), instead he should be one who lives peacably with all men as much as lies within him as the Apostle declared with these words, "Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest {and} proper {and} noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good." (Romans 12:17-21) (Amplified Bible).
When Paul says here, 'the husband of one wife', some people have proclaimed that Paul means the man must not ever have been married before and divorced or suffered the death of his first wife, then this would disqualify him from holding such an office as Bishop, however, this would mean that our Lord Jesus Christ would punish a qualified man who has greived and suffered over the loss of his wife by death. Surely this is not the intent of the words written here by the Apostle Paul, but as Robertson's Word Pictures declares shortly, simply, and sweetly with these words must be Paul's meaning, "Of one wife (mias gunaikos) One at a time, clearly." The English word 'vigilant' is translated by the Greek word nēphaleos meaning sober, that is, (figuratively) circumspect: - that is, heedful or mindful of potential consequences. The English word 'sober' is translated by the Greek word sōphrōn which means safe (sound) in mind, that is, self controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion): - discreet, sober, temperate. In other words, a Bishop must be a man who is yeilded to God the Holy Spirit's control, thereby, exemplifying self-control in his life, having a sound mind and being carefully observant or attentive; on the lookout for possible danger as he serves our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. The little English phrase 'of good behaviour' is translated by one Greek word kosmios meaning orderly, that is, decorous: - of good behaviour, modest. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning a Bishop's behavior, "Must be of good behavior; orderly, decent, grave, and correct in the whole of his appearance, carriage, and conduct. The preceding term, refers to the mind; this latter, to the external manners. A clownish, rude, or boorish man should never have the rule of the Church of God; the sour, the sullen, and the boisterous should never be invested with a dignity which they would most infallibly disgrace."
The English phrase 'given to hospitality' is translated by the Greek word philoxenos which means fond of guests, that is, hospitable: - given to (lover of, use) hospitality. Paul simply means here that he should receive guest cordially as would become a man who is sober, self-controlled, and spiritual. The English phrase 'apt to teach' is translated by the Greek word didaktikos meaning instructive (“didactic”): - that is, excessively willing to teach others the Word of God as God the Holy Spirit teaches him making him a capable teacher. The Bishop should take every occassion in his official duties as Bishop of the Church to teach the Word of God to those he oversees and he should seize on every opportunity outside of his official office of Bishop to do the same thing where ever he may be in the world. Here is what Albert Barnes had to say concerning a Bishop's 'apt to teach', "As the principal business of a preacher of the Gospel is to 'teach,' or to communicate to his fellow-men the knowledge of the truth, the necessity of this qualification is obvious. No one should be allowed to enter the ministry who is not qualified to impart 'instruction' to others on the doctrines and duties of religion; and no one should feel that he ought to continue in the ministry, who has not industry, and self-denial, and the love of study enough to lead him constantly to endeavor to 'increase' in knowledge, that he may be qualified to teach others. A man who would 'teach' a people, must himself keep in advance of them on the subjects on which he would instruct them."
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
I am a Christian Writer of non-fiction primarily and a little fiction. My purpose for forming this site is to Edify Christians with my writing and reach the lost with the uncompromising Gospel of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 23
Paul tells Timothy what Men and Women should Do Part 5
1 Timothy 2:14-15 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. KJV
So, Paul in concluding his description, declaration, and definition of the role and order of authority of men and women in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, he gives perhaps the most obvious (but controversial) reason as to why this order is the Divine Will of God the Father with these words, "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:14) (KJV). It was the devils plot, plan, and ploy to secretly come to the woman Eve while Adam was away from her tending the Garden of Eden as it is written, "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard {and} keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil {and} blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:15-17) (Amplified Bible).
The English word 'deceived' is translated by the Greek word apataō and it means exactly what our English definition declares and that is, to cheat, or to delude: - deceive. Before we get all down and destructive with our words to Sister Eve, we must realize that this attack from the enemy the devil was not a one time occurance and then she caved in and ate from the forbidden tree. I submit to you and I firmly believe that the enemy came to her mind many times before with the same suggestive thoughts and ideas that were contrary to the command of God the Father. The devil painted a picture of this one tree (amongst many other fruitful trees good to eat from) to be more desirable to Eve than all the others, for he by his persistence made this one tree more attractive to her than all the others she was eating from everyday and being satisfied by everyday. The outward attraction produced an inward desire to explore whether this one trees fruit was actually more beneficial to her than all the others, so eventually she yeilded or gave in and ate from that tree because she had been deceived into thinking that all God the Father had provided for her was still not enough.
Therefore, because of this action it was Eve who was in the 'transgression' and this English word is translated by the Greek word parabasis meaning to go contrary to, that is, violate a command. So, we see it was Eve who was responsible for the spiritual death that happened and she was then guilty of persuading her husband Adam to eat which caused them both to immediately die spiritually, that is, be disconnected from God the Father by virtue of their sin/transgression. The devils seduction of her was a complete seducing of her mind making her believe that God the Father had lied to her and her husband, when all the while it was the devil (the father of lies) lying to her. At that time there was only one law of God that had to be obeyed, yet the woman disobeyed and when the man disobeyed likewise (being persuaded by his wife) the entire human race was plunged into sin forever, for if there had been no law then there could not have been any transgression as it is written, "For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either]." (Romans 4:15) (Amplified Bible) and in this case the Divine wrath was that God and man would be seperated from one another until the Mediator our Lord Jesus Christ came to reconcile man back to God.
Because of the woman's (Eve's) transgression, God the Father made 'childbearing' a painful process for the woman to undergo, yet He has shown mercy in providing every woman in every era and generation what is needed to complete the birth safely, securely, and successfully and Paul declares to Timothy these words from God the Holy Spirit to him, "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." (1 Timothy 2:15) (KJV). The English word 'childbearing' is translated by the Greek word (used this one time only in New Testament) teknogonia meaning to be a child bearer, that is, parent (mother): - bear children or give birth. The idea of women being saved by giving birth to children is not exactly what Paul means here, but instead the idea appears to be the fact that in the future God Himself (Jesus Christ) would humble Himself and become a human being born through a woman as it is written by Paul to the Galatian Church with these words, "But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law" (Galatians 4:4) (Amplified Bible).
Therefore, all women (Christian or non-Christian) have a unique and special relation to the Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ that men do not, for she (the woman) brought forth God (Jesus) into the human family. Note: Here is what Adam Clarke said concerning women and child bearing, "There are innumerable instances of women dying in child-bed who have lived in faith and charity and holiness, with sobriety; and equally numerous instances of worthless women, slaves to different kinds of vices, who have not only been saved in child-bearing, but have passed through their travail with comparatively little pain; hence that is not the sense in which we should understand the Apostle. Yet it must be a matter of great consolation and support, to all pious women labouring of child, to consider that, by the holy virgin’s child-bearing, salvation is provided for them and the whole human race; and that, whether they die or live, though their own child-bearing can contribute nothing to their salvation, yet He who was born of a woman has purchased them and the whole human race by His Blood."
"There is no need to say with interpreters, that he was not deceived first; and that he was not deceived immediately by the serpent, but by Eve; and that he is never said in Scripture to be deceived, as Melchizedek is never said to have a father or mother. The Apostle's positive assertion is to be taken without any such limitations or qualifications; Adam never was deceived at all; neither by the serpent, with whom he never conversed; nor by his wife, he knew what he did, when he took the fruit of her, and ate; he ate it not under any deception, or vain imagination, that they should not die, but should be as gods, knowing good and evil. He took and ate out of love to his wife, from a fond affection to her, to bear her company, and that she might not die alone; he knew what he did, and he knew what would be the consequence of it, the death of them both; and inasmuch as he sinned wilfully, and against light and knowledge, without any deception, his sin was the greater: and hereby death came in, and passed on all men, who sinned in him." Dr. John Gill
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 2:14-15 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety. KJV
So, Paul in concluding his description, declaration, and definition of the role and order of authority of men and women in the Church of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, he gives perhaps the most obvious (but controversial) reason as to why this order is the Divine Will of God the Father with these words, "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:14) (KJV). It was the devils plot, plan, and ploy to secretly come to the woman Eve while Adam was away from her tending the Garden of Eden as it is written, "And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard {and} keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil {and} blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." (Genesis 2:15-17) (Amplified Bible).
The English word 'deceived' is translated by the Greek word apataō and it means exactly what our English definition declares and that is, to cheat, or to delude: - deceive. Before we get all down and destructive with our words to Sister Eve, we must realize that this attack from the enemy the devil was not a one time occurance and then she caved in and ate from the forbidden tree. I submit to you and I firmly believe that the enemy came to her mind many times before with the same suggestive thoughts and ideas that were contrary to the command of God the Father. The devil painted a picture of this one tree (amongst many other fruitful trees good to eat from) to be more desirable to Eve than all the others, for he by his persistence made this one tree more attractive to her than all the others she was eating from everyday and being satisfied by everyday. The outward attraction produced an inward desire to explore whether this one trees fruit was actually more beneficial to her than all the others, so eventually she yeilded or gave in and ate from that tree because she had been deceived into thinking that all God the Father had provided for her was still not enough.
Therefore, because of this action it was Eve who was in the 'transgression' and this English word is translated by the Greek word parabasis meaning to go contrary to, that is, violate a command. So, we see it was Eve who was responsible for the spiritual death that happened and she was then guilty of persuading her husband Adam to eat which caused them both to immediately die spiritually, that is, be disconnected from God the Father by virtue of their sin/transgression. The devils seduction of her was a complete seducing of her mind making her believe that God the Father had lied to her and her husband, when all the while it was the devil (the father of lies) lying to her. At that time there was only one law of God that had to be obeyed, yet the woman disobeyed and when the man disobeyed likewise (being persuaded by his wife) the entire human race was plunged into sin forever, for if there had been no law then there could not have been any transgression as it is written, "For the Law results in [divine] wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression [of it either]." (Romans 4:15) (Amplified Bible) and in this case the Divine wrath was that God and man would be seperated from one another until the Mediator our Lord Jesus Christ came to reconcile man back to God.
Because of the woman's (Eve's) transgression, God the Father made 'childbearing' a painful process for the woman to undergo, yet He has shown mercy in providing every woman in every era and generation what is needed to complete the birth safely, securely, and successfully and Paul declares to Timothy these words from God the Holy Spirit to him, "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." (1 Timothy 2:15) (KJV). The English word 'childbearing' is translated by the Greek word (used this one time only in New Testament) teknogonia meaning to be a child bearer, that is, parent (mother): - bear children or give birth. The idea of women being saved by giving birth to children is not exactly what Paul means here, but instead the idea appears to be the fact that in the future God Himself (Jesus Christ) would humble Himself and become a human being born through a woman as it is written by Paul to the Galatian Church with these words, "But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law" (Galatians 4:4) (Amplified Bible).
Therefore, all women (Christian or non-Christian) have a unique and special relation to the Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ that men do not, for she (the woman) brought forth God (Jesus) into the human family. Note: Here is what Adam Clarke said concerning women and child bearing, "There are innumerable instances of women dying in child-bed who have lived in faith and charity and holiness, with sobriety; and equally numerous instances of worthless women, slaves to different kinds of vices, who have not only been saved in child-bearing, but have passed through their travail with comparatively little pain; hence that is not the sense in which we should understand the Apostle. Yet it must be a matter of great consolation and support, to all pious women labouring of child, to consider that, by the holy virgin’s child-bearing, salvation is provided for them and the whole human race; and that, whether they die or live, though their own child-bearing can contribute nothing to their salvation, yet He who was born of a woman has purchased them and the whole human race by His Blood."
"There is no need to say with interpreters, that he was not deceived first; and that he was not deceived immediately by the serpent, but by Eve; and that he is never said in Scripture to be deceived, as Melchizedek is never said to have a father or mother. The Apostle's positive assertion is to be taken without any such limitations or qualifications; Adam never was deceived at all; neither by the serpent, with whom he never conversed; nor by his wife, he knew what he did, when he took the fruit of her, and ate; he ate it not under any deception, or vain imagination, that they should not die, but should be as gods, knowing good and evil. He took and ate out of love to his wife, from a fond affection to her, to bear her company, and that she might not die alone; he knew what he did, and he knew what would be the consequence of it, the death of them both; and inasmuch as he sinned wilfully, and against light and knowledge, without any deception, his sin was the greater: and hereby death came in, and passed on all men, who sinned in him." Dr. John Gill
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 22
Paul tells Timothy what Men and Women should Do Part 4
1 Timothy 2:12-13 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. KJV
Paul continues on with his instruction to Brother Timothy on how he should teach the Churches of God about the role of women in the Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and in so doing he now instructs this as policy, procedure, and practice for the children of God, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." (1 Timothy 2:12) (KJV). In order that Paul makes his point to Timothy something that he will take as it being not from Paul the man or even Paul the authoritative Apostle of Christ, but Paul wanted Timothy and every other Christian man and woman reading this letter to take these words as being directly from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, so he begins by using some very strong or definitive language to get this point over such as the little English phrase 'I suffer' which is translated by the Greek word epitrepō which means to turn over (transfer), that is, allow: - give leave (liberty, license), let, permit, suffer. The use of the English word 'not'/ou is also strong seeing that it is an absolute negative. The English phrase 'to teach' is exactly as it means in our English language and that is a primary verb denoting the action of imparting skills or knowledge to others and in this letter that means specifically teaching of the Bible or the Word of God in public meetings or Church services.
So we see then that Paul the follower of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1), the Apostle of Christ (1 Timothy 1:1), and Paul the minister of Christ (Romans 15:16) wanted Timothy and we believers today and of every era to know that he was not giving his opinion here on such an improtant topic or issue in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, but he was giving to Timothy and to us today the 'will of God' for His Church. Note: Dr. John Gill says this concerning women teaching or women teachers of the Word of God, "They may teach in private, in their own houses and families; they are to be teachers of good things, Titus 2:3. They are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; nor is the law or doctrine of a mother to be forsaken, any more than the instruction of a father; see Proverbs 1:8. Timothy, no doubt, received much advantage, from the private teachings and instructions of his mother Eunice, and grandmother Lois; but then women are not to teach in the Church; for that is an act of power and authority, and supposes the persons that teach to be of a superior degree, and in a superior office, and to have superior abilities to those who are taught by them."
The English phrase 'to usurp authority over' is translated by one Greek word authenteō used this one time only in the entire New Testament meaning to act of oneself, that is, (figuratively) dominate: - usurp authority over. In other words, for a women to actively seek to be the leader or the authoritative person in the Church of Jesus Christ by taking over the role of teacher is to dismiss and to disregard and to declare that the Divine order of Almighty God has no or carries no weight inside His own Church, that is, the Divine order as we documented in the last study/commentary found clearly in 1 Corinthians 11:3. Note: "I cannot say that the many women we see today with some form of public teaching ministry were not placed where they are and how they are directly from our Lord Jesus Christ, but what I can say with the authority of Scripture, that is, the inerrant and infallible Word of God is that this is not the original Divine order, but just like in the Old Testament, God the Father does not and will not wait around for some man in the Body of Christ to get with His program and in these cases He will and He has and He still does take a willing obedient vessel of His that happens to be a woman and through her accomplishes His will for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to go out to the ends of the earth just as He said His Word would before the end would come, 'And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.' (Matthew 24:14) (Amplified Bible), so we see that Christ Jesus our Lord has a program and He will carry out His program to completeness using men and women in His Body."
Now the Apostle Paul gives the reason why the Divine Order (1 Corinthians 11:3) is the way it is according to order from the Throne of God, "For Adam was first formed, then Eve." (1 Timothy 2:13) (KJV). The explanation is actually simple and straight forward and has nothing to do with superiority as many have declared it to be wrongly for many centuries. It is the order of creation that has determined the order of authority defined in the Church of God by the Creator Himself. Why was man created first many surely have asked and are asking still now? The answer is, I don't know and my Heavenly Father has not disclosed it to me or to anyone else over all these many centuries of human creation. However, what He has said (in His Word) is very clear that the man was formed first from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and then secondly he took out of man and formed the woman (Genesis 2:21-22), therefore, as we fast forward to the New Testament this same Apostle Paul explains this Divine Creative order with these words to the Corinthian Church, "For man was not [created] from woman, but woman from man; Neither was man created on account of {or} for the benefit of woman, but woman on account of {and} for the benefit of man. Therefore she should [be subject to his authority and should] have a covering on her head [as a token, a symbol, of her submission to authority, that she may show reverence as do] the angels [and not displease them]. Nevertheless, in [the plan of] the Lord {and} from His point of view woman is not apart from {and} independent of man, nor is man aloof from {and} independent of woman; For as woman was made from man, even so man is also born of woman; and all [whether male or female go forth] from God [as their Author]." (1 Corinthians 11:8-12) (Amplified Bible).
"The Apostle, in this verse, and the following, gives reasons why a woman should occupy a subordinate situation, and not usurp authority. The first is, that she was second in the act of creation, or was made subsequent to man. The reason here assigned cannot be understood to be merely that of priority of existence - for then it would give every old person authority over a younger one; but it must refer to the circumstances of the case as detailed in the history of the creation; Gen. 1–2. Man was made as the lord of this lower creation and placed in the garden, and then the woman was made of a rib taken from his side, and given to him, not as a lord, but as a companion. All the circumstances combine to show the subordinate nature of her rank, and to prove that she was not designed to exert authority over the man." Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 2:12-13 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. KJV
Paul continues on with his instruction to Brother Timothy on how he should teach the Churches of God about the role of women in the Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and in so doing he now instructs this as policy, procedure, and practice for the children of God, "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." (1 Timothy 2:12) (KJV). In order that Paul makes his point to Timothy something that he will take as it being not from Paul the man or even Paul the authoritative Apostle of Christ, but Paul wanted Timothy and every other Christian man and woman reading this letter to take these words as being directly from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, so he begins by using some very strong or definitive language to get this point over such as the little English phrase 'I suffer' which is translated by the Greek word epitrepō which means to turn over (transfer), that is, allow: - give leave (liberty, license), let, permit, suffer. The use of the English word 'not'/ou is also strong seeing that it is an absolute negative. The English phrase 'to teach' is exactly as it means in our English language and that is a primary verb denoting the action of imparting skills or knowledge to others and in this letter that means specifically teaching of the Bible or the Word of God in public meetings or Church services.
So we see then that Paul the follower of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1), the Apostle of Christ (1 Timothy 1:1), and Paul the minister of Christ (Romans 15:16) wanted Timothy and we believers today and of every era to know that he was not giving his opinion here on such an improtant topic or issue in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, but he was giving to Timothy and to us today the 'will of God' for His Church. Note: Dr. John Gill says this concerning women teaching or women teachers of the Word of God, "They may teach in private, in their own houses and families; they are to be teachers of good things, Titus 2:3. They are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; nor is the law or doctrine of a mother to be forsaken, any more than the instruction of a father; see Proverbs 1:8. Timothy, no doubt, received much advantage, from the private teachings and instructions of his mother Eunice, and grandmother Lois; but then women are not to teach in the Church; for that is an act of power and authority, and supposes the persons that teach to be of a superior degree, and in a superior office, and to have superior abilities to those who are taught by them."
The English phrase 'to usurp authority over' is translated by one Greek word authenteō used this one time only in the entire New Testament meaning to act of oneself, that is, (figuratively) dominate: - usurp authority over. In other words, for a women to actively seek to be the leader or the authoritative person in the Church of Jesus Christ by taking over the role of teacher is to dismiss and to disregard and to declare that the Divine order of Almighty God has no or carries no weight inside His own Church, that is, the Divine order as we documented in the last study/commentary found clearly in 1 Corinthians 11:3. Note: "I cannot say that the many women we see today with some form of public teaching ministry were not placed where they are and how they are directly from our Lord Jesus Christ, but what I can say with the authority of Scripture, that is, the inerrant and infallible Word of God is that this is not the original Divine order, but just like in the Old Testament, God the Father does not and will not wait around for some man in the Body of Christ to get with His program and in these cases He will and He has and He still does take a willing obedient vessel of His that happens to be a woman and through her accomplishes His will for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to go out to the ends of the earth just as He said His Word would before the end would come, 'And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.' (Matthew 24:14) (Amplified Bible), so we see that Christ Jesus our Lord has a program and He will carry out His program to completeness using men and women in His Body."
Now the Apostle Paul gives the reason why the Divine Order (1 Corinthians 11:3) is the way it is according to order from the Throne of God, "For Adam was first formed, then Eve." (1 Timothy 2:13) (KJV). The explanation is actually simple and straight forward and has nothing to do with superiority as many have declared it to be wrongly for many centuries. It is the order of creation that has determined the order of authority defined in the Church of God by the Creator Himself. Why was man created first many surely have asked and are asking still now? The answer is, I don't know and my Heavenly Father has not disclosed it to me or to anyone else over all these many centuries of human creation. However, what He has said (in His Word) is very clear that the man was formed first from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and then secondly he took out of man and formed the woman (Genesis 2:21-22), therefore, as we fast forward to the New Testament this same Apostle Paul explains this Divine Creative order with these words to the Corinthian Church, "For man was not [created] from woman, but woman from man; Neither was man created on account of {or} for the benefit of woman, but woman on account of {and} for the benefit of man. Therefore she should [be subject to his authority and should] have a covering on her head [as a token, a symbol, of her submission to authority, that she may show reverence as do] the angels [and not displease them]. Nevertheless, in [the plan of] the Lord {and} from His point of view woman is not apart from {and} independent of man, nor is man aloof from {and} independent of woman; For as woman was made from man, even so man is also born of woman; and all [whether male or female go forth] from God [as their Author]." (1 Corinthians 11:8-12) (Amplified Bible).
"The Apostle, in this verse, and the following, gives reasons why a woman should occupy a subordinate situation, and not usurp authority. The first is, that she was second in the act of creation, or was made subsequent to man. The reason here assigned cannot be understood to be merely that of priority of existence - for then it would give every old person authority over a younger one; but it must refer to the circumstances of the case as detailed in the history of the creation; Gen. 1–2. Man was made as the lord of this lower creation and placed in the garden, and then the woman was made of a rib taken from his side, and given to him, not as a lord, but as a companion. All the circumstances combine to show the subordinate nature of her rank, and to prove that she was not designed to exert authority over the man." Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 21
Paul tells Timothy what Men and Women should Do Part 3
1 Timothy 2:10-11 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. KJV
The Woman of God (as the Apostle Paul saw her) was not to see herself as the women of the world did, such as the daughters of kings or dictators who supposed that it was not only a privilege, that is, their special advantage for them to own and wear the most expensive and finest clothing and jewelry in the world, but they saw it as their right because of who they were verses who everyone else in the world was, that is, being below or beneath them in importance and status. However, for the Apostle Paul, the Christian woman's elegance, that being, her gracefulness and good taste came from what lay within her inner woman and not what adorned or decorated who outer shell, just as the Apostle Peter exhorted the Women of God with these words, "Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving {and} knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning {and} beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible {and} unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:3-4) (Amplified Bible).
Therefore, as Paul continues on with his instructions and directions to Brother Timothy on how he should teach the Women of God, he now declares these words to him concerning their manner of dress, "But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (1 Timothy 2:10) (KJV). With these words in this verse of the letter written to Brother Timothy, the Apostle Paul is simply saying that the Woman of God who has promised to follow our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ should wear clothing on her tent, house, or body that is suitable, proper, fit or right in the sight of God and not of man because they have a strong love for our Lord Jesus Christ and are devout followers of Him sincerely seeking to please Him in what they wear (not only to Church, but everywhere else they sojourn on the earth). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning this verse of the Apostle Paul's letter here, "That is: Good works are the only ornaments with which women professing Christianity should seek to be adorned. The Jewish matrons were accustomed to cry to the bride: 'There is no need of paint, no need of antimony, no need of braided hair; she herself is most beautiful.' The eastern women use a preparation of antimony, which they apply both to the eyes and eyelids, and by which the eye itself acquires a wonderful lustre."
Paul now writes to Brother Timothy perhaps the most controversial and scrutinized, even scorned words penned in any of his letters when he declares these instructions to Brother Timothy, "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection." (1 Timothy 2:11) (KJV). Women over the centuries have discounted, demeaned, and disregarded these words written by the Apostle Paul as being his own male biased opinion, not believing for one second that this is actually a command given to Paul by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. Why has the Apostle Paul been led by the Holy Spirit to write such words, if it is not the will of God that it be so as he writes? In the Divine Realm there is an order (not based from superiority, but for Divine Order). We know that our Lord Jesus Christ is equal to God the Father (Philippians 2:6) being the second person of the GodHead, yet we also know that He (Christ) humbled Himself (Philippians 2:7-8) making Himself subject to God the Father, even though He was and is equal to Him. Therefore, we must understand that it is in the will of God to order the function and structure of His Church (not the Christian man or woman's Church) in the manner that He deems it to be, just as Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian Church declaring the Divine order, "But I want you to know {and} realize that Christ is the Head of every man, the head of a woman is her husband, and the Head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3) (Amplified Bible).
If Christ is subject to God the Father, then why is it hard to believe and accept that it is God's will that the wife or woman be subject to her husband or the man as it is the Divine Order, for Paul did not write it only here in his letter to Brother Timothy, but let us remember it was given to the Corinthian Church as well with these exact words, "The women should keep quiet in the Churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary {and} subordinate place, just as the Law also says. But if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in Church [for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in the Church]." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) (Amplified Bible).
"Even in the Old Testament when the Lord God used a woman as a Prophetess (in one case Deborah who was the Lord's Judge over Israel), the woman always recognized that in times of battle for Israel the Lord God would lead His people into victory by way of a man as leader and such was the case when the Lord commanded Barak to lead the people of Israel into battle against Sisera and all his mighty army, but Barak refused to go into battle except Deborah go with him and we read these words spoken to Barak by the Prophetess Deborah, 'And she sent and called Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded [you], Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun? And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you at the river Kishon with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand? And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the trip you take will not be for your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.' (Judges 4:6-9) (Amplified Bible), so we see that it is and has always been the Divine order that men lead, but God the Father will and has accomplished His will using many great Women of God as leaders." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 2:10-11 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. KJV
The Woman of God (as the Apostle Paul saw her) was not to see herself as the women of the world did, such as the daughters of kings or dictators who supposed that it was not only a privilege, that is, their special advantage for them to own and wear the most expensive and finest clothing and jewelry in the world, but they saw it as their right because of who they were verses who everyone else in the world was, that is, being below or beneath them in importance and status. However, for the Apostle Paul, the Christian woman's elegance, that being, her gracefulness and good taste came from what lay within her inner woman and not what adorned or decorated who outer shell, just as the Apostle Peter exhorted the Women of God with these words, "Let not yours be the [merely] external adorning with [elaborate] interweaving {and} knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning {and} beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible {and} unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:3-4) (Amplified Bible).
Therefore, as Paul continues on with his instructions and directions to Brother Timothy on how he should teach the Women of God, he now declares these words to him concerning their manner of dress, "But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (1 Timothy 2:10) (KJV). With these words in this verse of the letter written to Brother Timothy, the Apostle Paul is simply saying that the Woman of God who has promised to follow our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ should wear clothing on her tent, house, or body that is suitable, proper, fit or right in the sight of God and not of man because they have a strong love for our Lord Jesus Christ and are devout followers of Him sincerely seeking to please Him in what they wear (not only to Church, but everywhere else they sojourn on the earth). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning this verse of the Apostle Paul's letter here, "That is: Good works are the only ornaments with which women professing Christianity should seek to be adorned. The Jewish matrons were accustomed to cry to the bride: 'There is no need of paint, no need of antimony, no need of braided hair; she herself is most beautiful.' The eastern women use a preparation of antimony, which they apply both to the eyes and eyelids, and by which the eye itself acquires a wonderful lustre."
Paul now writes to Brother Timothy perhaps the most controversial and scrutinized, even scorned words penned in any of his letters when he declares these instructions to Brother Timothy, "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection." (1 Timothy 2:11) (KJV). Women over the centuries have discounted, demeaned, and disregarded these words written by the Apostle Paul as being his own male biased opinion, not believing for one second that this is actually a command given to Paul by inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. Why has the Apostle Paul been led by the Holy Spirit to write such words, if it is not the will of God that it be so as he writes? In the Divine Realm there is an order (not based from superiority, but for Divine Order). We know that our Lord Jesus Christ is equal to God the Father (Philippians 2:6) being the second person of the GodHead, yet we also know that He (Christ) humbled Himself (Philippians 2:7-8) making Himself subject to God the Father, even though He was and is equal to Him. Therefore, we must understand that it is in the will of God to order the function and structure of His Church (not the Christian man or woman's Church) in the manner that He deems it to be, just as Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian Church declaring the Divine order, "But I want you to know {and} realize that Christ is the Head of every man, the head of a woman is her husband, and the Head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3) (Amplified Bible).
If Christ is subject to God the Father, then why is it hard to believe and accept that it is God's will that the wife or woman be subject to her husband or the man as it is the Divine Order, for Paul did not write it only here in his letter to Brother Timothy, but let us remember it was given to the Corinthian Church as well with these exact words, "The women should keep quiet in the Churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary {and} subordinate place, just as the Law also says. But if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in Church [for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in the Church]." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35) (Amplified Bible).
"Even in the Old Testament when the Lord God used a woman as a Prophetess (in one case Deborah who was the Lord's Judge over Israel), the woman always recognized that in times of battle for Israel the Lord God would lead His people into victory by way of a man as leader and such was the case when the Lord commanded Barak to lead the people of Israel into battle against Sisera and all his mighty army, but Barak refused to go into battle except Deborah go with him and we read these words spoken to Barak by the Prophetess Deborah, 'And she sent and called Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded [you], Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun? And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you at the river Kishon with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand? And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the trip you take will not be for your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.' (Judges 4:6-9) (Amplified Bible), so we see that it is and has always been the Divine order that men lead, but God the Father will and has accomplished His will using many great Women of God as leaders." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 20
Paul tells Timothy what Men and Women should Do Part 2
1 Timothy 2:9 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; KJV
Paul now shifts his focus from the Christian man to the Christian woman and in so doing he is moved to first speak concerning their attire, that is, their clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion, and this occassion Paul wants to address is their appearance not only when they met together in Church, but more specifically their attitude, actions, and activities surrounding their making or purchasing their clothing, so he writes these instructions to Timothy to be passed on to the Women of God, "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;" (1 Timothy 2:9) (KJV). The Apostle Paul desires that the Women of Christ dress themselves so as not to draw undue or unwanted attention to themselves from men in the Church assembly that were not their husbands, so Paul declares to Timothy that their 'adorning' or dresses should be 'modest' apparel.
The English word 'modest' is translated by the Greek word kosmios which means (in its primary sense); orderly, that is, decorous: - of good behaviour, or becoming. In other words, Paul's desire was not have the Women of God dressed in such a way that the men in the Church would be more focused on their appearance causing the message or sermon to be lost by some. Also, Paul knew that if there were not guidelines on the apparel worn by women in the Church that it would eventually escalate into a competition among the women of who would be considered to be wearing the fanciest or the dressiest or the most elaborate or the most luxuriant clothing in the assembly and this too would take away from the message brought that day by the Pastor or Preacher. The English word 'shamefacedness' is translated by the Greek word aidos which means (as a negative particle) and (through the idea of downcast eyes); bashfulness, that is, (towards men), modesty or (towards God) awe: - reverence, godly fear, shamefacedness.
The English word 'sobriety' is translated by the Greek word sōphrosunē meaning soundness of mind, that is, (literally) sanity or (figuratively) self control: - soberness, sobriety. In other words, the Women of God (because of their reverence for God the Father) should dress themselves as not to draw attention to themselves from men in the Church and not with the attitude of competing with other women for best dressed as if they were in some sort of fashion competition. Note: "How Prophetic was this Apostle all those years ago when he first penned this letter to Brother Timothy, for as we fast forward from then to now, we see how over the years exactly what he was desiring to prevent has become a fixture in many Churches and Church orginizations for many centuries now, for in some assemblies it resembles a fashion show akin to the top models on the runways of their shows around the world."
When Paul writes here, not with 'broided hair', he must be referring to a hair style back then for women that was mostly attributed to the women of royalty, such as wives of kings or emperors or other rulers, but this I do not know for certain. The English phrase 'broided hair' is translated by one Greek word plegma used this one time only in the New Testament meaning simply a plait (of hair). Today and for many generations and centuries since this time, the plait or braided hair is considered a modest, yet beautiful hair style worn by many women around the world, those belonging to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and those who do not. The list here of not wearing gold, pearls, and costly array is Paul's way of directing the Women of God to present themselves modestly as he described above, that is, again apparel that will not draw attention to them and away from the Minister of God presenting his message from God to the children of God assembled together.
"Females in the East pay much more attention to the hair than is commonly done with us. It is plaited with great care, and arranged in various forms, according to the prevailing fashion, and often ornamented with spangles or with silver wire or tissue interwoven. The sense here is, that Christian females are not to imitate those of the world in their careful attention to the ornaments of the head. It cannot be supposed that the mere braiding of the hair is forbidden, but only that careful attention to the manner of doing it, and to the ornaments usually worn in it, which characterized worldly females. It is not to be supposed that all use of gold or pearls as articles of dress is here forbidden; but the idea is, that the Christian female is not to seek these as the adorning which she desires, or is not to imitate the world in these personal decorations. It may be a difficult question to settle how much ornament is allowable, and when the true line is passed. But though this cannot be settled by any exact rules, since much must depend on age, and on the relative rank in life, and the means which one may possess, yet there is one general rule which is applicable to all, and which might regulate all. It is, that the true line is passed when more is thought of this external adorning, than of the ornament of the heart. Any external decoration which occupies the mind more than the virtues of the heart, and which engrosses the time and attention more, we may be certain is wrong. The apparel should be such as not to attract attention; such as becomes our situation; such as will not be particularly singular; such as shall leave the impression that the heart is not fixed on it. It is a poor ambition to decorate a dying body with gold and pearls. It should not be forgotten that the body thus adorned will soon need other habiliments, and will occupy a position where gold and pearls would be a mockery. When the heart is right; when there is true and supreme love for religion, it is usually not difficult to regulate the subject of dress." Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 2:9 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; KJV
Paul now shifts his focus from the Christian man to the Christian woman and in so doing he is moved to first speak concerning their attire, that is, their clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion, and this occassion Paul wants to address is their appearance not only when they met together in Church, but more specifically their attitude, actions, and activities surrounding their making or purchasing their clothing, so he writes these instructions to Timothy to be passed on to the Women of God, "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;" (1 Timothy 2:9) (KJV). The Apostle Paul desires that the Women of Christ dress themselves so as not to draw undue or unwanted attention to themselves from men in the Church assembly that were not their husbands, so Paul declares to Timothy that their 'adorning' or dresses should be 'modest' apparel.
The English word 'modest' is translated by the Greek word kosmios which means (in its primary sense); orderly, that is, decorous: - of good behaviour, or becoming. In other words, Paul's desire was not have the Women of God dressed in such a way that the men in the Church would be more focused on their appearance causing the message or sermon to be lost by some. Also, Paul knew that if there were not guidelines on the apparel worn by women in the Church that it would eventually escalate into a competition among the women of who would be considered to be wearing the fanciest or the dressiest or the most elaborate or the most luxuriant clothing in the assembly and this too would take away from the message brought that day by the Pastor or Preacher. The English word 'shamefacedness' is translated by the Greek word aidos which means (as a negative particle) and (through the idea of downcast eyes); bashfulness, that is, (towards men), modesty or (towards God) awe: - reverence, godly fear, shamefacedness.
The English word 'sobriety' is translated by the Greek word sōphrosunē meaning soundness of mind, that is, (literally) sanity or (figuratively) self control: - soberness, sobriety. In other words, the Women of God (because of their reverence for God the Father) should dress themselves as not to draw attention to themselves from men in the Church and not with the attitude of competing with other women for best dressed as if they were in some sort of fashion competition. Note: "How Prophetic was this Apostle all those years ago when he first penned this letter to Brother Timothy, for as we fast forward from then to now, we see how over the years exactly what he was desiring to prevent has become a fixture in many Churches and Church orginizations for many centuries now, for in some assemblies it resembles a fashion show akin to the top models on the runways of their shows around the world."
When Paul writes here, not with 'broided hair', he must be referring to a hair style back then for women that was mostly attributed to the women of royalty, such as wives of kings or emperors or other rulers, but this I do not know for certain. The English phrase 'broided hair' is translated by one Greek word plegma used this one time only in the New Testament meaning simply a plait (of hair). Today and for many generations and centuries since this time, the plait or braided hair is considered a modest, yet beautiful hair style worn by many women around the world, those belonging to our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and those who do not. The list here of not wearing gold, pearls, and costly array is Paul's way of directing the Women of God to present themselves modestly as he described above, that is, again apparel that will not draw attention to them and away from the Minister of God presenting his message from God to the children of God assembled together.
"Females in the East pay much more attention to the hair than is commonly done with us. It is plaited with great care, and arranged in various forms, according to the prevailing fashion, and often ornamented with spangles or with silver wire or tissue interwoven. The sense here is, that Christian females are not to imitate those of the world in their careful attention to the ornaments of the head. It cannot be supposed that the mere braiding of the hair is forbidden, but only that careful attention to the manner of doing it, and to the ornaments usually worn in it, which characterized worldly females. It is not to be supposed that all use of gold or pearls as articles of dress is here forbidden; but the idea is, that the Christian female is not to seek these as the adorning which she desires, or is not to imitate the world in these personal decorations. It may be a difficult question to settle how much ornament is allowable, and when the true line is passed. But though this cannot be settled by any exact rules, since much must depend on age, and on the relative rank in life, and the means which one may possess, yet there is one general rule which is applicable to all, and which might regulate all. It is, that the true line is passed when more is thought of this external adorning, than of the ornament of the heart. Any external decoration which occupies the mind more than the virtues of the heart, and which engrosses the time and attention more, we may be certain is wrong. The apparel should be such as not to attract attention; such as becomes our situation; such as will not be particularly singular; such as shall leave the impression that the heart is not fixed on it. It is a poor ambition to decorate a dying body with gold and pearls. It should not be forgotten that the body thus adorned will soon need other habiliments, and will occupy a position where gold and pearls would be a mockery. When the heart is right; when there is true and supreme love for religion, it is usually not difficult to regulate the subject of dress." Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 19
Paul tells Timothy what Men and Women should Do Part 1
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. KJV
Paul instructs Brother Timothy to teach the men of Christ to be mindful to pray always and at all times for all things, going back to the principle in his exhortation in the very first verse in this chapter (1 Timothy 2:1) with these words, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy 2:8) (KJV). These instructions to Christian men are based on the fact that Christian men are the head of their households and they are the head or leaders in the Church, that is, Christ Body of believers just as Paul declared to the Corinthian Church the Divine order that is from Heaven, "But I want you to know {and} realize that Christ is the Head of every man, the head of a woman is her husband, and the Head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3) (Amplified Bible). When Paul writes here 'that men pray every where', he is simply but powerfuly acknowledging the mightest resource that every son of God has at his disposal in any place and under the most daunting, dier, and desperate circumstances just as the early Apostles did when they were ordered not to speak or teach in the name of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ.
They prayed this prayer to God the Father, "After they were permitted to go, [the apostles] returned to their own [company] and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them, Who by the mouth of our forefather David, Your servant {and} child, said through the Holy Spirit, Why did the heathen (Gentiles) become wanton {and} insolent {and} rage, and the people imagine {and} study {and} plan vain (fruitless) things [that will not succeed]? The kings of the earth took their stand in array [for attack] and the rulers were assembled {and} combined together against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ, the Messiah). For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child {and} Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will {and} purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs {and} wonders through the authority {and} by the power of the name of Your holy Child {and} Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom {and} boldness {and} courage." (Acts 4:2-31) (Amplified Bible).
When the Apostle Paul writes here, 'lifting up holy hands', it is first a symbolic reference to the early Jewish custom to wash there hands presenting themselves clean before the alter of prayer as it is written with these words, "I will wash my hands in innocence, and go about Your altar, O Lord, That I may make the voice of thanksgiving heard and may tell of all Your wondrous works." (Psalms 26:6-7) (Amplified Bible). Likewise the lifting up hands in prayer showed that their was nothing that the petitioner (someone praying humbly for something) had worthy to offer God instead turning up their palms to heaven displaying their desperate need for help, just as we saw from the Apostles above in (Acts 4:23-31) and also as King Solomon did after the work of bringing in the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple of God was complete when he began his prayer with these words, "Then Solomon stood [in the court] before the Lord's burnt offering altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;" (1 Kings 8:22) (Amplified Bible). Holy hands indicates one who has confessed his sins before the Throne of Grace (not one who is sinless) and has a contrite desire (that is, feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses), this is the man covered and washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb, the Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord whose prayer will be heard.
The Apostle James writes to Christians with these words indicating what the humble desire should be, "So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection {and} heartfelt shame [for your sins]. Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]." (James 4:7-10) (Amplified Bible). When Paul writes here 'without wrath and doubting', he is targeting the two most crucial things that can block prayers from being answered by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. The English word 'without' is translated by the Greek word choris meaning at a space, that is, separately or apart from something. The English word 'wrath' is translated by the Greek word orge meaning anger, indignation, or vengeance, that is, properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), (by analogy) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment.
The English word 'doubting' is translated by the Greek word dialogismos meaning discussion, that is, (internal) consideration (by implication purpose), or (external) debate: - dispute, doubtful, imagination, reasoning, or thought. In other words, Paul is warning Timothy and instructing him to warn other men in the Church to seperate themselves from anger and ire against other believers especially and even non-believers, for this will certainly hinder ones effectual prayers as the Apostle James writes with these words, "Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense {and} to get angry. For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]. So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive {and} welcome the Word which implanted {and} rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls." (James 1:19-21) (Amplified Bible) and these words written by the Apostle Paul himself to the Colossian Church, "But now put away {and} rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses {and} slander, and foulmouthed abuse {and} shameful utterances from your lips!" (Colossians 3:8) (Amplified Bible).
To doubt is equal to disbelieving God or unbelief just as the Apostle James said with these words, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally {and} ungrudgingly, without reproaching {or} faultfinding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither {and} thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable {and} unreliable {and} uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]." (James 1:5-8) (Amplified Bible). Everyone of us Christian men must always remember and heed these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Himself concerning a man's prayers, "And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done. And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith {and} [really] believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:21-22) (Amplified Bible).
"A direction how to pray, 1 Timothy 2:8. Now, under the Gospel, prayer is not to be confined to any one particular house of prayer, but men must pray every where: no place is amiss for prayer, no place more acceptable to God than another, John 4:21. Pray every where. We must pray in our closets, pray in our families, pray at our meals, pray when we are on journeys, and pray in the solemn assemblies, whether more public or private. It is the will of God that in prayer we should lift up holy hands: Lifting up holy hands, or pure hands, pure from the pollution of sin, washed in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. I will wash my hands, etc., Psalm 26:6. We must pray in charity: Without wrath, or malice, or anger at any person. We must pray in faith without doubting (James 1:6), or, as some read it, without disputing, and then it falls under the head of charity." Matthew Henry
"And how is that to be done? First of all, by keeping out of all places where it is impossible that we should pray; for although He is everywhere, and we want Him everywhere, there are places—and some of us know the roads to them but too well, and are but too often in them—where prayer would be a strange incongruity. A man will not pray over the counter of a public-house. A man will not pray over a sharp bargain. A man will not pray that God may bless his outbursts of anger, or sensuality and the like. A man will not pray when he feels that he is deep down in some pit of self-caused alienation from God. The possibility of praying in given circumstances is a sharp test, although a very rough and ready one, whether we ought to be in these circumstances or not. Do not let us go where we cannot take God with us; and if we feel that it would be something like blasphemy to call to Him from such a place, do not let us trust ourselves there. Jonah could pray out of the belly of the fish, and there was no incongruity in that; but many a professing Christian man gets swallowed up by monsters of the deep, and durst not for very shame send up a prayer to God. Get out of all such false positions." Alexander MacLaren
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. KJV
Paul instructs Brother Timothy to teach the men of Christ to be mindful to pray always and at all times for all things, going back to the principle in his exhortation in the very first verse in this chapter (1 Timothy 2:1) with these words, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy 2:8) (KJV). These instructions to Christian men are based on the fact that Christian men are the head of their households and they are the head or leaders in the Church, that is, Christ Body of believers just as Paul declared to the Corinthian Church the Divine order that is from Heaven, "But I want you to know {and} realize that Christ is the Head of every man, the head of a woman is her husband, and the Head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3) (Amplified Bible). When Paul writes here 'that men pray every where', he is simply but powerfuly acknowledging the mightest resource that every son of God has at his disposal in any place and under the most daunting, dier, and desperate circumstances just as the early Apostles did when they were ordered not to speak or teach in the name of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ.
They prayed this prayer to God the Father, "After they were permitted to go, [the apostles] returned to their own [company] and told all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. And when they heard it, lifted their voices together with one united mind to God and said, O Sovereign Lord, You are He Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything that is in them, Who by the mouth of our forefather David, Your servant {and} child, said through the Holy Spirit, Why did the heathen (Gentiles) become wanton {and} insolent {and} rage, and the people imagine {and} study {and} plan vain (fruitless) things [that will not succeed]? The kings of the earth took their stand in array [for attack] and the rulers were assembled {and} combined together against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ, the Messiah). For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child {and} Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will {and} purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly, While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs {and} wonders through the authority {and} by the power of the name of Your holy Child {and} Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom {and} boldness {and} courage." (Acts 4:2-31) (Amplified Bible).
When the Apostle Paul writes here, 'lifting up holy hands', it is first a symbolic reference to the early Jewish custom to wash there hands presenting themselves clean before the alter of prayer as it is written with these words, "I will wash my hands in innocence, and go about Your altar, O Lord, That I may make the voice of thanksgiving heard and may tell of all Your wondrous works." (Psalms 26:6-7) (Amplified Bible). Likewise the lifting up hands in prayer showed that their was nothing that the petitioner (someone praying humbly for something) had worthy to offer God instead turning up their palms to heaven displaying their desperate need for help, just as we saw from the Apostles above in (Acts 4:23-31) and also as King Solomon did after the work of bringing in the Ark of the Covenant into the Temple of God was complete when he began his prayer with these words, "Then Solomon stood [in the court] before the Lord's burnt offering altar in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;" (1 Kings 8:22) (Amplified Bible). Holy hands indicates one who has confessed his sins before the Throne of Grace (not one who is sinless) and has a contrite desire (that is, feeling or expressing pain or sorrow for sins or offenses), this is the man covered and washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb, the Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord whose prayer will be heard.
The Apostle James writes to Christians with these words indicating what the humble desire should be, "So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery]. [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection {and} heartfelt shame [for your sins]. Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]." (James 4:7-10) (Amplified Bible). When Paul writes here 'without wrath and doubting', he is targeting the two most crucial things that can block prayers from being answered by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. The English word 'without' is translated by the Greek word choris meaning at a space, that is, separately or apart from something. The English word 'wrath' is translated by the Greek word orge meaning anger, indignation, or vengeance, that is, properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), (by analogy) violent passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication punishment.
The English word 'doubting' is translated by the Greek word dialogismos meaning discussion, that is, (internal) consideration (by implication purpose), or (external) debate: - dispute, doubtful, imagination, reasoning, or thought. In other words, Paul is warning Timothy and instructing him to warn other men in the Church to seperate themselves from anger and ire against other believers especially and even non-believers, for this will certainly hinder ones effectual prayers as the Apostle James writes with these words, "Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense {and} to get angry. For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires]. So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive {and} welcome the Word which implanted {and} rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls." (James 1:19-21) (Amplified Bible) and these words written by the Apostle Paul himself to the Colossian Church, "But now put away {and} rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses {and} slander, and foulmouthed abuse {and} shameful utterances from your lips!" (Colossians 3:8) (Amplified Bible).
To doubt is equal to disbelieving God or unbelief just as the Apostle James said with these words, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally {and} ungrudgingly, without reproaching {or} faultfinding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither {and} thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable {and} unreliable {and} uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides]." (James 1:5-8) (Amplified Bible). Everyone of us Christian men must always remember and heed these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Himself concerning a man's prayers, "And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done. And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith {and} [really] believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:21-22) (Amplified Bible).
"A direction how to pray, 1 Timothy 2:8. Now, under the Gospel, prayer is not to be confined to any one particular house of prayer, but men must pray every where: no place is amiss for prayer, no place more acceptable to God than another, John 4:21. Pray every where. We must pray in our closets, pray in our families, pray at our meals, pray when we are on journeys, and pray in the solemn assemblies, whether more public or private. It is the will of God that in prayer we should lift up holy hands: Lifting up holy hands, or pure hands, pure from the pollution of sin, washed in the fountain opened for sin and uncleanness. I will wash my hands, etc., Psalm 26:6. We must pray in charity: Without wrath, or malice, or anger at any person. We must pray in faith without doubting (James 1:6), or, as some read it, without disputing, and then it falls under the head of charity." Matthew Henry
"And how is that to be done? First of all, by keeping out of all places where it is impossible that we should pray; for although He is everywhere, and we want Him everywhere, there are places—and some of us know the roads to them but too well, and are but too often in them—where prayer would be a strange incongruity. A man will not pray over the counter of a public-house. A man will not pray over a sharp bargain. A man will not pray that God may bless his outbursts of anger, or sensuality and the like. A man will not pray when he feels that he is deep down in some pit of self-caused alienation from God. The possibility of praying in given circumstances is a sharp test, although a very rough and ready one, whether we ought to be in these circumstances or not. Do not let us go where we cannot take God with us; and if we feel that it would be something like blasphemy to call to Him from such a place, do not let us trust ourselves there. Jonah could pray out of the belly of the fish, and there was no incongruity in that; but many a professing Christian man gets swallowed up by monsters of the deep, and durst not for very shame send up a prayer to God. Get out of all such false positions." Alexander MacLaren
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 1st Letter Volume 18
Paul tells Timothy what Christ Jesus has called him to Be & Do
1 Timothy 2:7 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. KJV
Immediately after Paul expounds, elaborates, or explains to Timothy the singularity, the unniqueness, the absolute one of a kind that is our God Jesus Christ, Paul turns to declare what God has made him now to be and called him now and for the rest of his earthly sojourning days to do with these words, "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." (1 Timothy 2:7) (KJV). The first English word Paul begins this verse with 'whereunto' is translated by the Greek word eis and it is a primary preposition meaning to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose. In other words, the former man Saul has now been changed and made into a new man Paul (2 Corinthians 5:17) with a completely and entirely different purpose and resolve in his earthly life and that being to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ (the Gospel of Grace) to be the only way for sinful men and women to be made right with Almighty God, having all their sins forgiven (past sins, present sins, and future sins) and live eternally with Him in heaven.
The English word 'ordained' is translated by the Greek word tithēmi which means to place or to set in a position or to put into a position or more simply to appoint someone to a position. The English word 'preacher' is translated by the Greek word kerux meaning a herald, that is, of divine truth (especially of the Gospel): - preacher, that is, to herald (as a public crier), to proclaim or to publish. The English word 'apostle' is translated by the Greek word apostolos meaning a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent. In other words, the Apostle Paul was one that saw the Risen Christ in all His Majesty, Miraculousness, and Might. Paul also was commissioned, that is, given official approval by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to be an Apostle, to be a Preacher of the Gospel of Grace.
Paul himself wrote first to the Corinthian Church concerning his appointment or his assignment, "And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one prematurely {and} born dead [no better than an unperfected fetus among living men]. For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, who am not fit {or} deserving to be called an apostle, because I once wronged {and} pursued {and} molested the Church of God [oppressing it with cruelty and violence]. But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:8-10) (Amplified Bible).
When Paul writes here these words, '(I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;)', he is once again asserting himself to be authentic, that is, one who is the complete opposite of the false apostles and deceitful workers who were going about prostituting the Word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17) for gain to enrich themselves at the expense of others without care or concern for their eternal welfare. The English word 'teacher' is translated by the Greek word didaskalos meaning an instructor (generally or specifically). The little English phrase 'of the Gentiles' is translated by the Greek word ethnos which means a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one, that is, as we stated above it is all the people on the earth that are not Jews. When Paul says, 'in faith and verity', he means in 'The Faith' that is in Jesus Christ alone and the Gospel Truth which is only about our Lord Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. In other words, the Apostle Paul had received a special and unique assignment form our Lord Jesus Christ that had not been given to any of the other Apostles at the time and that was to reveal this Gospel of Grace to the Gentile world in order that all men would have the opportunity to believe on Him and be eternally saved, that is, that this Gospel was not just for the Jew but also the Gentile.
It was to be proclaimed to the Jew first, but then Paul was saved and sanctified to now take the Gospel to the Gentile world just as he declared to the predominately Gentile Ephesian Church with these words, "[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel). Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God's free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted {and} graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out], Also to enlighten all men {and} make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages {and} concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things {by Christ Jesus.} [The purpose is] that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety {and} innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere." (Ephesians 3:5-10) (Amplified Bible).
"I am placed or constituted. The word 'ordain' has now acquired a technical signification, meaning to set apart solemnly to a sacred office by the imposition of hands; but it has not that meaning here. It does not refer to the manner in which he was set apart, or to any act of others in consecrating him to this work, but merely to the fact that he had been placed in this office, or appointed to it. He refers doubtless to the fact that the Lord Jesus had designated him to this work." Albert Barnes
"Or faith and truth. The combination only here. Paul has sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8), and sanctification of the Spirit and faith of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). The phrase must not be explained in true faith, nor faithfully and truly. It means that faith and truth are the element or sphere in which the Apostolic function is discharged: that he preaches with a sincere faith in the Gospel, and with a truthful representation of the Gospel which he believes." Vincent's Word Studies
"Paul was ordained a minister, to declare this to the Gentiles, that Christ is the one Mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all. This is the substance of which all ministers are to preach, to the end of the world; and Paul magnified his office, as he was the Apostle of the Gentiles, Romans 11:13. Ministers must preach the truth, what they apprehend to be so, and they must believe it themselves; they are, like our Apostle, to preach in faith and verity, and they must also be faithful and trusty." Matthew Henry
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
1 Timothy 2:7 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. KJV
Immediately after Paul expounds, elaborates, or explains to Timothy the singularity, the unniqueness, the absolute one of a kind that is our God Jesus Christ, Paul turns to declare what God has made him now to be and called him now and for the rest of his earthly sojourning days to do with these words, "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." (1 Timothy 2:7) (KJV). The first English word Paul begins this verse with 'whereunto' is translated by the Greek word eis and it is a primary preposition meaning to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose. In other words, the former man Saul has now been changed and made into a new man Paul (2 Corinthians 5:17) with a completely and entirely different purpose and resolve in his earthly life and that being to declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ (the Gospel of Grace) to be the only way for sinful men and women to be made right with Almighty God, having all their sins forgiven (past sins, present sins, and future sins) and live eternally with Him in heaven.
The English word 'ordained' is translated by the Greek word tithēmi which means to place or to set in a position or to put into a position or more simply to appoint someone to a position. The English word 'preacher' is translated by the Greek word kerux meaning a herald, that is, of divine truth (especially of the Gospel): - preacher, that is, to herald (as a public crier), to proclaim or to publish. The English word 'apostle' is translated by the Greek word apostolos meaning a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent. In other words, the Apostle Paul was one that saw the Risen Christ in all His Majesty, Miraculousness, and Might. Paul also was commissioned, that is, given official approval by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to be an Apostle, to be a Preacher of the Gospel of Grace.
Paul himself wrote first to the Corinthian Church concerning his appointment or his assignment, "And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one prematurely {and} born dead [no better than an unperfected fetus among living men]. For I am the least [worthy] of the apostles, who am not fit {or} deserving to be called an apostle, because I once wronged {and} pursued {and} molested the Church of God [oppressing it with cruelty and violence]. But by the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not [found to be] for nothing (fruitless and without effect). In fact, I worked harder than all of them [the apostles], though it was not really I, but the grace (the unmerited favor and blessing) of God which was with me." (1 Corinthians 15:8-10) (Amplified Bible).
When Paul writes here these words, '(I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;)', he is once again asserting himself to be authentic, that is, one who is the complete opposite of the false apostles and deceitful workers who were going about prostituting the Word of God (2 Corinthians 2:17) for gain to enrich themselves at the expense of others without care or concern for their eternal welfare. The English word 'teacher' is translated by the Greek word didaskalos meaning an instructor (generally or specifically). The little English phrase 'of the Gentiles' is translated by the Greek word ethnos which means a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one, that is, as we stated above it is all the people on the earth that are not Jews. When Paul says, 'in faith and verity', he means in 'The Faith' that is in Jesus Christ alone and the Gospel Truth which is only about our Lord Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. In other words, the Apostle Paul had received a special and unique assignment form our Lord Jesus Christ that had not been given to any of the other Apostles at the time and that was to reveal this Gospel of Grace to the Gentile world in order that all men would have the opportunity to believe on Him and be eternally saved, that is, that this Gospel was not just for the Jew but also the Gentile.
It was to be proclaimed to the Jew first, but then Paul was saved and sanctified to now take the Gospel to the Gentile world just as he declared to the predominately Gentile Ephesian Church with these words, "[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel). Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God's free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted {and} graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out], Also to enlighten all men {and} make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages {and} concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things {by Christ Jesus.} [The purpose is] that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety {and} innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere." (Ephesians 3:5-10) (Amplified Bible).
"I am placed or constituted. The word 'ordain' has now acquired a technical signification, meaning to set apart solemnly to a sacred office by the imposition of hands; but it has not that meaning here. It does not refer to the manner in which he was set apart, or to any act of others in consecrating him to this work, but merely to the fact that he had been placed in this office, or appointed to it. He refers doubtless to the fact that the Lord Jesus had designated him to this work." Albert Barnes
"Or faith and truth. The combination only here. Paul has sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8), and sanctification of the Spirit and faith of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). The phrase must not be explained in true faith, nor faithfully and truly. It means that faith and truth are the element or sphere in which the Apostolic function is discharged: that he preaches with a sincere faith in the Gospel, and with a truthful representation of the Gospel which he believes." Vincent's Word Studies
"Paul was ordained a minister, to declare this to the Gentiles, that Christ is the one Mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all. This is the substance of which all ministers are to preach, to the end of the world; and Paul magnified his office, as he was the Apostle of the Gentiles, Romans 11:13. Ministers must preach the truth, what they apprehend to be so, and they must believe it themselves; they are, like our Apostle, to preach in faith and verity, and they must also be faithful and trusty." Matthew Henry
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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