1 Timothy 2:9 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

Navigator

1 Timothy 2:9

Comments

‘In like manner also’ – in like manner as what? As the men, evidently. We connect this with the command to pray: ‘I will therefore that men pray everywhere’, so that the women also may pray in the gatherings for prayer of the people of God. But there are special provisions for women. Whereas men must take care not to indulge their particular sins of competitiveness and anger and resentment, the women are to be careful not to ruin their prayers with immodesty or preoccupation with appearances or projecting themselves. The sins of the men and the sins of the women are dealt with separately. We can spoil our prayers in both cases. In the case of the women, it could be that women slip into being concerned that people should notice them, think well of them, and they become immodest, and desire to attract the attention of others. In both cases the trouble is that their minds are on themselves. How can you pray, implies the apostle, when you are all indulging the self-centred sins of your gender? But the liberty given in the New Testament for women to pray in the meetings for prayer is not to be taken as a license that they may preach also. ‘In modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety.’ ‘Shamefacedness’ may suggest an extraordinary performance of moving around with downcast eyes looking permanently guilty. The women certainly do not have to adopt any such manner. Shamefacedness simply means with shyness, but don't forget it is shyness of dress that is in mind here, not literal shyness of face. It is about their clothing, rather than the expression on their face. A woman must be in her manner the opposite of a flirt; that's all it is saying. And she must be modest and bear herself with dignity, and not flaunt herself. If there is any motivation to appear better dressed or more beautiful or more attractive or accomplished than someone else, then my prayers are ruined. This can apply to men as well as women, but Paul deals with what is more likely to be the failing of each of the sexes. This is nothing to do with alcohol. It means more, with care and caution, and self-control. ‘Not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.’ This is referring to those excessive displays which could be put on in those times. We read not that there can be no ornament – there are ornaments used by women in the New Testament – but not to draw attention to themselves excessively, or to be super special. Why not? Because Christ is everything to men and women who are saved, and for that reason no man and no woman in her distinctive way will press himself or herself forward for super special notice, because that would be detracting from Christ. So we are all – men and women in our different ways – modest, not showing off, not putting ourselves forward.

Application

This instruction includes preachers also. Some preachers are falling into this temptation of being superstars. For them it’s the equivalent of braided hair, gold, pearls, and costly array. Nothing in the church is to challenge the glory and the beauty and the wonder of Christ.

Are plaits really forbidden in the Scripture? No, we have to take a slight cultural view. The broided hair of those days was quite something to behold. The hair was dusted with gold, and it was held up with combs that would have cost a considerable amount, and with pins which usually had gold or silver or some precious stone. It really was a display of wealth and significance and importance. It really was showing up off. Don't be right bang up to date with the fashions. That is very often saying something. There is often a message in that, and you have got to be very careful. It is very common to see a string of pearls on a believer today. Is that offensive? I do not believe so. Why not? Because the pearls of those days were the ultimate in extravagance. They cost someone more than we should be prepared to spend on attire. So we do have to put a slight cultural modification on it, and we have to be careful of that in our interpretation. What is plainly in mind is the presentation of a person to impress, to attract attention, even to stimulate the opposite sex, to flaunt beauty; in a proud way to feel superior based on what I wear, rather than in my relationship with the Lord.

Questions

We could interpret this to mean that only men may pray in the prayer meetings of the church. We could reconstruct the verse to teach that Paul wills that men pray, and he also wills that women dress in modest apparel. But there is a great difficulty with that. The subject from verse 1 of the chapter is praying for souls. It is because this is in mind that he wills that men pray everywhere – ‘I will therefore that men pray every where.’ If he then goes on to say, ‘I will that women dress modestly’, he has lost sight of the overall subject: ‘that prayer be made for all men.’ How does their adorning themselves modestly achieve this end? It does not. What he wills is that both men and women pray. Why then does he deal with them separately? Because the two different sexes had different impediments to prayer. The men are more likely to be prone to disputing, doubting, resentment and simmering anger. While the women, who are naturally inclined to be more gracious, may need to be very careful of their adornment and their manner.

The Apostle Paul, who never contradicts himself, is talking about the prayer meeting of the church. As far as the worship and the instruction meeting is concerned, that is dealt with in 1 Corinthians 14, which makes it absolutely clear in two detailed verses that the worship of God and the instruction in the assembly of Christian people is to be led by men only. But there is another kind of meeting in New Testament churches. The Lord Jesus Christ refers to it in Matthew 18 and he refers to the practice of Christian believers agreeing in prayer, literally ‘sounding together’ in prayer. We find it exemplified in the upper room at the beginning of the Book of Acts where we are told that all the disciples with one accord prayed with the women, and this is just a prayer meeting; it is not a formal public worship and instruction meeting. We see four examples of it in the Book of Acts, particularly that famous one where Peter was arrested by Herod and then in John Mark’s mother’s house they were praying in the night hours. In these gatherings for special prayer and intercession the women may pray, but in the gatherings for the worship of God and for instruction of God's people they may not pray.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

1 Timothy 2:9 Commentary and Bible Study