“in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you that by them you may wage the good warfare”.
Timothy’s confidence is withered, and Paul is saying this for his sake and to let the church in Ephesus again know who this man is. This event is mentioned in the coming chapter 4 again and in 2 Timothy 1:6 when a group of Elders and Paul laid hands on Timothy, and he received the Holy Spirit and gifts that would set him apart for ministry.
Paul here is expecting his minister in the faith to keep fighting. Holding on to faith and a good conscience, even as things look like they are crumbling all around you.
False teachers were everywhere pulling at some in the church that had not grasp the authentic Gospel of truth. Hymenaeus and Alexander were 2 men preaching a false gospel.
These men were blaspheming which is the sin of defaming God’s character (His name. This is what it means in the Old Testament to not take the LORDs name in vein. Do not say false statements or lie about the character of God)
Hymenaeus is mentioned again in 2 Timothy 2:16-18 upsetting the faith of some in the church. Alexander is mentioned here and in 2 Timothy 4:14-15 as the one whose teaching caused “much harm and vigorously opposed” the true teaching from Paul. He may be the same person mentioned in Acts 19:33 but there is no clear cut fact in the passages telling us this. Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary) pg.45.
Handed over to Satan means that these 2 men were kicked out of the church and fellowship by Paul. Back into the world, which at the time was controlled by Satan. Satan was in control in as much as God would allow until Jesus returned in A.D. 70.
Read 1st Timothy 2:1-3
“First of all, then…” Paul here is saying because of the rejection of faith and good conscience, and some have shipwrecked their faith Paul telling Timothy to pray humbly, submitting a formal request to change the hearts of all and then to give thanksgiving for all things good. Saved and unsaved.
“This could not have been an easy request in Ephesus, where the church was a threat to local economy (Acts 19:23-27). And to make things worse, the Roman Empire rested in the blood-soaked hands of an insane leader named Nero. Nevertheless, the apostle expected the church to pray for these leaders, just as they would a loved one.” Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary) pg.55.
Praying for peace and a quite life. Living a Godly life and dignified in every way. This is what is good and please the LORD. Godliness describes an attitude of worshipfulness towards God, while dignity denotes a general goodness that rises from within us. To live in peace, we must pray for our leaders, even when we do not approve of their character and oppose there policies. God controls all and there are reasons for everything. Difficult, but this is what it means to live like Christ. Reformation Study Bible pg. 2168
Read 1st Timothy 2:4-5
Please observe Paul’s careful use of verb tenses and moods in the declaration of God’s desire. He did not write, God…who desires to save all men, but God… who desires all me to be saved. There is a difference and Paul is not contradicting the doctrine of election from Romans. Swindoll says, “Paul doesn’t here unravel the mystery of how God’s sovereignty and the limited autonomy of humanity impacts a person’s salvation. He merely affirms the fact that the LORD does not delight to see people perish for their sins. (Ezek. 18:23; 33:11). Insights on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus (Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary) pg.59.
Also, to get a little better idea of election and what Paul means you can find it in my study on Ephesians 1:4-5.
One mediator between God and people. That is Christ. Our Catholic brothers and sisters get this wrong and uses Mary as the mediator between God and people. Paul here makes it clear there is one God and one mediator the man Christ Jesus.
Read 1st Timothy 2:6-7
Christ is the mediator, the true high priest. He gave himself as a ransom, meaning a payment made for a guilty person under the law so that they can escape judgement and punishment under the law. Under God’s law the punishment for sin is death. But Christ ransomed that away and we are free and clear of all wrongdoing.
Paul wants this letter to be read to the church in Ephesus and not just for Timothy and that is why he is adding this “I am telling the truth…”. Presumably, the false teachers had questioned Paul’s call and mission, so this was written to reassure the church of who Paul is and what he was called to do.
Read 1st Timothy 2:8-15
As this letter is read to the congregations in Ephesus, he wants the men and women to do certain things differently than their pagan neighbors.
Men – Lift up holy hands. Both Jew and Gentiles worshiped with lifted hands or stretched out their hands to their deities. Paul knew scripture and the old Testament spoke of raised hands in praise to God (Ps.77:2; 134:2) Diaspora Jews washed their hands before prayer to cleanse them before approaching God in prayer. Paul says, “holy hands” because he wants them to be men’s hands that have not been angry or disruptive. Continue to worship with your hands, just make sure they are holy and without those things you carried with you when you were a pagan worshipping with your hands.
Woman -modesty, decency, and propriety (act humbly and proper). Adorning yourself with good deeds and not riches. This was how you could tell a woman of Christ.
Cultural Background Study Bible explains it this way. “Wealthy women sometimes braided their hair with gold, displaying their extravagance. Because women normally covered much of their body, but single women kept their heads bear, men often found hair especially attractive. Wealthy women in whose homes the churches often met, often kept their heads uncovered”. Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible pg. 2107
Vs. 11-12 – If you notice here Paul says “I do not permit a woman to teach or assume authority over a man in the context of Church and teaching of scripture. He does not say God or Jesus said this, but it is what Paul believed and I think has no bearing on church and women in the church today.
Vs. 13-15 – Paul here is alluding to Eve after the fall concerning her role in childrearing. It does not mean they will have salvation through bearing children. Paul is letting the women know that bring up Godly children can be a way of saving them. Just as James said saving someone with the Gospel can wipe away a multitude of sins (James 5:20).
“Given his use of Genesis 2:3 in his argument and the false teachers disparagement of marriage 1st Timothy 4:3, Paul finds childbearing and bringing up children to be important symbols for that role (1st Timothy 5:10, 14). Ultimately, Paul wants women to understand that they do not have to reject their homes and families to have worth in God’s sight to enjoy all the benefits of redemption. Rather, they work out their salvation in fear and trembling as they fulfill their calling in the home”. Reformation Study Bible pg. 2168
This passage does not apply to us today as a lot of women work just like the man of the house. But women can take learnings from this to be humble and teachable as well as teachers. For women that are home makers and moms then take heart in that you are fulfilling what God loves most, especially when bring up children in the ways of Christ.
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