A man seen from behind on the flat roof terrace of a house above Ephesus at dawn, both hands lifted in prayer, the tiled roofs of the city below and the curve of the theater far off.

The Book of

1 Timothy 2

Paul asks Timothy to make the church a house of prayer for everyone, because there is one God and one mediator who gave Himself for all.

15 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1Sound teachingFalse teachers and the grace of Christ
2–3God's householdPrayer, worship and its leadersChapter 2
4A good servantTrain yourself for godliness
5–6:2The church familyWidows, elders and slaves
6:3–21True richesContentment and the good fight

A Call to Prayer

Paul

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who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth

1 Timothy 2:4

For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

One mediator

Whiteboard

Paul’s whole argument rests on one great fact. There is one God, and one way to Him: “the man Christ Jesus,” who stands between God and us because He is both. He “gave Himself as a ransom for all,” and God made that known at just the right time. That is why Paul was sent to preach to the Gentiles, and why the church prays for everyone.

Question

Quick question

Paul tells Timothy why the church should pray for everyone: there is one God, and one way to Him.

Who does Paul say is the one mediator between God and men?

A few men of different ages standing shoulder to shoulder in a colonnaded courtyard at first light, seen from behind, their hands raised in prayer.

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dissension.

0:07

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Instructions to Women

Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.

A woman’s hands, seen close, passing a covered basket of bread and a folded wool cloak into an old woman’s hands at a courtyard door.

Reflect

Beauty that lasts

Paul points every believer past outward display to something lovelier: “good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.” Whose quiet kindness has been beautiful to you? What good deed could you do this week that no one but God may notice?

A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet.

For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression.

Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Pray

Pray for everyone

Do what this chapter asks. Bring God “petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving” for the people around you, and for those in authority over your town and nation. Thank Him that there is “one mediator between God and men,” who gave Himself for all. And ask Him to make your life beautiful with good deeds.

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1 Timothy 2

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A verse to carry with you

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.

1 Timothy 2:5–6

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