1 Timothy 2:8 is not a verse about people in general praying around the world. What should tip us off are the comments at the end of the verse about “anger” and “disputing.”

Disruptive Preachers. How often are people angry and how often do disputes break out after prayer meetings where you are? Not often? Never? Is this verse not applicable in your situation? No. It likely is not. It applied to the situation in Ephesus. And would apply in similar situations down through time.

In his next sentence, in verse 9, Paul begins with the Greek word “likewise.” And then he uses no verb. When this happens in Greek we are to look back to the verb in the previous sentence and use it in this one. What is the verb we are to use in verse 9? It is the verb “I wish.”

Verse 8 is aimed not at all men, nor at all the men overseers. It applies to the men overseers who are praying and preaching incorrectly. Because verse 9 starts with the word “Likewise,” we can assume it is aimed not at all women, nor at all the women overseers. It applies to the women overseers who are praying and preaching incorrectly.

Right, wrong, right. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10 Paul describes the characteristics of faithful women overseers in the first half of verse 9 and also in verse 10. He contrasts these with the improper behavior of the wayward women overseers described in the second half of verse 9 and in verse 12.

The incorrect behavior of verses 9b and 12 practiced by a subgroup of the women overseers was to be stopped. Then these women were to be taught. Paul says "Let learn!" This command in Greek in verse 11 applied to the women who were being retrained for service after being restrained from false teaching and practice.

GO DEEPER

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