Worthy.Bible » Parallel » 1 Timothy » Chapter 2

1 Timothy 2:1-15 King James Version (KJV)

1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

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.

8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

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;

10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.


1 Timothy 2:1-15 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 I exhort G3870 therefore, G3767 that, first G4412 of all, G3956 supplications, G1162 prayers, G4335 intercessions, G1783 and giving of thanks, G2169 be made G4160 for G5228 all G3956 men; G444

2 For G5228 kings, G935 and G2532 for all G3956 that are G5607 in G1722 authority; G5247 that G2443 we may lead G1236 a quiet G2263 and G2532 peaceable G2272 life G979 in G1722 all G3956 godliness G2150 and G2532 honesty. G4587

3 For G1063 this G5124 is good G2570 and G2532 acceptable G587 in the sight G1799 of God G2316 our G2257 Saviour; G4990

4 Who G3739 will have G2309 all G3956 men G444 to be saved, G4982 and G2532 to come G2064 unto G1519 the knowledge G1922 of the truth. G225

5 For G1063 there is one G1520 God, G2316 and G2532 one G1520 mediator G3316 between God G2316 and G2532 men, G444 the man G444 Christ G5547 Jesus; G2424

6 Who G3588 gave G1325 himself G1438 a ransom G487 for G5228 all, G3956 to be testified G3142 in due G2398 time. G2540

7 Whereunto G1519 G3739 I G1473 am ordained G5087 a preacher, G2783 and G2532 an apostle, G652 (I speak G3004 the truth G225 in G1722 Christ, G5547 and lie G5574 not;) G3756 a teacher G1320 of the Gentiles G1484 in G1722 faith G4102 and G2532 verity. G225

8 I will G1014 therefore G3767 that men G435 pray G4336 every G1722 G3956 where, G5117 lifting up G1869 holy G3741 hands, G5495 without G5565 wrath G3709 and G2532 doubting. G1261

9 In like manner G5615 also, G2532 that women G1135 adorn G2885 themselves G1438 in G1722 modest G2887 apparel, G2689 with G3326 shamefacedness G127 and G2532 sobriety; G4997 not G3361 with G1722 broided hair, G4117 or G2228 gold, G5557 or G2228 pearls, G3135 or G2228 costly G4185 array; G2441

10 But G235 (which G3739 becometh G4241 women G1135 professing G1861 godliness) G2317 with G1223 good G18 works. G2041

11 Let G3129 the woman G1135 learn G3129 in G1722 silence G2271 with G1722 all G3956 subjection. G5292

12 But G1161 I suffer G2010 not G3756 a woman G1135 to teach, G1321 nor G3761 to usurp authority G831 over the man, G435 but G235 to be G1511 in G1722 silence. G2271

13 For G1063 Adam G76 was G4111 first G4413 formed, G4111 then G1534 Eve. G2096

14 And G2532 Adam G76 was G538 not G3756 deceived, G538 but G1161 the woman G1135 being deceived G538 was G1096 in G1722 the transgression. G3847

15 Notwithstanding G1161 she shall be saved G4982 in G1223 childbearing, G5042 if G1437 they continue G3306 in G1722 faith G4102 and G2532 charity G26 and G2532 holiness G38 with G3326 sobriety. G4997


1 Timothy 2:1-15 American Standard (ASV)

1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;

2 for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.

3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, `himself' man, Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony `to be borne' in its own times;

7 whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.

9 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment;

10 but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.

11 Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.

12 But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve;

14 and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression:

15 but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.


1 Timothy 2:1-15 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men:

2 for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity,

3 for this `is' right and acceptable before God our Saviour,

4 who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth;

5 for one `is' God, one also `is' mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who did give himself a ransom for all -- the testimony in its own times --

7 in regard to which I was set a preacher and apostle -- truth I say in Christ, I do not lie -- a teacher of nations, in faith and truth.

8 I wish, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting up kind hands, apart from anger and reasoning;

9 in like manner also the women, in becoming apparel, with modesty and sobriety to adorn themselves, not in braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or garments of great price,

10 but -- which becometh women professing godly piety -- through good works.

11 Let a woman in quietness learn in all subjection,

12 and a woman I do not suffer to teach, nor to rule a husband, but to be in quietness,

13 for Adam was first formed, then Eve,

14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been deceived, into transgression came,

15 and she shall be saved through the child-bearing, if they remain in faith, and love, and sanctification, with sobriety.


1 Timothy 2:1-15 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made for all men;

2 for kings and all that are in dignity, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and gravity;

3 for this is good and acceptable before our Saviour God,

4 who desires that all men should be saved and come to [the] knowledge of [the] truth.

5 For God is one, and [the] mediator of God and men one, [the] man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony [to be rendered] in its own times;

7 to which *I* have been appointed a herald and apostle, (I speak [the] truth, I do not lie,) a teacher of [the] nations in faith and truth.

8 I will therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up pious hands, without wrath or reasoning.

9 In like manner also that the women in decent deportment and dress adorn themselves with modesty and discretion, not with plaited [hair] and gold, or pearls, or costly clothing,

10 but, what becomes women making profession of the fear of God, by good works.

11 Let a woman learn in quietness in all subjection;

12 but I do not suffer a woman to teach nor to exercise authority over man, but to be in quietness;

13 for Adam was formed first, then Eve:

14 and Adam was not deceived; but the woman, having been deceived, was in transgression.

15 But she shall be preserved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and holiness with discretion.


1 Timothy 2:1-15 World English Bible (WEB)

1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men:

2 for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

4 who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times;

7 to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth in Christ, not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.

9 In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety; not just with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing;

10 but (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works.

11 Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.

12 But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

14 Adam wasn't deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience;

15 but she will be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.


1 Timothy 2:1-15 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 My desire is, first of all, that you will make requests and prayers and give praise for all men;

2 For kings and all those in authority; so that we may have a calm and quiet life in all fear of God and serious behaviour.

3 This is good and pleasing in the eyes of God our Saviour;

4 Whose desire is that all men may have salvation and come to the knowledge of what is true.

5 For there is one God and one peacemaker between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 Who gave himself as an offering for all; witness of which was to be given at the right time;

7 And of this I became a preacher and an Apostle (what I say is true, not false,) and a teacher of the Gentiles in the true faith.

8 It is my desire, then, that in every place men may give themselves to prayer, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or argument.

9 And that women may be dressed in simple clothing, with a quiet and serious air; not with twisted hair and gold or jewels or robes of great price;

10 But clothed with good works, as is right for women who are living in the fear of God.

11 Let a woman quietly take the place of a learner and be under authority.

12 In my opinion it is right for a woman not to be a teacher, or to have rule over a man, but to be quiet.

13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve;

14 And Adam was not taken by deceit, but the woman, being tricked, became a wrongdoer.

15 But if they go on in faith and love and holy self-control, she will be kept safe at the time of childbirth.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Timothy 2

Commentary on 1 Timothy 2 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 2

In this chapter Paul treats,

  • I. Of prayer, with many reasons for it (v. 1-8).
  • II. Of women's apparel (v. 9, 10).
  • III. Of their subjection, with the reasons of it (v. 11-14).
  • IV. A promise given for their encouragement in child-bearing (v. 15).

1Ti 2:1-8

Here is,

  • I. A charge given to Christians to pray for all men in general, and particularly for all in authority. Timothy must take care that this be done. Paul does not send him any prescribed form of prayer, as we have reason to think he would if he had intended that ministers should be tied to that way of praying; but, in general, that they should make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks: supplications for the averting of evil, prayers for the obtaining of good, intercessions for others, and thanksgivings for mercies already received. Paul thought it enough to give them general heads; they, having the scripture to direct them in prayer and the Spirit of prayer poured out upon them, needed not any further directions. Observe, The design of the Christian religion is to promote prayer; and the disciples of Christ must be praying people. Pray always with all prayer, Eph. 6:18. There must be prayers for ourselves in the first place; this is implied here. We must also pray for all men, for the world of mankind in general, for particular persons who need or desire our prayers. See how far the Christian religion was from being a sect, when it taught men this diffusive charity, to pray, not only for those of their own way, but for all men. Pray for kings (v. 2); though the kings at this time were heathens, enemies to Christianity, and persecutors of Christians, yet they must pray for them, because it is for the public good that there should be civil government, and proper persons entrusted with the administration of it, for whom therefore we ought to pray, yea, though we ourselves suffer under them. For kings, and all that are in authority, that is, inferior magistrates: we must pray for them, and we must give thanks for them, pray for their welfare and for the welfare of their kingdoms, and therefore must not plot against them, that in the peace thereof we may have peace, and give thanks for them and for the benefit we have under their government, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Here see what we must desire for kings, that God will so turn their hearts, and direct them and make use of them, that we under them may lead a quiet and peaceable life. He does not say, "that we may get preferments under them, grow rich, and be in honour and power under them;' no, the summit of the ambition of a good Christian is to lead a quiet and peaceable life, to get through the world unmolested in a low private station. We should desire that we and others may lead a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, implying that we cannot expect to be kept quiet and peaceable unless we keep in all godliness and honesty. Let us mind our duty, and then we may expect to be taken under the protection both of God and the government. In all godliness and honesty. Here we have our duty as Christians summed up in two words: godliness, that is, the right worshipping of God; and honesty, that is, a good conduct towards all men. These two must go together; we are not truly honest if we are not godly, and do not render to God his due; and we are not truly godly if we are not honest, for God hates robbery for burnt-offering. Here we may observe,
    • 1. Christians are to be men much given to prayer: they ought to abound herein, and should use themselves to prayers, supplications, etc.
    • 2. In our prayers we are to have a generous concern for others as well as for ourselves; we are to pray for all men, and to give thanks for all men; and must not confine our prayers nor thanksgiving to our own persons or families.
    • 3. Prayer consists of various parts, of supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings; for we must pray for the mercies we want, as well as be thankful for mercies already received; and we are to deprecate the judgments which our own sins or the sins of others have deserved.
    • 4. All men, yea, kings themselves, and those who are in authority, are to be prayed for. They want our prayers, for they have many difficulties to encounter, many snares to which their exalted stations expose them.
    • 5. In praying for our governors, we take the most likely course to lead a peaceable and quiet life. The Jews at Babylon were commanded to seek the peace of the city whither the Lord had caused them to be carried captives, and to pray to the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof they should have peace, Jer. 29:7.
    • 6. If we would lead a peaceable and quiet life, we must live in all godliness and honesty; we must do our duty to God and man. He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile; let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it, 1 Pt. 3:10, 11. Now the reason he gives for this is because this is good in the sight of God our Saviour; that is, the gospel of Christ requires this. That which is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour we should do, and should abound in.
  • II. As a reason why we should in our prayers concern ourselves for all men, he shows God's love to mankind in general, v. 4.
    • 1. One reason why all men are to be prayed for is because there is one God, and that God bears a good will to all mankind. There is one God (v. 5), and one only, there is no other, there can be no other, for there can be but one infinite. This one God will have all men to be saved; he desires not the death and destruction of any (Eze. 33:11), but the welfare and salvation of all. Not that he has decreed the salvation of all, for then all men would be saved; but he has a good will to the salvation of all, and none perish but by their own fault, Mt. 23:37. He will have all to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth, to be saved in the way that he has appointed and not otherwise. It concerns us to get the knowledge of the truth, because that is the way to be saved; Christ is the way and the truth, and so he is the life.
    • 2. There is one Mediator, and that mediator gave himself a ransom for all. As the mercy of God extends itself to all his works, so the mediation of Christ extends itself thus far to all the children of men that he paid a price sufficient for the salvation of all mankind; he brought mankind to stand upon new terms with God, so that they are not now under the law as a covenant of works, but as a rule of life. They are under grace; not under the covenant of innocence, but under a new covenant: He gave himself a ransom. Observe, The death of Christ was a ransom, a counter-price. We deserved to have died. Christ died for us, to save us from death and hell; he gave himself a ransom voluntarily, a ransom for all; so that all mankind are put in a better condition than that of devils. He died to work out a common salvation: in order hereunto, he put himself into the office of Mediator between God and man. A mediator supposes a controversy. Sin had made a quarrel between us and God; Jesus Christ is a Mediator who undertakes to make peace, to bring God and man together, in the nature of an umpire or arbitrator, a days-man who lays his hand upon u both, Job 9:33. He is a ransom that was to be testified in due time; that is, in the Old-Testament times, his sufferings and the glory that should follow were spoken of as things to be revealed in the last times, 1 Pt. 1:10, 11. And they are accordingly revealed, Paul himself having been ordained a preacher and an apostle, to publish to the Gentiles the glad tidings of redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ. This doctrine of Christ's mediation Paul was entrusted to preach to every creature, Mk. 16:15. He was appointed to be a teacher of the Gentiles; besides his general call to the apostleship, he was commissioned particularly to preach to the Gentiles, in faith and truth, or faithfully and truly. Note,
      • (1.) It is good and acceptable in the sight of God and our Saviour that we pray for kings and for all men, and also that we lead a peaceable and quiet life; and this is a very good reason why we should do the one as well as the other.
      • (2.) God has a good will to the salvation of all; so that it is not so much the want of a will in God to save them as it is a want of will in themselves to be saved in God's way. Here our blessed Lord charges the fault: You will not come unto me that you may have life, Jn. 5:40. I would have gathered you, and you would not.
      • (3.) Those who are saved must come to the knowledge of the truth, for this is God's appointed way to save sinners. Without knowledge the heart cannot be good; if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it.
      • (4.) It is observable that the unity of God is asserted, and joined with the unity of the Mediator; and the church of Rome might as well maintain a plurality of gods as a plurality of mediators.
      • (5.) He that is a Mediator in the New-Testament sense, gave himself a ransom. Vain then is the pretence of the Romanists that there is but one Mediator of satisfaction, but many of intercession; for, according to Paul, Christ's giving himself a ransom was a necessary part of the Mediator's office; and indeed this lays the foundation for his intercession.
      • (6.) 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, Rom. 11:13.
      • (7.) 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.
  • III. A direction how to pray, v. 8.
    • 1. 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, Jn. 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.
    • 2. 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., Ps. 26:6.
    • 3. We must pray in charity: Without wrath, or malice, or anger at any person.
    • 4. We must pray in faith without doubting (Jam. 1:6), or, as some read it, without disputing, and then it falls under the head of charity.

1Ti 2:9-15

  • I. Here is a charge, that women who profess the Christian religion should be modest, sober, silent, and submissive, as becomes their place.
    • 1. They must be very modest in their apparel, not affecting gaudiness, gaiety, or costliness (you may read the vanity of a person's mind in the gaiety and gaudiness of his habit), because they have better ornaments with which they should adorn themselves, with good works. Note, Good works are the best ornament; these are, in the sight of God, of great price. Those that profess godliness should, in their dress, as well as other things, act as becomes their profession; instead of laying out their money on fine clothes, they must lay it out in works of piety and charity, which are properly called good works.
    • 2. Women must learn the principles of their religion, learn Christ, learn the scriptures; they must not think that their sex excuses them from that learning which is necessary to salvation.
    • 3. They must be silent, submissive, and subject, and not usurp authority. The reason given is because Adam was first formed, then Eve out of him, to denote her subordination to him and dependence upon him; and that she was made for him, to be a help-meet for him. And as she was last in the creation, which is one reason for her subjection, so she was first in the transgression, and that is another reason. Adam was not deceived, that is, not first; the serpent did not immediately set upon him, but the woman was first in the transgression (2 Co. 11:3), and it was part of the sentence, Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee, Gen. 3:16. But it is a word of comfort (v. 15) that those who continue in sobriety shall be saved in child-bearing, or with child-bearing-the Messiah, who was born of a woman, should break the serpent's head (Gen. 3:15); or the sentence which they are under for sin shall be no bar to their acceptance with Christ, if they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety.
  • II. Here observe,
    • 1. The extensiveness of the rules of Christianity; they reach not only to men, but to women, not only to their persons, but also to their dress, which must be modest, like their sex; and to their outward deportment and behaviour, it must be in silence, with all subjection.
    • 2. Women are to profess godliness as well as men; for they are baptized, and thereby stand engaged to exercise themselves to godliness; and, to their honour be it spoken, many of them were eminent professors of Christianity in the days of the apostles, as the book of Acts will inform us.
    • 3. Women being more in danger of exceeding in their apparel, it was more necessary to caution them in this respect.
    • 4. The best ornaments for professors of godliness are good works.
    • 5. According to Paul, women must be learners, and are not allowed to be public teachers in the church; for teaching is an office of authority, and the woman must not usurp authority over the man, but is to be in silence. But, notwithstanding this prohibition, good women may and ought to teach their children at home the principles of religion. Timothy from a child had known the holy scriptures; and who should teach him but his mother and grandmother? 2 Tim. 3:15. Aquila and his wife Priscilla expounded unto Apollos the way of God more perfectly; but then they did it privately, for they took him unto them, Acts 18:26.
    • 6. Here are two very good reasons given for the man's authority over the woman, and her subjection to the man, v. 13, 14. Adam was first formed, then Eve; she was created for the man, and not the man for the woman (1 Co. 11:9); then she was deceived, and brought the man into the transgression.
    • 7. Though the difficulties and dangers of childbearing are many and great, as they are part of the punishment inflicted on the sex for Eve's transgression, yet here is much for her support and encouragement: Notwithstanding she shall be saved, etc. Though in sorrow, yet she shall bring forth, and be a living mother of living children; with this proviso, that they continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety: and women, under the circumstance of child-bearing should by faith lay hold of this promise for their support in the needful time.