CHAPTER ONE

 

 

1:9:  “the Law is not made for a righteous man” = If anything, this passage proves conclusively that God’s Law still exists, even for the once righteous man, for it is the mirror that teaches him how to continue in righteousness.

 

“but for the lawless” = Lawlessness is not the same as breaking laws.  Lawlessness is when the laws are not being enforced.

 

1:13:  “because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” = Notice that Paul “obtained mercy, because” he was in ignorance.  Once enlightened, he was no longer in “unbelief.”  Otherwise, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.”  Hebrews 10:26.  So much for you “Once Saved Always Saved” doctrine holders.  See my Bible Study upon that subject.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

 

2:5:  “One God, and One Mediator” = Here is my Deuteronomy 6:4 Note:  The word “one” in Hebrew, “heis,” means one in unity, not in quantity.

 

The actual Hebrew is:  “Jehovah Elohyim ‘echad Yehovah.”  Equals, “God God one God.”  The three times of mentioning “God” is very plurality in interest.  The Hebrew “Elohyim” is always understood as meaning the plurality of the Godhead.

 

According to Genesis 2:24:  “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife:  and they shall be one flesh.”  This would be just “one” example of more than “one” personality becoming “one” in purpose.  When a husband and wife work together as a team they cannot be broken or separated.

 

“Mediator” = “Mediator” is a term from the ancient Greek commercial and legal world.  It describes someone who negotiates or acts as arbitrator between two parties in order to remove a disagreement or to reach a common goal in order to inaugurate a contract or covenant.

 

2:9:  “modest apparel” = Ladies, according to Muhammad Ali, “everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to.  Where do you find diamonds?  Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.  Where do you find pearls?  Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell.  Where do you find gold?  Was down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock.  You’ve got to work hard to get to them.  Your body is sacred.  You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

 

2:11-12:  “woman learn in silence” = Included in this discussion should also be First Corinthians 14:34.  It is interesting to note that the Greek word for “silent” here in these two verses (11 & 12) is “hēsuchia,” which is the feminine form of “hesuchius,” which is basically the same exact Greek word that is translated “peaceable” in verse 2.  Therefore, what I’m going to say next is in context with what is being instructed here.  There (in verse 2), women where not so mush as to be “silent,” but rather “respectful, honoring, reverent, polite, courteous, well-mannered, considerate, and most of all, selfless.”

 

Can you show me one of those words above, except for “silent,” that does not, or should not also apply to a man?  So, whenever you read the Greek word “hesuchios,” I would like you to think of it as, “be reverent” with your remarks, or be “silent” and go home and discuss it with your husband later there (1Co. 14:35).  This principle that I have put forth carries through if you notice the “with all subjection” in verse 11.  It means not “usurping authority,” but being “in subjection” to it.  And that principle is brought forth in our Corinthian text by the statement, “be under obedience” to “the law” of respectfulness.  The reason is that the same Greek word “hesuchios,” is used for the translation of “silence” in it also and should be understaood as, “be reverent.”

 

In addition, staying in the context of instructions to the Corinthian Churches, according to Paul’s instruction in First Corinthians 11:5, it was all right for women to pray and prophecy in Church.  Therefore, I believe that Paul was dealing with etiquette issues of his time in First Corinthians 14:34.  The fact that the Spirit of God was poured out on women as well as men that they might prophesy, i.e., “teach,” proves that Paul was dealing with an etiquette issue.  It should also be noted that our Greek word “hesuchios” is translated as “quietness” in Second Thessalonians 3:12.  And there, the instruction applied to men as well as women (for they were being disrupt-full, i.e., “busybodies,” 2Th. 3:11).  Thus, disruption and confusion is what was and is the underlying issue for all of these instructions to the various Churches.

 

By contrast, Paul would have women be learners and not teachers, sit and hear, and learn more of Christ, and of the truth of the Gospel, and to maintain good works.  Moreover, he would have them learn in silence, and not offer to rise and speak under a pretence of having a word from the Lord, or of being under an impulse of the Spirit of the Lord.

 

As an example, if you remember Deborah’s actions, she first gave the man, Barak the son of Abinoam (see Judges, Chapter 4), his rightful place as the leader of our Lord’s armies.  But when men allow or request the talents of a women, as here Biblically shown, our God is fully behind it; for He did not leave Deborah or admonish her to act differently (being a prophet of the Lord we would have read later about such an act on our Lord’s part).

 

Throughout history, God has used women in different roles.  Particularly important is the fact that prophetesses proclaimed their messages to God’s people in public (Exo. 15:20; Jud. 4:4-16; 2Ki. 22:14-20; Acts 2:17; 21:9).  Paul himself acknowledged that a woman can pray and prophesy in Church; that women are not strictly forbidden to speak in Church (see again 1Co. 11:5).

 

The question then remains again, what did Paul mean when he stated that women should be “silent” in the Church?  We should keep several things in mind.  Note these few points.  Tensions during worship (somehow the speech of women that Paul prohibited was in some way contributing to a state of confusion) and “preaching” was not the subject (the discussion was not whether women should preach or occupy important leadership positions in Church, but about the proper attitude in Church when instruction was being given).  The discussion was that women should be instructed, not instructing.

 

In the ancient world it was impolite for students to interrupt teachers with questions that in some cases showed their ignorance of the subject and disrupted the learning experience.  Therefore, the Greek word “sigao,” used for “keep silence” in First Corinthians 14:34 was appropriate as used in the ancient world for politeness.  But “sigao” is not the Greek word here used to “silence” women.

 

2:15:  “she shall be saved in childbearing” = Despite describing the circumstances under which true salvation takes place in the last part of this verse, i.e., “if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety,” the “childbearing” seems to concern people as to why Paul would make such a statement.  However, a closer look reveals that salvation is not through “childbearing,” because what really is indicated is found in the use of the passive verb “sazo,” i.e., “she will be saved,” thus implying that God is the One Who saves; which is the implied subject of the action.

 

The premise is that a woman will be saved despite the fact that they still continue to experience pain in childbearing; which is a reminder of Eve’s/women’s sin, because she is covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.  Just like we all are not taken out of this world’s troubles, even though we have given our lives over to the control of our Lord.  A better rendering would be, “she shall be made whole in childbearing.”  Meaning, it is not required in order to be saved; otherwise, barren women can never be saved; an unthinkable penalty of our Lord.  In other words, what Paul is really driving towards, is that the greatest impact a woman has is in the raising of her children.

 

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

 

3:ALL:  Verses 1-7, are instructions for being a “bishop.”  Really meaning, all Church leaders.  Verses 8-13, are instructions for “deacons.”  Notice that “deacons” “wives,” verse 11, are specifically mentioned.  Meaning, that the “deacons” duty was to be done more as a couples ministry; which would be the difference between a “bishop” and a “deacon.”

 

3:2:  “the husband of one wife” = This eliminates all Catholic bishops.

 

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

 

4:1:  “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” = “A belief in spiritual manifestations [such as seances] opens the door to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.”  4SP:422.

 

According to ST, December 5, 1895 (3ST:257), “doctrines of devils” = “Spiritualism.”

 

4:3-5:  “nothing to be refused” = See my Bible Study:  “DIET, DINNING GOD’S WAY.”  However, verse 5specifically tells you, IF “it is sanctified by the Word of God,” throwing in, “and prayer.”  As examples, “swine’s flesh,” i.e., pork chops, beacon, ham (must I cover them all?), Etcetera, “and the mouse,” Isaiah 66:17, are NOT “sanctified by the Word of God.”  And Prayer will not help you to explain to God why you are still eating them.

 

4:14:  “laying on of the hands” = See also First Timothy 1:18.  Here is my Acts 13:2-3 Note:  This is none other than a symbol of the act of ordination, or ordaining one to the office and responsibilities of whatever.

 

“The ordination by the laying on of hands, was, at a later date, greatly abused; unwarrantable importance was attached to the act, as though a power came at once upon those who received such ordination, which immediately qualified them for any and all ministerial work, as though virtue lay in the act of laying on of hands.  We have, in the history of these two apostles, only a simple record of the laying on of hands, and its bearing upon their work.  Both Paul and Barnabas had already received their commission from God Himself [verse 2];

 

“and the ceremony of the laying on of hands added no new grace or virtual qualification.  It was merely setting the seal of the Church upon the Work of God -- an acknowledged form of designation to an appointed office.  This form was a significant one to the Jews.  When a Jewish father blessed his children, he laid his hands reverently upon their heads. When and animal was devoted to sacrifice, the hand of the one invested with priestly authority was laid upon the head of the victim.  Therefore, when the ministers of Antioch laid their hands upon the apostles, they, by that action, asked God to bestow His blessing upon them, in their devotion to the specific work which God had chosen them to do.” 3SP:349 & LP:43-44; 6RH:141; AA:159-160.

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

 

5:9:  “a widow” = We can see that this type of woman would only be accepted if FIRST, she was “the wife of [ONLY] one man, and SECOND, if she met the requirements of verse 10.  The meaning is, “Let her not be taken into the list of those for which the Church must provide.  And that no widow was to be admitted into that position who did not answer to the following character of verse 10.”

 

5:10:  “if she have washed the saints’ feet” = “There is no example given in the Word for brethren to wash sisters’ feet; but there is an example for sisters to wash the feet of brethren.  Mary washed the feet of Jesus with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.  I saw that the Lord had moved upon sisters to wash the feet of brethren and that it was according to gospel order.  All should move understandingly and not make the washing of feet a tedious ceremony.”  EW:117.1.

 

5:17:  “double honour” = The Greek word for “honour” is “time,” pronounced “tee-may,” and literally means, “money paid” (see its use in Mat. 27:9; Acts 4:34; 5:2 & 3; 7:16; 19:19 and others).

 

5:23:  “wine” = She my Bible Study:  “WINE, BIBLICALLY ACCEPTABLE.”

 

The Greek word used here is, “oinos,” which is here translated as “wine,” and may be either fermented or unfermented, depending on the context.  Alcoholic drink is categorically condemned in Proverbs 23:29-32 and Proverbs 20:1.  There is nothing in Paul’s counsel to Timothy which would indicate that this “little wine” was fermented.  The Bible writers recommend the unfermented grape juice as a blessing to the body.  “Thus saith the Lord, As the wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it,” Isaiah 65:8.  The kind of wine which is “in the cluster” [grapes] is non-alcoholic.  Some authorities today urge the drinking of grape juice based on its rapid therapeutic ingestion into the system.

 

“Paul advised Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake and oft infirmities, but he meant the unfermented juice of the grape.  He did not advise Timothy to take what the Lord had prohibited.”  4ST:58; 1PRC:546.

            

 

CHAPTER SIX

 

 

6:6:  “contentment” = This is an inward self-sufficiency, as opposed to the lack or the desire of outward things.  It was a favorite Stoic word, expressing the doctrine of that sect that a man should be sufficient unto himself for all things, and able, by the power of his own will, to resist the force of circumstances (see 2Co. 9:8 & Php. 4:11).  In other words, it is not the gaining which they pursue, and which makes men to be discontented with their present possessions, but the present and eternal gain which piety, whose accompaniment is contentment, secures to the soul.  The Greek word for contentment, “autarkeia,” is translated “sufficiency,” in Second Corinthians 9:8, and implies that one is “content” because of what has been supplied to him by God.

 

By contrast, the adjective “autarkes,” as found in Philippians 4:11, translated “content,” literally means, “having a sufficiency in one’s self,” or rater, independent of others.  The Lord always supplies His people with what is necessary for them.  True happiness lies in piety, but this sufficiency of Godly “contentment,” [supplied by God, with which moreover His people are content] is thrown into the scale as a kind of overweight.  Piety not only feels no need of what it has not, but also has that which exalts it above what it has not.  We see here the evil of covetousness.  However, the necessaries of life attack a true Christian’s desires, and with what he has already, he will endeavor to be content.  Godliness is great gain in that it brings about true sufficiency.  Wherever there is true godliness, there will be contentment.

 

6:10:  “For the love of money is the root of all evil” = “It is not God’s Will that His ministers should seek to be rich.” AA:366.

 

6:19:  “against the time to come” = “-- referring to the close of time, --” RH, March 4, 1880.

 

6:20:  “science falsely so called” = “The sciences of phrenology [a psychological theory or analytical method based onthe belief that certain mental faculties and character traits are indicated by the configurations of the skull], psychology [the science of the mind or of mental states and processes], and mesmerism [hypnosis induced], have been the channel through which Satan has come more directly to this generation, and wrought with that power which was to characterize his work near the close of probation. . . Satan has come unperceived through these sciences, and poisoned the minds of thousands and led them to infidelity.  He is well pleased to have them spread wide. It is his own plan, laid out by himself, that he may have access to minds, and influence them as he pleases.”  RH, February 18, 1862.