Part 1391

2:5. For there is one God: and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus:

One mediator.... Christ is the one and only mediator of redemption, who gave himself, as the apostle writes in the following verse.

2:6. Who gave himself a redemption for all, a testimony in due times.

A redemption for all.... He is also the only mediator, who stands in need of no other to recommend his petitions to the Father. But this is not against our seeking the prayers and intercession, as well of the faithful upon earth, as of the saints and angels in heaven, for obtaining mercy, grace, and salvation, through Jesus Christ. As St. Paul himself often desired the help of the prayers of the faithful, without any injury to the mediatorship of Jesus Christ.

2:7. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle (I say the truth, I lie not), a doctor of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

2:8. I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without anger and contention.

2:9. In like manner, women also in decent apparel: adorning themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with plaited hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire:

2:10. But, as it becometh women professing godliness, with good works.

2:11. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

2:12. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to use authority over the man: but to be in silence.

2:13.For Adam was first formed; then Eve.

2:14. And Adam was not seduced; but the woman, being seduced, was in the transgression.

2:15. Yet she shall be saved through child bearing; if she continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.

1 Timothy Chapter 3

What sort of men are to be admitted into the clergy. The church is the pillar of truth.

3:1. A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

3:2. It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,

Of one wife.... The meaning is not that every bishop should have a wife (for St. Paul himself had none), but that no one should be admitted to the holy orders of bishop, priest, or deacon, who had been married more than once.

3:3. Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but

3:4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.

3:5. But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

3:6. Not a neophyte: lest, being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.

A neophyte.... That is, one lately baptized, a young convert.

3:7. Moreover, he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

3:8. Deacons in like manner: chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:

3:9. Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.

3:10. And let these also first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime.

3:11. The women in like manner: chaste, not slanderers, but sober, faithful in all things.