1 Timothy 2 | Liberation and Inclusion Translation

¹ First of all, therefore, I encourage making requests, prayers, intercessions,^a and giving thanks for all people— ² even for those who reign and for all who are connected with supremacy^b—so that we may lead a stable^c and undisturbed^d life with complete respect^e and dignity. ³ This is pleasing^f and welcomed^g from the perspective of God our Liberator,^h ⁴ who wants all people to be liberated and to come toward an understanding of truth. ⁵ You see, God is one, and there is one mediator between God and humanity, the human Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as payment for the price to free many people from enslavement,ⁱ evidence of this presented at the proper moment. ⁷ I’m speaking the truth; I’m not lying: I was appointed with faithfulness and trustworthiness as a herald of that evidence and an emissary and teacher for other peoples.

⁸ Therefore, I wish for the men everywhere to pray raising hands that act in alignment with divine values,^j free from anger and arguing. ⁹ Similarly, I wish for women to arrange^k themselves with restraint^l and moderation, with respect for God and self-discipline,^m not with plaitingⁿ and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, ¹⁰ but rather with generous^o actions, which make them stand out as women who claim to respect God.

¹¹ May a woman learn^p with full cooperation undisturbed,^q ¹² but I’m not directing^r the woman to take over teaching and domineer over^s a man, just to be undisturbed.^t ¹³ You see, first, Adam^u was formed, and then Eve^v was formed. ¹⁴ Adam was not tricked,^w but the woman, who was tricked,^x came to be in a sidestep. ¹⁵ However, Eve^y will be liberated^z through having had children^aa if they^bb persist^cc with self-discipline in faithfulness, love, and designation for sacred purposes.^dd

Footnotes

a Traditionally, ‘intercessions.’ The word includes meeting with someone to advocate for another but is more general, referring to many reasons for coming together and speaking with someone.
b Or ‘who are connected with high status’ or ‘who are connected with excess’.
c Traditionally, ‘peaceful’ here, heremos refers to tranquility and quiet serenity, in contrast with eirene which refers to harmony/solidarity.
d Traditionally, ‘quiet.’ While ‘quiet’ is one possible way to translate hesuchios, the core meaning has to do with stillness, being undisturbed.
e Traditionally, ‘all godliness.’ eusebeia includes treating people with respect, including toward parents and spouse.
f Or ‘good’ or ‘appealing’ or ‘pleasant’ or ‘attractive’ or ‘beautiful’ or ‘agreeable’.
g Or ‘approved’ or ‘acceptable’ or ‘validated’ or ‘affirmed’.
h Traditionally, ‘savior,’ which is not wrong but can be misleading in the context of historical usages of the word ‘savior.’
i Traditionally, ‘as a ransom for many.’ antilutron refers to payment paid for an enslaved person to transfer ownership; Christ pays and then liberates.
j Or ‘principled hands’ or ‘ethical hands’ or ‘humane hands.’ Traditionally, ‘holy hands.’
k The word ‘dress’ does not appear in Greek. The word translated here as ‘arrange’ is often translated as apparel, but the point is self-management; it is the same word as ‘self-regulated’ in 1 Timothy 3:2.
l Traditionally, ‘modesty.’ This is about not flaunting wealth/status, not about sexualized dress.
m Or ‘temperance,’ or ‘moderation,’ or ‘reasonableness.’
n Traditionally, ‘braided hair.’ ‘Hair’ is not in Greek; the word means plaited/woven and may refer to extravagance in hair or textiles/jewelry. The point is not flaunting wealth/power.
o Traditionally, ‘good’; this word usually carries a sense of being beneficial to others.
p Or ‘be a disciple/student’.
q Traditionally, ‘in quiet.’ The core meaning is being undisturbed.
r While ‘allow’ is possible, epitrepo primarily has to do with directing/instructing someone to do something (often to take over doing something).
s Traditionally—and incorrectly—‘have authority over.’ authentein occurs once in the Bible and did not mean ‘have authority over’ until centuries later; here it is closer to seizing authority/domineering/subjugating.
t Traditionally, ‘in quiet.’ The core meaning is being undisturbed.
u ‘Adam’ (Adam) is the word for ‘human’ in Hebrew.
v ‘Eve’ (Chavah) means ‘life giver’ in Hebrew (Genesis 3:20).
w Or ‘deceived’ or ‘cheated’ or ‘frustrated’ or ‘disappointed’.
x This wording communicates she was a victim in contrast with Adam, who deviated with full understanding.
y There is no word here in Greek; the subject is implied. English requires a supplied subject; Eve is the most likely antecedent.
z Traditionally, ‘saved.’ This word can also be translated ‘liberated,’ ‘restored,’ ‘healed,’ ‘protected,’ ‘rescued,’ and ‘saved.’
aa Or ‘through childbearing,’ but it is specifically the fact of having born children, not the labor process.
bb ‘They’ most likely refers to those descended from Eve.
cc Another possible reading is “through the birth of a child” (Jesus) with Genesis 3:14–15 in view; the implied subject of “will be liberated” could be supplied as “anyone,” and “they” would be “everyone” who persists.
dd Traditionally, ‘holiness.’