What does 1 Timothy 2:3 mean?
The idea Paul is calling "good" here is the concept of prayer from verse 2. Paul has called for prayers for all people (1 Timothy 2:1), including kings and governing leaders (1 Timothy 2:2). This is a beneficial act which Paul wants to see Timothy include in church worship gatherings. The word translated "good" can also be understood as "noble," giving distinction and dignity to corporate prayer for governing leaders.This kind of prayer is also "pleasing" to God. The Greek word apodekton refers to something acceptable, agreeable, or welcoming. It is not merely pleasing to Paul, but also in "the sight of God our Savior." Paul also uses the phrase "God our Savior" in 1 Timothy 1:1, and three times in his letter to Titus (Titus 1:3; 2:10; 3:4). The phrase is usually associated with a command and highlights the authority of Paul's instruction regarding prayer in this context. All four of Paul's other mentions of this phrase for God include reference to a command, doctrine, or God's kindness.
First Timothy 2:1–8 provides a perspective on prayer. Christians are not only supposed to pray, but to pray for all people. This even includes kings, rulers, and government officials. The basis for this is that God wants to see such people saved; His love for them is as great as it is for anyone else. The earthly hope of a believer, then, is the ability to live in peace. Preaching one message was Paul's primary service to God: that all men are saved in the same way, which is by faith in Christ. The men of a church, then, should lead prayer with an attitude of cooperation and love.
In this passage, Paul encourages Timothy to lead his church in prayer, including prayers for government and worldly leaders. This flows naturally from the Christian view of humanity, which sees all men as loved by God and in need of the same salvation from sin. A large portion of the chapter is taken by Paul's comments on the role of women in worship services. Rather than focusing on flashy clothes and dramatic behavior, women are to be modest and godly. In addition, women should not take on specific spiritual leadership roles reserved for men.
