The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Timothy — Section 53

Ver. 8.-The conduct of pub'lic prayer by men. The apostle now proceeds to indicate the persons by whom public prayer is to be conducted, and the spirit which is to govern this part of public worship. L PRA YEB IN THE CHRISTIAN AIISEMBLIES I8 TO BE CONDU<n'ED BY HEN. " I wish then that prayer be made in every place by men." 1. It is for men to manage and d-iret:t the public services of tM Church ; it is for women to take a more quiet though not leu real place in worship. As woman had been emancipated by the gospel-for there were no longer "male and female " in Christ-and as she had taken such a prominent place in ministering to Christ, the apostles, and the saints, there may have been a disposition on the part of female converts to assert themselves actively in th& public life of the Church at Ephesus and elsewhere. The apostle expreues not a mere wish or desire, but, what is equivalent to a solemn command, that the men alone should be responsible for the conduct of the public services. The injunction does not affect the right or duty of women to conduct prayer in private life or in meetings of their own eeL 2. Prayer u to be made in every plau. This rule is to obtain in all public assemblies of the saints, wherever held. There is, perhaps, a recollection of our Lord's words that there is to be no restriction of prayer to one holy place (John iv. 21). !L THE SPIRIT A.ND KANNER IN WHICH PU11LIO PRAYER I8 TO BE CONDUOTED. "Lifting up holy hands without wrath or disputing." 1. The postwre must be reverent. It was customary for the Jews to pray with uplifted hands. It was likewise the general attitude adopted by the early Christiane. It was the attitude significant (1) of the elevation of the heart to God ; (2) of the expectation of an answer from heaven. 2. The uplifted h.andB must be holy. They must be hands unstained by vice. "Cleanse your hands, purify your hearts" ( J as. iv. 8). The hands must be free from any sin that would render prayer unacceptable to God. "Wash you, make you clean " (Isa. i. 16). 3. Prayer slwuld be free from all passwnate/eeling. "Without wrath and dis- puting." Perhaps a.rising from religious altercation or debate. Prayer belongs to the peaceful heart. Faith and love are its two sUBtaining principles, and exclude the idea of passion against our fellow-men.-T. C. Ven. 9, 10.-The attin and <kpurtmen,e of 1l1071lffl m IM (Jhriatia,n, auemblia. The apostle continues hill directions in relation to public prayer. "Likewiae," he aya, In effect, "let women when they pray be modestly adorned." L THEIR APPAREL AND DEPORTMENT. "Likewise also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefaatneBB and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold, awl pear.la. m 0011tly raiaum.t." L TAe mjwu:tum r,;fm t,p,eially • Iha dra, ,f CH, II, 1-15.] THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY. 41