1Ti 2:8-10 | TNotes | STEP | 2:8 Genuine prayer had evidently deteriorated among the Ephesians due to the false teachers’ influence (see 1 Tim 6:4-5 ; 1:4 ; cp. 2 Tim 3:1-5 ; Titus 3:9-11 ). • holy hands lifted up: Cp. Isa 1:15-17 . An ancient posture of praise and supplication (see Exod 9:29 ; 1 Kgs 8:22 , 54 ; Neh 8:6 ; Ps 28:2 ; Luke 24:50 ). • free from anger and controversy: Cp. Jas 3:8-12 .

2:8 ^a Genuine prayer had evidently deteriorated among the Ephesians due to the false teachers’ influence (see 1 Tim 6:4-5 ^b; 1:4 ^c; cp. 2 Tim 3:1-5 ^d; Titus 3:9-11 ^e).

• holy hands lifted up: Cp. Isa 1:15-17 ^f. An ancient posture of praise and supplication (see Exod 9:29 ^g; 1 Kgs 8:22 ^h, 54 ⁱ; Neh 8:6 ^j; Ps 28:2 ^k; Luke 24:50 ^l).

• free from anger and controversy: Cp. Jas 3:8-12 ^m.
Summary for 1Tim 2:9-10: 2:9-10 ⁿ The subject is still community prayer.

• to be modest in their appearance: Christian women must praise God rather than seek to be praised by people (cp. 1 Pet 3:3-5 ^o). They are to do good deeds for others, not focus on enhancing their appearance or being sexually seductive. Jewelry and expensive clothes imply wealth (see 1 Tim 6:5-10 ^p, 17-19 ^q), which might have played into the power struggles Timothy had to combat (2:11-15 ^r).