I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: 2for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God1 our Saviour; 4who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man AL-MASIH2 ‘ISA3, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times; 7to which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth in AL-MASIH, not lying), a teacher of the nations in faith and truth.
8I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. 9In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety; not just with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing; 10but (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. 12But I do not permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. 13For Adam was first formed, then Hawa4. 14Adam wasn’t deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience; 15but she will be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.
- 2:4 God, English translation of theos. It is the Greek equivalent of elohim and eloah (Hebrew) which are related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
- 2:5 AL-MASIH – an Arabic title equivalent to the Messiah (Hebrew) or Christ (Greek), all of which mean the Anointed One, that is, God’s Chosen One. In ancient times, divinely-appointed kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil to signify their appointment to office. All of them point ahead to God’s ultimate Anointed One, the Messiah, AL-MASIH. Al-Kitab unanimously points to ‘ISA Ibn Maryam as the only person worthy to bear the title AL-MASIH. He is the one whom God sent into this world to save people from sin, and to usher in God’s Kingdom at his Second Coming. ↩︎
- 2:5 ‘ISA – The names ‘ISA (Arabic), ISHO (Syriac) and JESUS (Greek, IESOUS) are all derived from the Hebrew name YEHOSHUA, which means “YAHWEH saves.” (YAHWEH is God’s personal name revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.”) ↩︎
- 2:13 Hawa, derived from the Hebrew Havva, often translated Eve. ↩︎