Some Rules for Men and Women

2 ¹First, I tell you to pray for all people. Talk to God about all people. Ask him for the things people need, and be thankful to him. ²You should pray for kings and for all people who have authority (power). Pray for those leaders so that we can have quiet and peaceful lives--lives full of worship and respect for God. ³This is good and it pleases God our Savior. ⁴God wants all people to be saved. And he wants all people to know the truth. ⁵There is only one God. And there is only one way that people can reach God. That way is through Jesus Christ, who is also a man. ⁶Jesus gave himself to pay for [the sins of] all people. Jesus is proof [that God wants all people to be saved]. And he came at the right time. ⁷That is why I was chosen to tell the Good News.* That is why I was chosen to be an apostle.* (I am telling the truth. I am not lying.) I was chosen to be a teacher of the non-Jewish people. I teach them to believe and know the truth. ⁸I want men everywhere to pray. These men who lift up their hands in prayer must be holy.* They must not be men who become angry and have arguments. ⁹I also want women to wear clothes that are right for them. Women should dress with respect and right thinking. They should not use fancy braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes to make themselves beautiful. ¹⁰But they should make themselves beautiful by doing good things. Women who say they worship God should make themselves beautiful in that way. ¹¹A woman should learn while listening quietly and while being fully ready to obey. ¹²I don't allow a woman to teach a man. And I don't allow a woman to have authority (power) over a man. The woman must continue in quietness. Why? ¹³Because Adam was made first. Eve was made later. ¹⁴Also, Adam was not the one who was tricked [by the devil].* It was the woman who was tricked and became a sinner. ¹⁵But women will be saved in their work of having children. They will be saved if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, and control themselves in the right way.

Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. apostle A person Jesus chose to represent him in a special way. holy A holy person lives in a way that pleases God. Adam was not ... devil The devil tricked Eve, and Eve caused Adam to sin (Gen. 3:1-13).