My dearest readers,
This is Bro. Angello Forero once again. And again, we have another article for the Bible’s neurodivergent analysis! On this occasion, we’ll talk about 1st Timothy 2. This chapter caught my attention in v.1:
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.
(New Living Translation (NLT))
Moreover, the point straight for this Disability Bible Study is caught in the vv. 5-6a:
For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—The Man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.
(NLT)
But which Christ are we talking about regarding human reconciliation and the Salvation Plan for those who wish to be born-again Christians? And who are Born Again Christians? What if our testimony stumbles around the corner by walking out the door by proclaiming Christ as our only and enough Savior? All faiths and religions are saved, right, but what about the hell? The answer is: Praying…
Well, if we pray to God, will He surely speak to us directly? If a conversation with God is like incense to heaven, will we have responses from Him in terms of fulfilling our vain wishes? As individuals with an invisible disability, how can we handle asking God specifically for our obsessions rather than for other people’s needs?
If I were a Bible scholar, I would have the response to this sort of question. Nevertheless, from not being a Bible scholar, I am out of sorts. My Christian life is like a can of worms, meaning that the Christian life for me doesn’t exist. However, the Bible takes into account seriously the Christian life, as is the sacred book of Christianity.
In relation to “All Religions are Saved”, in all times, I cannot agree with this because there are many Sacred Books in world religions. If it were for me, I would use this website to embed downloadable content that could be useful for English-speaking young people who attend public schools in their localities. Muslims have the Quran, Hinduists have the Vedah, and thus successively. Indeed, every organized religion has its own sacred text. But in Christianity, the Holy Bible has indeed divided the people of God.
Pointing out directly to 1 Timothy 2:5, there has always been ecumenism: The Catholic Church is filled with Hinduist adherents; Protestant churches are filled with Muslim adherents; and the Orthodox Church is filled with Jewish adherents. This is sad, but in reality, there are no Christians in the Church!
In terms of 1 Timothy 2:2, where St. Paul urges St. Timothy to pray for all the kings and governors of the world so, in my understanding of the original context, they could live peacefully and quietly marked by godliness and dignity, it may seem to me that, according to the explained above, we do not live a Christian life because our testimony encompasses the boundaries of what is allowed in Christianity though. In other words, our testimony stumbles and makes others fall! What could we do in terms of facing the surface of a godly testimony among worldly people? We want to evangelize the governments without understanding that supposedly “all governments are evil” and that saved parents should give away their children from the public education system. In certain circumstances, I do not agree with all these doctrines. Godliness is indeed something that all people need to have. That is right.
So, as always, we’ll talk about 1st Timothy 2, giving it the neurodivergent analysis the delicious Word of God deserves! So, we will be talking about godliness, and why this is so important, and besides godliness, we’ll talk about the true freedom that Jesus wanted to give for us by dying at the cross. And besides this beautiful theology, we’ll talk about the preaching we may want to give to other people in and out of the Church.
What is the principal idea of the selected text?
The following is an Epistle from St. Paul the Apostle to St. Timothy (cf. 1:2). This reminds me of Acts 16:1-3
“Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. Timothy was well-thought by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to the circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek”
How a tremendous blessing would be for a young Timothy to be invited to participate in the mission journey. But I must assert that the passage we’re studying in this article is an exhortation to a leader of the Early Church who was in his teenage years (I suppose). Something I must assert is that St. Timothy was the son of a Jewish believer mother but of a Greek father. I would say that this applies to my personal life as I live with my mother and my maternal grandmother (her mother), while my father lives with his wife in the same region of Colombia. For years, I’ve been greedily waiting to be a missionary, but to be a missionary, you must be pure and consecrated to the Lord and be involved in a Local Church. Amid that thing, I would assert that I agree with these terms since I never felt God’s call to minister and prepare outside Colombia or to study theology in a non-sectarian university here either. But anyway, He had mercy on me during these five (5) years of studying Theology at a non-sectarian university, in the end.
Based upon the above background of the Pauline Epistle, St. Paul the Apostle urges St. Timothy to “Pray for all People”, asking him to intercede on their behalf, helping them in whatever they need, and most of all, give thanks to them (v.1). He also urged St. Timothy for pray that same way for the kings and all in authority (on this, St. Paul the Apostle means, for politicians), to live peacefully quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity (v.3), reminding St. Timothy that it (prayer) is something good and that God pleases because of being the Savior, and wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth, granting thus to Him as the only God and Mediator who can reconcile God and Humanity, who sacrificed his life to purchase freedom for everyone (vv. 4-6a).
That message had been given by God to the world at the right time. Indeed, St. Paul was chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach this message specifically to the Gentiles about faith and truth (vv.6b-7).
The following verses serve as a concept of how ideal the Church would look like. These serve as instructions on how to be a Church.
First, St. Paul the Apostle orders men to pray with holy hands lifted to God directly, free from anger and controversy, in every place of worship. But that’s not at all, he also wants women to be modest in appearance (hence the concept of sexual purity, for further study, please read my blog on the neurodivergent analysis of 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 here), incentivizing them to wear decent and appropriate clothing and now drawing attention to themselves by the way they would fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls and anything else that corrupt them (vv.8-9), so they may be attractive by the good things they do (v. 10).
Now, something curious appears on the edge of this passage and is the fact that St. Paul the Apostle urges women to stay quiet and submissive, letting them listen quietly. So, what’s the principal idea for these verses: St. Paul the Apostle insists that God Himself created Adam first (that means, God foremost created man), so He created then to Eve (woman) (vv.11-13). Something beautiful and exciting from the Theology subject is found in the v.14:
And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.
(NLT)
So, why do I say how beautiful is the subject of Theology? Because it also gives women hope! In the final verse of this passage (v.15), women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
Good play on it, I guess. This passage is a must-read for all autistic Bible students! Now, let’s get to the significance of this passage!
What is the meaning of this passage?
“The Apostle’s first positive instruction to Timothy regarding his leadership of the Ephesian church was that believers should offer prayers for all people. He gave this directive to emphasize its importance, defend its value, and clarify its practice […]. In saying ‘first of all’ Paul underlined the importance of this Godward aspect of the church’s ministry. His use of the present tense throughout these verses indicates that he was setting before them what he hoped would be the practice of those to whom he directed his prayer exhortation. It is their varied ministries’ essential and primary phase” (Hiebert, 1992, p.16, as cited in Constable, 2014)
“For many contemporary congregations, the selection, recruitment, and equipping of lay leaders has become a challenge. ‘Time is’, as one sociologist observes, ‘the new currency’. People are less willing than they once were to serve on boards and committees. They often simply say, ‘I don’t have the time’. That’s probably true in part. But sometimes the problem is that people do not perceive the experience of serving in this way as meaningful or consequential. Moreover, the tried-and-true processes like nominating committees don’t seem to be working very well. Meanwhile, pastoral leaders wonder how well prepared and equipped the lay leaders are for the needs and challenges they have. In this segment we want to engage the questions surrounding the preparation, selection, recruitment, and equipment of all the congregation’s lay leaders. How can this challenge become an opportunity? How does 1 Timothy 3:1-13 helps us think in fresh ways about a congregation’s lay leadership?” (Robinson & Wall, 2012, pp.1470-1471)
“The disciples of Christ must be praying people; all, without distinction of nation, sect, rank, or party. Our duty as Christians, is summed up in two words; godliness, that is, the right worshipping of God; and honesty, that is, good conduct toward all men. These must go together: we are not truly honest, if we are not godly, and do not render to God his due; and we are not truly godly, if not honest. What is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, we should abound in. There is one Mediator, and that Mediator gave himself a ransom for all. And this appointment has been made for the benefit of the Jews and the Gentiles of every nation; that all who are willing may come in this way, to the mercy-seat of a pardoning God, to seek reconciliation with him. Sin had made a quarrel between us and God; Jesus Christ is the Mediator who makes peace. He is a ransom that was to be known in due time. In the Old Testament times, his sufferings, and the glory that should follow, were spoken of as things to be revealed in the last times. Those who are saved must come to the knowledge of the truth, for that is God’s appointed way to save sinners: if we do not know the truth, we cannot be ruled by it.” (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary, n.d)
3 Key Principles of the present Bible passage when it comes to the special needs ministry in the Church
Key Principle #1: Prayer
“Prayer is so important because it invites God into the situation we pray about, and it secures His working on behalf of those in need. Paul did not deal with the reason God has incorporated prayer into His sovereign control of the universe here. He assumed his readers understood this since God has revealed this elsewhere in Scripture. His point here was that Christians must not fail to take advantage of this supernatural resource at their disposal by neglecting prayer”. (Constable, 2014)
Perhaps prayer is what we as invisibly disabled individuals need more often. I say “perhaps” because supposedly we’d want to speak to a supernatural entity by faith alone. Well, as an autistic individual, it often makes it difficult to pray. I say that because in certain cases, I pray to God asking for irrelevant things that tend to be prejudicial for my own life, despite not wanting to have them, they are stronger than my person. This is due to the sin that makes many neurodivergent individuals struggle in life, even when they are diagnosed lately as many adults do. The more we feed our sins, the more we are condemned (that is my humble opinion about the prayer case).
I want to approach praying and journaling. I mean, I pray in a notebook, somehow digital, or physical, it doesn’t matter if you pray to God in writing, but the mere important thing for you is a prayer journal. If our Church leaders insist on reading God’s Word, what if we pray to Him in writing? I must assume that I am praying now to God by writing this article based on a very important manual for the entire and pure Christian religion.
Would wish besides to provide alternative devotions for autistic individuals in and across the internet inside the Protestant churches. Perhaps Catholicism is something beautiful, and so is Protestantism. In Southern Italy, there exists a folk religion linked directly to Catholicism. It is called “the Way of Blessings” (Benedicaria in Sicilian Italian). I was approached to this book by the own author, who on Facebook wrote me “Buy the book ‘Benedicaria Magical Catholicism”. When I did my search on the book, I realized about an alternative devotion that is commonly used in Southern Italy (particularly in the Region of Sicily). It is called “The Chain of St. Michael the Archangel”. Well, I couldn’t say exactly about this book because I haven’t read it, and I’m not a Catholic either, but I must assume that to sacrifice my life for the Protestant Church, I should buy both the book and the Saint Michael’s Chain in sacrifice to the Protestant Church. That is, indeed, a praying method!
Key Principle #2: There is one God and one mediator between the men: Jesus Christ the Lord.
As a sort of fact, I can accurately say this: There is only one God and one mediator between the men: Jesus Christ the Lord. Well, as a young Christian man who was harshly treated in a fundamentalist Christian school in Bogotá (Colombia’s capital city), I can say that many of those people who claim that Jesus is the only mediator between men are something that takes up oppression as well. Why do I say this? Because I lived it.
Moreover, most theologians inside the Roman Catholic Church say that this verse doesn’t necessarily say that Divine Mediation comes directly from the Lord, but heavenly intermediaries assist us in many circumstances. That is the Communion of Holy Ones (Saints and Angels). In some instances, I agree that there is only one God and Mediator between human beings, and that is the Lord. So, to exaggerate and footage the facts, some conservative Catholics say that the Saints and Angels are intercessors of the Lord in many factors but are not pretending to be gods or goddesses. However, in my humble manner of thinking, I suppose this source of thought is questioned, and in my culture here in Colombia, there are many Catholics who live worldly, pointing out to the Protestants to authentically attack them and say that it’s “idolatry”.
Now, analyzing neuro-divergently vv.4-6 of the studied passage, how can we connect the one Mediator and one God between men if we do not see, touch, or talk to Him? Is prayer something that we can use to connect with the Divine? I do not see that way, I guess. There are many things to do to serve the Lord and feel God’s call. That is, indeed, the Salvation Plan we often want to give to the unbelievers. Furthermore, something I want to contribute to this is that there are many differences between believers and disciples (I am indeed, a believer, rather than a disciple). In my Protestant (Most of all, Independent Fundamental Baptist) concept, those who receive God’s call tend to prepare in a country with a different culture, because of their authenticity of preparing for God and serving Him full-time. In some instances, I couldn’t agree more with that, but in the same way, those God-called servants tend to judge those who are marginalized and those who are having a bad moment. In my personal experience, I was judged by a young lady who prepared for the Lord in a Baptist seminary in Mexico for three (3) years, and as an effect, I keep thinking about her, because she judged me frequently. Later in life, my maternal grandmother (who was the first and only soul I had gained for the Lord), confessed to me that she [the young lady who prepared for the Lord in Mexico], made my grandma some bad gestures to her as she judged me in many ways.
Based upon this anecdote, the best we do to connect with God (even if we do not see or touch Him), is through a House of Worship. I can say that for those who are Catholic and are reading this article, there is a mere opportunity to work alongside the Roman Catholic leader (the Pope) in Vatican City, as not as recently, the Holy See (the Roman Catholic Church Headquarters), behold implemented a website for those professional and unskilled faithful of the Church who are interested in working there. Besides that, Saudi Arabia (the country where is located the Meca), is a very prosperous nation and even foreign nationals emigrate to that country without the need to implement their religions in other Christianized cultures. Yes, Arabia Saudi and Vatican City are two different countries, one is located in Europe and the other one is located in the Middle East. So, what is the point here? The point is that each one of them is the headquarters of their respective religions (Islam and [de facto] Christianity). In effect, would wish the Protestant Church headquarters to be located in Jerusalem (Israel) in the Holy Land. If we do not see God and do not touch Him, the best a neurodivergent individual can do is to connect with Him in the Holy Land and the Holy Bible, respectively.
Key Principle #3: The Ecclesial Ministry
In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.
Women should learn quietly and submissively. I do not let them women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. For God made Adam first, and afterward, He made Eve. And It was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. But women will be Saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
(1 Timothy 2:8-15 NLT)
The third key principle obtained for this Disability Bible Study is the instructions on what to expect about an ecclesial ministry. Despite St. Paul the Apostle pointing out more to women than to men (vv.9-15), it has always been asserted that Autism is more frequently diagnosed in boys than girls. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that girls do not seem to be autistic though. So, to generate no debate, I must assume that v. 8 is somehow directed toward men to be Holy on the Lord so long that they serve Him with Holy Hands, you know.
Would wish autistic women could read this Disability Bible Study that seeks for them to be saved more than autistic men. I appreciate them, as there are some autistic women whom I value much and there are even two women I know virtually, and that’s the matter why I have a friendship in the U.S. who is like a grandmother to me. I assume there are young women with Autism (whatever the gravity level is) who, besides being literal, tend to serve more the Lord than an average, neurotypical autistic woman. They are committed to reading the Bible, and they are more open-minded to godly things. Well, that is my approach to vv. 9-15!
How can these three principles be related to the suffering of an individual with an invisible disability?
Before finishing with this succulent Disability Christian Life Lesson, I want to approach Eareckson Tada pointing out vv.1-2 of the studied passage, as always:
“No one is above the need of God’s help in carrying out their responsibilities. So in his instructions of worship, Paul encouraged Timothy to ‘Pray for all People’. He went on to specifically note the need to pray for government officials and those in authority because it allows Christians to ‘live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity’. Rather than simply complaining about policy changes or worrying about funding cuts in health care or benefits, let us first pray for those in authority” (Beyond Suffering Bible, 2016)
Tremendous words from Mrs. Tada! I want to approach something quickly, and is that, during Donald J. Trump’s first U.S. presidential tenure, I remember printing out several copies of the White House Bible Study (WHBS). I say this in correlation to the words of Joni respecting the studied passage of the Holy Scriptures, as the teacher who taught the Bible to the Trump Administration (2017-2021), had taught these as well! As a reminder that, if you feel alone and that nobody is autistic in your congregation, you can make a difference! However, there is a certainty that those who preach the Bible, fall off saying that government is the one the disabled must reach. This is dangerous because it is legalism (Eareckson Tada, Bundy & Verbal, 2012, pp.66-67). This reminds me of a lady here in my city who was looking for help from me and my local Baptist Church because, according to her, she was a “Single Autism Mom”. I remembered having given her 5,000 Colombian Pesos, and she immediately thanked me but followed insisting I help her. So, I took my hands off and helped her contact another autism mom who worked at her local autism foundation… Today, she’s been chatting with her instead of me. This was, indeed, charity evidence about helping out the needy, but in the same way, I felt awkward with no way to help her. So, when St. Paul the Apostle instated St. Timothy to pray for those in authority, it reminded me of these two events that marked my life.
Hope you have had a great delight by reading this wonderful piece of Disability Bible Study. My name is Angello Forero and am at your service here in Colombia.
Angello Forero
Barranquilla, Colombia
References
1 Timothy 2 Matthew Henry’s Concise Commnetary. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19, 2024, from BibleHub: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/1_timothy/2.htm
Beyond Suffering Bible. (2016). Tyndale House Publishers.
Constable, T. (2014). Commentary on 1st and 2nd Timothy. Authenticity Book House.
Eareckson Tada, J., Bundy, S., & Verbal, P. (2012). Beyond Suffering: A Christian Perspective towards Disability Ministry. Joni and Friends.
Robinson, A., & Wall, R. (2012). Called To Lead: Paul’s Letters to Timothy for a New Day. WILLIAM B. EERDMANS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
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