1 TIM 2:8 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and argument;

UST Next, wherever you worship God, here is how I desire men to pray: They should not be angry or quarreling with each other. Instead, they should pray in a way that honors God.

BLB Therefore I desire the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, apart from anger and dissension.

AICNT Therefore, I desire that men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger and argument.

OEB My desire, then, is that it should be the custom everywhere for the men to lead the prayers, with hands reverently uplifted, avoiding heated controversy.

2DT Therefore, I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up saintly hands without anger and deliberation.

WEBBE I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.

LSV I intend, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, apart from anger and deliberation;

FBV What I really want is for men everywhere to pray sincerely to God.[fn] No anger or arguments!

2:8 Literally, “holding up holy hands.”

TCNT Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or [fn]argument.

2:8 argument ¦ arguments WH

T4T I desire that in every place where believers worship, the men who pray publicly [MTY] should be men who are not practicing sin. When they pray, they should not be angry with anyone and they should not doubt that God will answer their prayers (OR, should not quarrel with anyone).

LEB Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and dispute.

BBE It is my desire, then, that in every place men may give themselves to prayer, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or argument.

Moff Now I want the men to offer prayer at any meeting of the church; and let the hands they lift to heaven be holy — they must be free from anger and dissension.

Wymth So then I would have the men everywhere pray, lifting to God holy hands which are unstained with anger or strife;

ASV I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.

DRA I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without anger and contention.

YLT I wish, therefore, that men pray in every place, lifting up kind hands, apart from anger and reasoning;

Drby I will therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up pious hands, without wrath or reasoning.

RV I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.

SLT I will therefore men shall pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without anger and reasoning.

Wbstr I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

KJB-1769 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

KJB-1611 I will therefore that men pray euery where, lifting vp holy handes without wrath, and doubting.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I wyll therefore, that the men praye euerywhere, lyftyng vp holy handes, without wrath and reasonyng.
(I will therefore, that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and reasoning.)

Gnva I will therefore that the men pray, euery where lifting vp pure hands without wrath, or douting.
(I will therefore that the men pray, every where lifting up pure hands without wrath, or douting. )

Cvdl I wil therfore that men praye in all places, liftinge vp pure hades without wrath or dowtynge.
(I will therefore that men pray in all places, lifting up pure hands without wrath or dowting.)

TNT I wyll therfore that the men praye every where liftynge vp pure hondes without wrath or dowtinge.
(I will therefore that the men pray every where lifting up pure hands without wrath or dowtinge. )

Wycl Therfor Y wole, that men preye in al place, liftinge vp clene hondis with outen wraththe and strijf.
(Therefore I will, that men pray in all place, lifting up clean hands without wrath and strife.)

Luth So will ich nun, daß die Männer beten an allen Orten und aufheben heilige Hände, ohne Zorn und Zweifel.
(So will I now, that the men pray at/to all/everyone places and lift holy hands, without anger and Zweifel.)

ClVg Volo ergo viros orare in omni loco, levantes puras manus sine ira et disceptatione.[fn]
(I_want therefore men to_pray in/into/on all instead, raise/liftntes puras hands without anger/rage and disceptatione. )

2.8 Volo ergo viros, etc. AUG., serm. 93 de Tempore. Levavit Christus pro nobis manus suas in cruce, etc., usque ad ut veniant tibi in mentem opera tua. Ira, ad proximum; disceptatione, ad Deum.

2.8 I_want therefore men, etc. AUG., serm. 93 from/about Tempore. I_liftedt Christ/Messiah for us hands their_own in/into/on stake/cross, etc., until to as they_come to_you in/into/on mind works your. Ira, to next_door; disceptatione, to God.

UGNT βούλομαι οὖν, προσεύχεσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ, ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ διαλογισμοῦ.
(boulomai oun, proseuⱪesthai tous andras en panti topōi, epairontas hosious ⱪeiras ⱪōris orgaʸs kai dialogismou.)

SBL-GNT Βούλομαι οὖν προσεύχεσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ, ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ ⸀διαλογισμοῦ.
(Boulomai oun proseuⱪesthai tous andras en panti topōi, epairontas hosious ⱪeiras ⱪōris orgaʸs kai ⸀dialogismou.)

RP-GNT Βούλομαι οὖν προσεύχεσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ, ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας, χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ διαλογισμοῦ.
(Boulomai oun proseuⱪesthai tous andras en panti topōi, epairontas hosious ⱪeiras, ⱪōris orgaʸs kai dialogismou.)

TC-GNT Βούλομαι οὖν προσεύχεσθαι τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ, ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας, χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ [fn]διαλογισμοῦ.
(Boulomai oun proseuⱪesthai tous andras en panti topōi, epairontas hosious ⱪeiras, ⱪōris orgaʸs kai dialogismou. )

2:8 διαλογισμου ¦ διαλογισμων WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

The Household

The household was the basic unit of Greco-Roman society; it was believed that the stability of the state rested upon the stability of the household. Roles and responsibilities were well defined and deeply ingrained. The central concern was to maintain the “natural” ordering of authority and subordination, the violation of which would lead to degradation and corruption. In this framework, the husband-father-master was over all. The public space of society and government belonged to men, the private space of the home belonged to women. It was not uncommon for Greco-Roman orators to accuse new foreign cults (as Christianity was perceived) of corrupting and destabilizing society, precisely by threatening the structure of the household.

The New Testament household codes (see Eph 5:21–6:9; Col 3:18–4:1; 1 Tim 2:8-15; 5:1-2; 6:1-2; Titus 2:1–3:8; 1 Pet 2:18–3:7) were therefore not innovations, even if these catalogs were adapted by the apostles to fit the Christian faith and to address particular needs. In practice, the Christian faith would result in the significant modification of cultural norms. Yet wisdom and loving restraint were needed, because heedlessly violating cultural norms created destructive upheaval and threatened to bring disrepute, disgrace, and shame on the entire household—including Christ, its head. This seems to be the effect of certain false teachers in Ephesus, as discussed in 1 Timothy. In this context, the New Testament household codes guided Christian communities toward a life that (1) silenced the accusations of unbelievers that Christianity was a threat to the state; and (2) served as a compelling, winsome witness to the truth.

Passages for Further Study

Eph 5:21–6:9; Col 3:18–4:1; 1 Tim 2:8-15; 3:5, 12, 15; 5:1-2, 8; 6:1-2; Titus 2:1–3:8; 1 Pet 2:13–3:7; 4:17; 5:1-5

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Timothy that it was important that believers should pray

In this section Paul told Timothy some things that the believers should do when they met together regularly to worship God. They should pray for everybody. The men should pray in holiness and without anger, and the women should dress and behave modestly and appropriately.

Paragraph 2:8

In 2:2a, Paul told Timothy whom believers should pray for. Here in 2:8, he told him how the men should pray. They should pray, “lifting holy hands,” and “without anger or disputing.”

2:8a

Therefore I want the men everywhere

¶ I am telling men that wherever they meet to worship God,
¶ Therefore, in every place where believers gather to worship God, I command the men

Therefore: This translates the Greek word oun. This Greek word connects this verse with 2:1–7. Some translations leave the connection implicit here. You should use the method in your language that most clearly conveys that 2:8 is the result of previous verses, that is, God wants Christians to pray for everyone. Therefore, men should pray, lifting holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

I want: Because Paul was an apostle (as he mentioned in 2:7b), he had authority to tell believers what he wanted them to do. He could also expect them to obey him. Therefore, when Paul wrote I want, he meant “I command.”

the men: The Greek word here that the BSB translates as men means males as opposed to females. It seems that Paul was speaking here about a problem that specifically affected the male believers.

everywhere: At the time when Paul was writing this letter, believers often met in each others’ houses to pray and worship God. The words that the BSB translates as everywhere probably refer to all the different places where believers met.Ferguson (1991). For example, the NLT says:

wherever you assemble

2:8b

to pray, lifting up holy hands,

they should make sure that they are living in a holy way before they lift their hands to pray to God.
to pray, raising their hands in total dedication to God.

to pray, lifting up holy hands: At the time when Paul was writing, people normally prayed standing up. They also often lifted their hands while they prayed.Stott, page 82, refers the reader to the following references about standing for prayer: Nehemiah 9:5; cf. Genesis 18:22; 1 Samuel 1:26; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 18:13; Revelation 7:9. He refers to the following references about “lifting” or “spreading” hands in prayer: Psalm 28:2; Lamentations 3:41; cf. Exodus 9:29, 17:11–12; 1 Kings 8:22; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalms 63:4, 134:2, 143:6. This was also a common way to pray in the Old Testament. See Psalm 134:2, Lamentations 2:19 for examples.

holy hands: Before men pray they should be sure to give themselves totally to God. Paul was emphasizing this when he said that men’s hands should be holy.

2:8c

without anger or dissension.

They should not be angry or still have an unresolved argument with someone.
They should stop being angry with anyone and if they have been arguing with someone, they should resolve the argument before they pray.

without anger or dissension: Here Paul mentioned specifically in what sense the men should be holy when they prayed. They should not feel angry toward anyone and they should not be continually quarreling with anyone. Jesus said something similar in Matthew 5:23–24.

anger: Paul was saying that a person should not pray while he is angry with someone else. He was probably thinking mainly that believers should not be angry at each other. He meant that people should stop being angry so that they can pray.

dissension: Paul meant that people should resolve their arguments and quarrels before they pray.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

οὖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: βούλομαι Οὖν προσεύχεσθαι τούς ἄνδρας ἐν παντί τόπῳ ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας χωρίς ὀργῆς καί διαλογισμοῦ)

Here, the word Therefore introduces a further development of what Paul has said about praying for people in [2:1–7](../02/01.md). Now, he gives commands concerning how people should pray. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces this kind of development, or you could leave Therefore untranslated. Alternate translation: [Now] or [In light of that]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

τοὺς ἄνδρας

Here the word men refers specifically to males. The term does not refer to people in general, since Paul next addresses women specifically. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that refers specifically to adults who are male. Alternate translation: [the males]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν παντὶ τόπῳ

in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: βούλομαι Οὖν προσεύχεσθαι τούς ἄνδρας ἐν παντί τόπῳ ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας χωρίς ὀργῆς καί διαλογισμοῦ)

Here Paul implies that every place is any location where the believers are worshiping God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [in every place of worship] or [in every location where worship is happening]

Note 4 topic: translate-symaction

ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας

lifted_up devout hands

In Paul’s culture, lifting up one’s hands was a common posture for someone who was praying. If it would be helpful in your language, you could refer to a common posture for prayer in your culture, or you could explain the meaning of this posture. Alternate translation: [folding holy hands] or [lifting up holy hands to pray]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

ἐπαίροντας ὁσίους χεῖρας

lifted_up devout hands

Paul describes as holy one part of the person, the hands, to indicate that the entire person is to be holy. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [being holy as they lift up their hands] or [lifting up their hands as men who are holy]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

χωρὶς ὀργῆς καὶ διαλογισμοῦ

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of anger and argument, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [without being angry and arguing]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

διαλογισμοῦ

speculation

Here, the word translated argument could be describing: (1) quarrels or conflicts. Alternate translation: [conflict] (2) doubts. Alternate translation: [doubt]

Parallel 1 TIM 2:8

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Timothy that it was important that believers should pray

Paragraph 2:8

2:8a

2:8b

2:8c

Parallel 1 TIM 2:8