“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God
and one mediator between God and humanity,
Christ Jesus, Himself human,
6 who gave Himself—a ransom for all,
a testimony at the proper time.

7 For this I was appointed a herald, an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Instructions to Men and Women

8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.9 Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, 10 but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God. 11 A woman should learn in silence with full submission. 12 I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent. 13 For Adam was created first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. 15 But she will be saved through childbearing, if she continues in faith, love, and holiness, with good judgment.”

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When the natural order of things is upset, drama ensues. It’s pretty much a guarantee. And when Paul says, “so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity,” this isn’t a suggestion, it’s a goal. Living a tranquil, dignified life is a hallmark of Christ at work in you. Your surroundings can still be crazy and things that are out of your control may well be running rampant. But our sign of the Spirit in us is that in all things, we trust God, we work and serve according to His purposes and we pursue peace everywhere possible insomuch as that peace works according to His Word. We do not compromise to make people happy, we stand firm in the truth of God’s Word, will & instruction.

After this statement about quiet dignity, Paul reinforces his point by reminding us that this is all good and it pleases God, which should be our aim each day. Every day is an opportunity, and how we react to what happens around us is 100% our responsibility. I have met Christians whose lives should have been in utter turmoil for health reasons or for situations going on in their family, but they maintain that quiet dignity, acknowledging that God is sovereign and that they are content to rest in Him no matter what storms may be swirling around them. They are not super heroes, they are not cold, calloused people. They simply trust and walk according to His will. I have also seen the opposite, more often than I would like to admit, where people who claim Christ have lives that are constantly careening from one dramatic situation to another. A little explosion here, another overreaction there, nothing ever changes in their home or hearts and yet they cannot understand why life is the way it is. They do not trust, they do not take the Word of God to heart and they refuse to make long-term changes. Oh, they’ll adapt a little, but no permanent changes take place. The crazy cycle of 24/7 drama rules their life, and no one is surprised but them.  They have not recognized the authority of God, only the authority of self and their own desires, and so life continues careening over the brink.

Paul lays out some structure here in the later half of the chapter that echoes that need for order. It’s not that men are better than women, it’s simply that God has wired us differently, and because of that there is a certain order to be maintained. Women are not the center of drama, either, I know plenty of men that are good at popping off their mouths and stirring the pot. The point being here instead, that God has set things up a certain way, in His infinite wisdom, and each of us should take ownership of the roles He has given us. Men must behave responsibly, serving as the example for their households. Women must do likewise, maintaining their own God-honoring dignity. It’s not sexist, it’s not misogyny, it’s not even opportunistic. If men are living in proper, quiet dignity in a God-honoring way, then they will do everything they can to show respect and honor to those women around them. A man who claims Christ, yet demeans women, is fooling only himself. Women who desire to be like men, to have the position of a man in culture, strive for something unnatural, and cannot realistically expect to be viewed well.

Women can be strong. Women can be successful, and not just within some little bubble just for women, but out in the marketplace, serious contenders. But when it comes to the spiritual things of life, God has placed the man at the head. And as we read elsewhere this means that the man must die to self in order to live this role properly. This man must deny his ego, his fleshly desires and lift up his wife. He remains the head, but a head that is modeled after Christ, who did not see His own position as a point of pride, but carried our burdens in His body on the cross. This self-sacrificial leadership is the kind that immediately draws respect, appreciation and inspires love. 

Drama is the opposite of this. Drama is so often the lifting up of self, the prioritizing of pride, and it results in the cutting down of others. Wounds are never allowed to heal. Everything runs on gut feelings and impulse and hatred flows easily from lips and hands. Drama doesn’t reflect Christ. It never will. It is self-serving, opportunistic and kills without thought. It only seeks self, only serves self and only honors self, even thought that self is not very easy to honor. It is a hollow shell of meaning, and a way of life that encourages disease within the heart and soul.

Drama free is the way to be as we GoLove others in the Name of Christ, picking up our crosses and following Him daily in love, peace and quiet dignity.  John 3:30 – “He must become greater. I must become less.” It’s all about Him, not about us. 

* and just a note, when Paul says ‘silent,’ he is only speaking about the context of teaching in the presence of men. This isn’t an admonition to remain totally quiet at all times, or when at church. This instruction is meant for the context of teaching and leadership of the church where men are concerned. Paul talks elsewhere about women praying in the assembly, and we see how Jesus honored and respect women within His own group of disciples.