1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy · Chapter 2

1 Timothy 2:10

1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.7Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

This verse finishes a sentence that starts in 2:9. Women in the church should 'adorn themselves' not with braided hair, gold, pearls, or costly clothing, but with good works. It belongs to Paul's instructions on prayer and conduct in worship (2:1-15). 1 Timothy 2:91 Timothy 2:101 Timothy overview

SpeakingThe letter names Paul the apostle as its writer. 1 Timothy overview

ToThe letter is addressed to Timothy, whom Paul had left to lead the church at Ephesus. He is to guide how believers there conduct themselves. 1 Timothy overview

Also involvedWomen in the church who profess godliness. Verse 2:8 speaks to the men in the same way. 1 Timothy 2:81 Timothy 2:91 Timothy 2:10

The verse swaps one kind of 'adornment' for another. Instead of showy dress and jewelry, a woman who claims to revere God should be marked by good works. Her deeds are meant to be what people notice. 1 Timothy 2:91 Timothy 2:10Strong's G4241Strong's G2041

The letter was sent to Ephesus, a wealthy port city and capital of the Roman province of Asia. 1 Timothy overview

ACHAIAASIAGALATIAAegean SeaEphesusLaodiceaMiletusPhilippiThessalonicaCorinth

The eventsThe instruction concerns the ongoing worship and life of the church in Ephesus while Timothy led it. 1 Timothy overview

WrittenTraditional view: Paul wrote it about AD 62-64. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date it around AD 80-110, written in Paul's name by a follower. Others defend Paul's authorship and the earlier date. 1 Timothy overview

HerePaul is guiding conduct in worship. He wants what believers do to fit what they say they believe, without wrath among the men and without showy display among the women. 1 Timothy 2:81 Timothy 2:91 Timothy 2:101 Timothy overview

In the whole of ScriptureA major theme of the letter is that sound teaching produces godly living, so belief and behavior belong together. Titus 3:8 similarly urges believers to 'maintain good works.' 1 Timothy overviewTitus 3:8

For readersA person's real beauty is shown in good deeds rather than costly display. 1 Peter 3:3 makes the same point, and Acts 9:36 praises Tabitha as 'full of good works.' 1 Peter 3:3Acts 9:36

  • becomethπρέπω
    Greek · prepō · G4241

    The word means 'to be fitting or suitable.' It carries on the clothing picture from 2:9. Good works are what truly 'suit' a godly woman, the way fine clothes are meant to. Strong's G42411 Timothy 2:9

  • professingἐπαγγέλλω
    Greek · epangellō · G1861

    The word means to profess or openly claim something. The verse ties a public claim of godliness to a life that matches it. Strong's G1861

  • godlinessθεοσέβεια
    Greek · theosebeia · G2317

    This word means 'fear of God' or reverence for God. In the New Testament it appears only here. The point is inner reverence that shows itself in deeds. Strong's G2317

  • worksἔργον
    Greek · ergon · G2041

    'Works' means deeds, tasks, or labor. The 'adornment' Paul has in mind is active service done for others, not a passive look. Strong's G2041Strong's G0018

Takeaway

In context, this verse says that for women who claim to revere God, good deeds, not expensive appearance, are the fitting adornment. 1 Timothy 2:91 Timothy 2:10Strong's G4241

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-22.

The world around the text

Behind this verse

Hair, gold and pearls
Portraits of wealthy Roman women of the period show elaborately braided and piled hairstyles. Pliny tells of Lollia Paulina, once married to the emperor Caligula, wearing emeralds and pearls worth 40 million sesterces to an ordinary betrothal dinner. Peter's letter names the same adornments. Pliny, Natural History 9.1171 Peter 3:3-4

About AD 62-64. Roman emperor: Nero (AD 54-68). Where Timothy was when Paul wrote. A port city on the west coast of today's Turkey and the greatest market of the province of Asia.

Who ruled
  • Roman emperorNeroAD 54-68

    Emperor over the whole Roman world, including Ephesus, Macedonia and Judea. When Paul appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen, the Caesar was Nero. Paul tells Timothy to have prayers made "for kings, and for all that are in authority." Acts 25:10-12Acts 28:161 Timothy 2:1-2Suetonius, NeroTacitus, Annals 13-16

  • Governor of the province where Ephesus stoodThe proconsul of AsiaOne-year terms

    Asia was governed by a proconsul, a former consul appointed by the Senate for a year at a time, who heard cases in the province's leading cities. During the riot in Ephesus the town clerk reminded the crowd that "the law is open, and there are deputies" (proconsuls). Acts 19:38-39Strabo, Geography 17.3.25

  • Jewish client kingHerod Agrippa IIc. AD 50-90s

    Ruled territories north and east of Galilee under Rome and had the right to appoint the high priest in Jerusalem. He heard Paul's defense with Festus and told him, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 25:13Acts 26:28Josephus, Antiquities 20.179, 20.203

  • Roman governors of JudeaFestus, Albinus and Florusc. AD 59-66

    Porcius Festus sent Paul to Rome and died in office around AD 62. Lucceius Albinus (62-64) and Gessius Florus (64-66) followed; Josephus blames Florus's greed and brutality for pushing Judea into revolt. Acts 24:27Acts 25:12Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203, 20.252-258Josephus, Jewish War 2.271-308

  • King of ParthiaVologases Ic. AD 51-78

    Ruler of the Parthian empire east of the Euphrates, Rome's one great rival. He fought Rome over Armenia until a settlement in AD 63 let his brother Tiridates rule Armenia as Rome's client. Tacitus, Annals 15.1-17, 15.24-31Cassius Dio, Roman History 62.19-23

What was happening, AD 58 to AD 68
  1. AD 58-63
    WarRome and Parthia fight over Armenia

    Roman armies under Corbulo took the Armenian capitals Artaxata and Tigranocerta. In AD 62 a second Roman army under Paetus surrendered at Rhandeia, and in AD 63 the two empires made peace. Tacitus, Annals 13.34-41, 14.23-26, 15.1-17, 15.24-31

  2. AD 60
    DisasterEarthquake destroys Laodicea

    Laodicea, about 150 km (95 miles) east of Ephesus in the same province, was ruined by an earthquake and rebuilt from its own wealth without help from Rome. Paul's letters mention the church there, and Revelation later quotes the city's boast, "I am rich." Tacitus, Annals 14.27Colossians 4:13-16Revelation 3:17

  3. AD 60-61
    WarBoudica's revolt in Britain

    Boudica, queen of the Iceni, led a rising that burned Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium before the Roman governor Suetonius Paulinus defeated her. Tacitus, Annals 14.29-39

  4. c. AD 60-62
    The churchPaul under guard in Rome

    Paul lived two whole years in Rome under house arrest, receiving visitors and preaching openly. The traditional date for 1 Timothy places it soon after his release. Acts 28:16Acts 28:30-31

  5. c. AD 61-63
    DiscoveryNero's expedition up the Nile

    Nero sent a party of soldiers to find the source of the Nile. They travelled far beyond Egypt and reached vast marshes they could not cross, likely the Sudd in today's South Sudan. The date is approximate. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.8.3-4Pliny, Natural History 6.181

  6. AD 62
    The churchJames, the Lord's brother, is killed in Jerusalem

    Festus died in office. Before the next governor arrived, the high priest Ananus had "James, the brother of Jesus who was called Christ" and others stoned. Ananus was removed after three months. Josephus, Antiquities 20.197-203Galatians 1:19Acts 15:13

  7. AD 62 or 63
    DisasterEarthquake hits Pompeii

    An earthquake badly damaged Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, seventeen years before Vesuvius buried them. Seneca dates it to AD 62; Tacitus to AD 63. Seneca, Natural Questions 6.1Tacitus, Annals 15.22

  8. c. AD 62
    DiscoveryHero of Alexandria's machines

    The engineer Hero of Alexandria, whose work is dated by an eclipse of AD 62 he describes, wrote up a steam-spun sphere (the aeolipile) and a coin-operated machine that dispensed water in temples. Hero, Pneumatics 1.21, 2.11Hero, Dioptra 35

  9. c. AD 63-64
    BuildingJerusalem's temple is finished

    Work on the temple Herod began around 20 BC was completed under Albinus, leaving some 18,000 workers without jobs. Six years later Roman armies destroyed it, as Jesus had foretold. Josephus, Antiquities 20.219-222John 2:20Luke 21:5-6

  10. July AD 64
    DisasterThe Great Fire of Rome

    Fire burned for days. Of Rome's fourteen districts, three were destroyed and seven badly damaged. Nero then built his vast Golden House on the cleared land. Tacitus, Annals 15.38-43Suetonius, Nero 31, 38

  11. AD 64
    The churchNero blames and kills Christians

    To end rumours that he had started the fire, Nero blamed the Christians of Rome. Tacitus records a "vast multitude" put to death, some torn by dogs and some burned as torches. Tacitus, Annals 15.44Suetonius, Nero 16.2

  12. AD 65
    RulersA plot against Nero fails

    The Pisonian conspiracy to kill Nero was betrayed. Among those forced to take their own lives was Seneca, Nero's former tutor and the brother of Gallio, the governor who dismissed the case against Paul in Corinth. Tacitus, Annals 15.48-74Acts 18:12-17

  13. AD 66
    WarThe Jewish revolt begins

    After Florus seized money from the temple treasury, Jerusalem rose against Rome and the daily sacrifice offered for the emperor was stopped. The war ended with Jerusalem and its temple destroyed in AD 70. Josephus, Jewish War 2.293-308, 2.409-410Luke 21:20-24

  14. AD 66-67
    BuildingNero tours Greece and starts a canal at Corinth

    Nero competed in the Greek games and broke ground for a canal across the Isthmus of Corinth. The work stopped after his death; the canal was finally cut in 1893. Suetonius, Nero 19, 22-24

  15. c. AD 67
    The churchPaul's death in Rome

    In his last letter Paul writes from prison that "the time of my departure is at hand." Early Christian tradition says he was beheaded in Rome under Nero. 2 Timothy 4:6-8Eusebius, Church History 2.25

  16. June AD 68
    RulersNero dies

    Facing revolt in the provinces and declared an enemy by the Senate, Nero took his own life. Four emperors ruled in turn during the following year before Vespasian took power. Suetonius, Nero 47-49Tacitus, Histories 1.2

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then the ancient historians who wrote about these years (Tacitus, Suetonius, Josephus, Seneca, Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Cassius Dio). Dates are as those writers give them; approximate dates say so. Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
butἀλλ᾽all᾽G0235
but

ἀλλά (alla) ἀλλά (ἀλλ᾽ usually bef. α and υ, often bef. ε and η, rarely bef. ο and ω, never bef. ι; Tdf., Pr., 93 f.; WH, App., 146), adversative particle, stronger than δέ; prop. neuter pl. of ἄλλος, used adverbially, with changed accent; hence prop. otherwise, on the other hand (cf. Rom.3:31); …

with whatὃhoG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

is becomingπρέπειprepeiG4241
be proper

πρέπω (prepō) πρέπω [in LXX: Psa.93:5 (נָאָה pi.), etc. ;] 1. to be clearly seen. 2. to resemble. 3. to be fitting or becoming, to suit: with dative, Heb.7:26, 1Ti.2:10, Tit.2:1; impers., with dative, Eph.5:3; id. before inf., Heb.2:10; πρέπον ἐστίν, with dative of person(s) and inf., Mat.3:15; with accusative and inf., 1Co.11:13 (see Bl., § 72, 5).† (AS)

to womenγυναιξὶνgunaixinG1135G
woman

γυνή (gunē) γυνή, -αικός, ἡ, [in LXX for אִשָּׁה ;] 1. a woman, married or unmarried: Mat.11:11 14:21, al.; ὕπανδρος γ., Rom.7:2; γ. χήρα, Luk.4:26; in vocat., γύναι implies neither reproof nor severity, but is used frequently as a term of respect and endearment, Mat.15:28, Jhn.2:4, 4:21 19:26. 2. a wife: Mat.1:20, 1Co.7:3, 4 al.; γ. ἀπολύειν, Mrk.10:2, al.; γ. ἔχειν Mrk.6:18; γ. λαβεῖν, Mrk.12:19; γ. γαμεῖν, Luk.14:20. 3. a deaconess, 1Ti.3:11 (CGT, in l.). (AS)

professingἐπαγγελλομέναιςepangellomenaisG1861
to profess

ἐπαγγέλλω (epangellō) ἐπ-αγγέλλω [in LXX: Est.4:8 (אָמַר), Pro.13:12, Wis.2:13, al. ;] 1. to announce, proclaim. 2. (a) to promise; (b) to profess. Mid., also frequently in both these senses; (with) to promise: with dab. of person(s), Heb.6:13; with accusative of thing(s), Rom.4:21, Tit.1:2; with dative of person(s) and accusative of thing(s), Jas.1:12 2:5, 2Pe.2:19; ἐπαγγελίαν, 1Jn.2:25; with inf., Mrk.14:11, Act.7:5; before λέγων, Heb.12:26; ptcp., Heb.10:23 11:11; (d) to profess: θεοσέβειαν, 1Ti.2:10; γνῶσιν, 1Ti.6:21. Pass., Gal.3:19 (cf. προ-επαγγέλλω; and see Cremer, 26).† (AS)

[the] fear of God,θεοσέβειαν,theosebeianG2317
reverence for God

θεοσέβεια (theosebeia) θεοσέβεια, -ας, ἡ (θεοσεβής), [in LXX Gen.20:11 (אֱלֹהִים יִרְאָה), Job.28:28 (אֲדֹנָי id.), Sir.1:24, Bar.5:4, 4Ma.7:6 4Mac 7:22, א 4Ma.15:28 א 4Ma.17:15 * ;] fear of God, godliness: 1Ti.2:10.† (AS)

throughδι᾽di᾽G1223
through/because of

διά (dia) διά (before a vowel δ᾽, exc. Rom.8:10, 2Co.5:7, and in (Proper name)s; Tdf., Pr., 94), prep. with genitive, accusative, as in cl.; 1. with genitive, through; (i) of Place, after verbs of motion or action: Mat.2:12 12:43, Mrk.2:23, Luk.4:30, Jhn.4:4, 2Co.11:33, al.; σώζεσθαι (διας-) δ. πυρός, ὕδατος, 1Co.3:15, 1Pe.3:20; βλέπειν δ. ἐσόπτρου, 1Co.13:12; metaphorically, of a state or condition: Rom.14:20, 2Co.2:4 5:7, 10; δ. γράμματος, ἀκροβυστίας (Lft., Notes, 263, 279), Rom.2:27 4:11; δι ̓ὑπομενῆς, Rom.8:25. (ii) Of Time; …

worksἔργωνergōnG2041
work

ἔργον (ergon) ἔργον, -ου, τό (originally Ϝέργον, work), [very frequently in LXX, chiefly for מַשֶׂה, מְלָאכָה, also for עֲבֹדָה, פֹּעַל, etc. ;] 1. work, task, employment: Mrk.13:34, Jhn.4:34 17:4, Act.13:2, Php.1:22 2:30, 1Th.5:13, al.; of an enterprise or undertaking (Deu.15:10, Wis.2:12), Act.5:38. …

good.ἀγαθῶν.agathōnG0018
good

ἀγαθός (agathos) ἀγαθός, -ή, -όν, [in LXX chiefly for טוֹב ;] in general, good, in physical and in moral sense, used of persons, things, acts, conditions, etc., applied to that which is regarded as "perfect in its kind, so as to produce pleasure and satisfaction, . . . that which, in itself good, is also at once for the good and the advantage of him who comes in contact with it" (Cremer, 3): γῆ, Luk.8:8; δένδρον, Mat.7:18; καρδία, Luk.8:15; δόσις, Jas.1:17; μέρις, Luk.10:42; ἔργον (frequently in Pl.), Php.1:6; ἐλπίς, 2Th.2:16; θησαυρός, Mat.12:35; μνεία, 1Th.3:6 (cf. 2Ma.7:20); as subst., τὸ ἀ, that which is …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.