In Chapter 2, was Paul writing ex cathedra about the role of women in the church?  Or do we have, rather, some professional tips to one of his bishops about how to deal with disorder in his church – “What I do, Timothy, is not to let the women be teachers of the men…. And I tell them not to speak in church…..” Paul does not speak here as one with authority – compare “in the presence of God I charge you” in Chapter 6.

In Chapter 5, Paul has some complicated instructions about how to treat widows.  Commentators have surmised that there was some kind of formal arrangement, whereby those on the “Widows’ List” were financially supported by the church.  Paul thinks such payments should be restricted to the older, respected, widows in the church, and not made to young widowed women on the lookout for replacement husbands.

Again, there are instructions about the qualifications for elders , and in Chapter 6, instructions to slaves to carry out their duties responsibly.

Finally, Paul warns against the temptation of pursuing esoteric “knowledge” – gnosis – which may damage the faith.