How To Read The Bible: Week 5

Good morning and welcome to our final week in our series: How to Read the Bible. Over the last few weeks we’ve been walking through 1 Timothy 2, but not in an ordinary fashion. We have been looking at the interpretive journey of hermeneutics. Although we have been walking through the steps of interpretation, I figured for this final week, I will preach a sermon, as I normally would on the passages we’ve been looking at. So, other than recapping the steps (in a moment), I will not be referencing them today. If you recall, the 5th and final step of the interpretive journey is taking the text and applying it in your own town…or for a modern audience. However, unlike a normal sermon, in which I present just a bit of each step, if you’ve been paying attention, then as my sermon progresses, you will already have an understanding of what I’m trying to get across. As I’ve said before, the purpose of this series is not for me to get up here and convince you that women and men are, ministry wise, equal in God’s view…that God does not view a difference between a man and a woman. My goal was to present a consistent hermeneutic, that takes into account the historical and biblical nuances. At the end of the day, whatever conclusion you reach (in regard to these passages) is between you and the Lord. That said, as I’ve stressed in this series, we must be both biblical and intellectually honest with ourselves and not resort to oversimplified interpretations, simply because they fit our worldview. In addition, we must recognise when we are being inconsistent with how we interpret God’s word and not simply brush it aside. Regardless of what your view is, on any number of biblical topics, it is imperative that we confront the gaps in our theology and beliefs. Here is the great thing…God understands that we, as humans, will never be able to understand the complexities of His infinite mind; nor can we understand exactly what the biblical authors were thinking when they wrote down God’s will for humanity. I truly believe that God’s grace is good enough to make allowances for our limited understanding. I also believe that God receives the glory when we approach His word with a pure heart that is open to learn. With that said, let’s go ahead and pray.

PRAY

Imagine in your mind what it would have been like to be a part of the Christian church in the year 50 AD. More than that, imagine what it would have been like to be a part of the Christian church in the town of Ephesus, in 50 AD. The church in Ephesus was, on one hand blessed to be in a big city, where it could attract many people. However, on the other hand, the Roman authorities were beginning to crack down on what they viewed as an offshoot of the Jewish tradition. Safety would have been a big concern, as Christianity was against the law. At that time, the Roman emperor was Nero…considered by many to be one of the most vile and wicked Roman emperors to have held the title. As a result, you would have to meet secretly to avoid detection. To make matters worse, the Roman authorities would often lump you in with the various cults that took the worship of Greek gods to an extreme.

On top of all of that, you would not have the gospels, or the book of Acts, nor any other N.T. book, other than a couple of letters from your pastor’s mentor, the Apostle Paul. You’ve heard the stories and have been taught about Jesus and his death on the cross…but there was no written record of Jesus’s life. You were 100% reliant on the O.T. and the couple letters from Paul, in order to live out your faith. As a result, all manner of bad doctrine is being floated around. To add insult to injury, a group of women in the church have decided that their newfound freedom in Christ means that they no longer need to conduct themselves in a godly manner. Perhaps they feel as though they can do things better than the men.

Standing on top of that mess is Timothy…a young man in his late 20’s or early 30’s…trying to lead this group and doing his best to teach everything he learned from his mentor, Paul. Even then, Timothy only has the law of Moses and Paul’s instructions to guide him…that and the Holy Spirit.

Somehow, while in prison and in the last few years of his ministry here on earth, Paul receives word that Timothy is struggling and that the church in Ephesus has become a difficult church to pastor. So, Paul either by dictating to a scribe or by writing it himself, addresses a letter to his young apprentice. Paul has heard the bad reports, but he also has faith in Timothy. After writing the letter, Paul sends it with a messenger. Upon receiving the letter, I can imagine that Timothy would have been excited and encouraged to receive correspondence from his friend.

1 Timothy 1:1–7

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope, To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

Paul wastes no time and begins dealing with the problems going on in Ephesus. Paul continues on, reminding the people of Ephesus to not chase after the things which distract from the message of Christ. To not listen to the men who are trying to lead them astray and that openly defy their leader, Timothy. Paul then actually calls out a couple of men by name…reminding the people of the consequences of teaching false doctrine and not submitting to their leader.

Paul then switches topics and starts talking about praying for our governing authorities. Despite how bad these men were, Paul said:

1 Timothy 2:1–5

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

men of the church must conduct themselves in a godly manner and with restraint. Paul gives some final instructions to the men, then turns his attention to the ladies... this is where we find our passages

1 Timothy 2:8–15

“Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”

Like all churches, the church in Ephesus had its share of problems. It’s important to understand what Paul had in mind when we wrote this letter. The Roman authorities looked unfavorably at groups that promoted or caused disruption to the societal norms and traditions. Not only was Paul attempting to get the men under control, the same goes with the women.

As we look at our passage today we must answer an important question…

Do we take what Paul said to the church in Ephesus and interpret the Bible in light of these instructions?

or

Do we interpret Paul’s instructions, in light of the rest of scripture?

In other words,…do we take that instruction and then look at the rest of scripture through the lens that Paul does not permit a woman to teach or do we take scripture as a whole and interpret Paul’s instructions in light of other passages?

Let me give you a couple of examples:

1 Corinthians 12: 4-12; 28

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.

“And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”

In 1 Cor. Paul is listing the various gifts and offices of the church. When speaking in a general sense, Paul does not make any distinctions between genders…he does not even come close to saying that only males can teach or lead. One would think that if Paul consistently taught and practiced what he wrote to Timothy, Paul would have made better distinctions between the various gifts and responsibilities. Now, in Romans 12, we can find a similar description to that of 1 Cor. 12.

Romans 12:5–8

“so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Here, inn Romans 12, Paul uses the male pronoun “he” for the very same things. What do we do with that? In 1 Cor. 12 Paul does not separate the various roles by gender, but here in Romans 12, Paul only uses the word “He.” How can both be true?

Let’s look at one more example, and this one is often used to support women not being able to teach men or have positions of authority, within the church. These passages are found right after the ones we are studying.

1 Timothy 3:1–13

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

It is pretty well understood by most that in the first couple of chapters of 1 Tim., Paul is addressing church discipline or correcting behavior within the church, especially within a worship setting. Then, Paul switches to talking about the qualifications of church leaders. These passages are often used to support the fact that women should not be included in church leadership. There are 2 main ways to look at these passages and it all depends on how you interpret scripture. All throughout Paul uses male references…if a man, if he....husbands of only one wife…just like Roman’s 12. The only exception to this is verse 11…which addresses women.

Now, when examining these passages, especially in light of the fact that Paul just said....I do not permit a woman to teach, it is very reasonable to then conclude that Paul is simply confirming the fact that a church leader must be a man. The only issue is verse 11…but that is interpreted to mean the wives of deacons…not lady deacons. Fair enough, right?

There are many issues though with claiming that Paul was addressing the wives of the leaders. Paul does not say…likewise, their wives must be…Paul stops talking about men, starts a new sentence, in which he address women…then he stops and starts a new thought for men.

But more than that, and this is why, throughout this series I’ve so stressed the importance of a consistent hermeneutic…just because Paul only mentions men, that is not confirmation that only men can be leaders in the church. The same is always said about Romans 12.

if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

If we take the exact same principle of interpretation and exclude that which Paul does not mention, then women can’t serve at all, nor can they give or show mercy…for that matter. Except no one interprets Romans 12 in that manner.

Now, without going back into the whole culture of that time…it was very common for Paul to only use male pronouns or descriptors. Not only that, but if we want to interpret these passages that way, then we must also conclude that all church leaders must be married men…not even a widower…as Paul only addresses married men. If the same interpretive principles apply, than anything Paul does not specifically mention would be excluded from church leadership. That would put Jesus himself and Paul out of the running. Not only that, but you still must deal with the fact that Paul used leadership terms for women in the book of Acts. On top of all of that, if we are to interpret this passage in this light, then we must also interpret other passages, where Paul only uses male references to make the same inferences. For example.

Colossians 1:24–29

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Are we to assume that Paul does not want ladies to be presented complete in Christ? Of course not, however, if we interpret this verse the same way and exclude things that Paul doesn’t mention specifically…then, well, sorry ladies. My point being, and this is what makes biblical interpretation so difficult sometimes, when looking for the intent of the author, we must look at everything. Just as important though, we must have a consistent way of determining the intent…and that is where proper hermeneutics comes in.

Just to be fair, everyone has their inconsistencies with interpretation. No denomination is guilt free of inconsistent teachings. For the pentecostal church, most of the scripturally inconsistent teaching surrounds speaking in tongues…don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that it doesn’t exist or isn’t for today…I believe it is, very much…however, if we are supposed to get our doctrine from God’s word, then most Pentecostals do not practice it biblically. Why is that…because of the way they were taught by pastors and teachers that did not know the proper tools of interpretation. Either that or the teacher simply takes what the denomination says and teaches it, without doing the hard work of interpretation themselves. That said, it is not a matter of salvation…especially if the person is sincere before the Lord and truly wants God’s best. Trust me, we would all be in trouble if God started casting out everyone who had some inconsistent patterns of interpreting scripture.

Let’s wrap this series up.

When I look at the various instruction that Paul gave to Timothy, and to the church in Corinth. Ch.14…it should not offend us or cause us to question God’s word. In fact, when we come across these passages, they should compel us to dive in, in order to better understand the author’s intent.

First and Second Timothy and Titus (Theological Issues)

When we read 1 Tim. 2:11–12 and 1 Cor. 14:34–35 (women must be silent) as the lenses through which to view all Bible teachings about women, we are looking through the wrong end of a telescope. Instead, we must, in order to have a consistent way of interpreting scripture, look at these passages through the wide-angle lens that comprehends these two passages in the light of everything the NT says about women…and the roles they had and that Paul recognised.

All of that to say, when we take the book of Timothy and lay it next to the rest of Paul’s teachings…then lay it next to the entire arc of scripture, I believe that Paul was dealing with a specific situation which needed correcting. Additionally, because there are just too many questions surrounding a couple of the issues in the passages…such as the word that Paul uses for authority and the fact that attached to the command is a reference that we just simply do not understand…that women will be saved or preserved via child birth. Here is another point that is not often brought up…if it were Paul’s long standing practice to not allow women in leadership positions within the church, Timothy would have already have known that…and I believe it is something that we would see all throughout Paul’s instructions…especially in Cor. 12. In fact, we only see Paul only mention that can’t can’t teach or hold positions of authority one time in all of scripture

I want to end today with what I believe we can take away from 1 Tim. 2:8-15. In other words, how do we apply our passage to our town…

Is there an argument to be made for the complementary view of scripture…yes there is.

Is there an argument to be made for the Egalitarian view of scripture…yes there is

Both views are supported by mainstream believers, across the entire spectrum of Christianity.

It is a difficult subject that has caused much vitriol in the church. For those who are egalitarian, I suggest that they not view the other side of the argument through a narrow lens or question their motives for believing in the doctrine. If in fact a person holds on to the doctrine simply because of a deep seeded dislike of women…or they feel as though women are “less-than,” God will deal with them. On the other hand, for those who believe in the complimentarian view, my suggestion is to keep in mind that God is no respecter of persons and that they should not question the motives of those (both men and women) who believe differently. Also, to keep a balanced view of the subject and always prioritize the freedom that Christ bought for us on the cross.

I’ve talked much about the various views on this subject, and I’ve made it clear which side I lean towards…or some would argue which side I lay on…not lean. I believe strongly that Paul did not intend to issue a universal command, nor do I believe, when we interpret scripture in a consistent way, that the Bible teaches that only men can hold positions of authority within the church…there are simply too many inconsistencies one must accept. Does that mean that I believe that God makes no distinction…no, I do not believe that. It’s clear in scripture that God made men and women with different gifts and abilities. Certain aspects of ministry are better suited to certain temperaments; for example, a gruff old man should probably not be in charge of a children’s ministry. Younger kids need a nurturer, more than a theological expert. For many of us, as we have watched our society become more and more feminized (not in a healthy way) and more and more hostile towards men, that can cause deep seeded resentment with certain men. Our young boys are falling behind…being told that their God given temperament is toxic and bad. Meanwhile, young girls are told that they don’t have to be a girl…they can be anything they want…with a few drugs and a couple of swipes of the surgeon’s knife. The answer for society, as well as the church is balance. The current trend in a large portion of the church is to simply erase any difference between men and women..which is not what the Lord designed. I do agree, with the more balanced complimentarian, that God created men and women differently for a reason, where I split is when its claimed that the Bible mandates that regardless of the situation or circumstance, no woman is allowed to be in church leadership. The idea is that it simply not the role God designed for them…but when you actually ask the question why…which is what this series is all about, we quickly discover some serious issues with inconsistent hermeneutics. If we look at other universal commands that are rooted in human nature or the creation of man, like the fall of man, the biblical role of marriage, communion…etc…these things are universal because we do not find any “exceptions” to the rule.

Universal commands are universal because there are no exceptions to the rule.

This is why issues such as free will, speaking in tongues and things of that nature are not generally considered set in stone doctrine, as we can find exceptions here and there. When looking at different preachers and teachers, I stay away from those who cement their flag in the ground, even when it comes to the questionable stuff…regardless of which side they are on. For example, on one side, I stay away from those who call women pastors and teach that women pastors are heretics (without ever talking to them personally); on the other side, I also stay away from those who claim that women and men are completely interchangeable in any given leadership role. Both are wrong in my view…as they have put God in a tiny box…they’ve decided their stance and are ensconced in it. Neither are interested in a balanced view of scripture.

II’ll end with this:

I’ll tell you what revolutionized my view of scripture: , the 2 most popular way of interpreting scripture are

Reader Response

Where the reader is the one who determines the meaning behind the text.

Authorial Intent

The author is the one who determines the meaning behind the text.

For the first one, reader response, they will read a passage and pick out what they believe the individual passage is saying. The goal is not to determine what the author intended, rather, the goal is to find what the words mean for Christians. For those who believe in this, what the passage may have meant to the original audience is not the goal...the words on the page are the most important thing. With this type of interpretation, a certain amount of inconsistency is OK, as we are not as concerned with the intent.

For those who use authorial intent, the ultimate goal, whenever possible, is to find out what the author intended to say…what message he was trying to convey to his audience, did he intend to convey something specific or something more general.

A good example is:

Should we be concerned about Moses’s intent behind the creation account, or, should we simply take the words for what they say. Authorial intent asks: was it Moses’s intent to give 21st Century Christians every detail of the account of creation…or was it his intent to teach a young Israelite nation about the Great I Am…and how God was the being who spoke life into existence. We then attempt to interpret Genesis based upon the intent of Moses.

Sometimes, depending on the passage or situation, we are unable to determine the intent. However, in cases where we have a good idea of the author and their background, it’s best to seek out his intent.

There are issues with both types of interpretation..which I will not get into. That said, I strong believe that we should always seek out the intent, whenever possible. Truth is, everyone does both…the goal though is to be consistent.

God used man to teach us His character and plan for salvation. As the book of Timothy says: all of it is useful. I pray that through this series, you have gained a deeper appreciation for God’s word. On one hand, anyone can pick it up and learn the plan of salvation, on the other hand, we can study it for decades and still not be able to explain the deeper mysteries. That is what makes God’s word so unique.

My challenge to you this week is to take Col 1: 24-29 (the last passage I read) and study it.

Colossians 1:24–29

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

Find multiple translations, compare the different phrases and such. Take some of the principles we’ve gone over and do some research on the book of Colossians or the church that Paul was writing to. Just immerse yourself in the passage. Pray that the Holy Spirit opens your spiritual eyes to learn something new.

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Let’s Pray.

Pray for Mary K’s nephew Aaron