1 Timothy 2:9-15

Introduction

1 Timothy 2:9 “In 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;”

The phrase “In like manner” connects v.9 with v.8.

1 Timothy 2:8 “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”

The phrase “I will” speaks of a command or purpose statement from God through Paul.

I want men everywhere (at Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, etc. when they come together to worship God to lift up holy hands in prayer, without wrath and doubting.

In like manner - The relationship is not with prayer but “I will.” God commands women to have proper appearance when worshipping God, and to follow proper order.

John Stott: “These are probably to most controversial verses in the pastoral epistles.”

What makes this sermon controversial to preach is not the truth that the text reveals but America embracing relativism while rejecting absolutism.

Society wants to determine what truth is rather than having truth determine what society should look like.

This morning, my focus is pleasing God by faithfully preaching His word.

What is at stake? Kent Hughes: “If we do not invite the Biblical text to define church order, the intrusive culture will…the spirit of the age, is a tyrant to be resisted, not embraced.”

Kent Hughes also says: “It must be noted that these instructions have nothing directly to say about teaching and authority in the marketplace or the academy, or the public square. They are about order in the church.”

Women’s Appearance

1 Timothy 2:9–10 “In 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; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

Clothes

Adorn - To put together, to arrange, to make ready.

Modest apparel - Similar idea as adorn - decorous - good taste and propriety.

Women, as you adorn yourselves in modest apparel, you are to be influenced by 2 thoughts:

Dress with shamefacedness

Humility

Not causing others not to be ashamed at your dress.

Dress with Sobriety

Soundness of mind

Sexual passions

Proverbs 31:25 “Strength and honour are her clothing; And she shall rejoice in time to come.”

Side notes

Not with broided hair or gold - one idea

Plaited hair with gold.

In first-century Roman culture, women would customarily braid or twist their hair high onto their heads, often decorating their locks with jewels, gold adornments, and more to garner attention. The ornate displays indeed drew a public response, but the apostles’ point is that to flaunt one’s beauty for selfish adoration is not in line with the humility of Christ. Jesus says in Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Pearls

Costly array - very expensive clothes.

Contrast - 1 Timothy 2:10 “But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

“But” - Focuses on motivation.

“Professing” - Has a prefix that intensifies the meaning of the word - The meaning of the word is to declare.

Women’s role in teaching and preaching

1 Timothy 2:11–13 “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”

Historical perspective of the first century

Judaism - Although women could attend the synagogue, they were not encouraged to learn. Many rabbis thought teaching women was tantamount to casting pearl before swine.

Greek - Women were not allowed to attend general assemblies

Within the framework of the church, not only were women allowed to join the general assembly but they were encouraged to learn.

The problem appears to be with this newfound freedom that women had within the church, some of them wanted more than God’s plan.

They wanted to be part of the teaching group at Ephesus - The early churches were not as democratic as we want to them be.

At the very least, the elders (or pastors) of the church ruled all spiritual matters and the deacons handled the finances of the church.

Knowing this framework helps us to be understand Paul’s admonition.

To be a teaching or preaching elder in the church also came with authority over spiritual matters of the church.

Therefore, if a woman wanted to be a teacher or elder within a church, she would exert authority over men.

Women were forbidden within the framework of the local church to exert authority over men. They were to be in submission to the authority of the elders (as other men were).

Elisabeth Elliot - “It is in willing submission, rather than grudging capitulation, that the woman in the church (whether married or single) and the wife in the home find their fulfillment.”

Linda Bellevue - The conduct of women in the church should be marked by godliness and submission to male leadership. But I (a male) will quickly qualify that by saying the male leadership should be of such Christ-like character that it makes it easy for the women to submit, even as they would submit to Christ Himself. Overbearing, judgmental, prideful (etc) male leaders clearly are a real hindrance to the women submitting.

Context - Bob Utley has an interesting comment on Paul's command - At first this seems very negative, but (1) women could not study the Law in Judaism or attend school in the Greco-Roman world. So, in a sense this is a positive step towards women being trained in God’s word; (2) this text must be seen in light of the false teachers who were targeting women (cf. 1Ti 5:13; Acts 20:30; 2 Ti 3:5–9; Titus 1:11). It is possible that some women were surrogate speakers for the false teachers in public worship in the house churches.

What does not this mean?

This does not mean that men are better than women.

This does not mean that men and women are on different planes in grace - Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Does not mean that women cannot serve: Warren Wiersbe - "We must never underestimate the important place that godly women played in the ministry of the church. The Gospel message had a tremendous impact on them because it affirmed their value before God and their equality in the body of Christ (Gal. 3:28+). Women had a low place in the Roman world, but the Gospel changed that. There were devoted women who ministered to Jesus in the days of His earthly ministry (Luke 8:1-3+). They were present at His crucifixion and burial, and it was a woman who first heralded the glorious news of His resurrection. In the Book of Acts we meet Dorcas (Acts 9:36ff), Lydia (Acts 16:14ff), Priscilla (Acts 18:1-3), and godly women in the Berean and Thessalonian churches (Acts 17:4, 12). Paul greeted at least eight women in Romans 16; and Phoebe, who carried the Roman epistle to its destination, was a deaconess in a local church (Ro 16:1). Many believing women won their husbands to the Lord and then opened their homes for Christian ministry."

This does not mean that a woman has no voice.

The word “silence” means “without contention”

Same word 1 Timothy 2:2 “For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

What does this mean?

Within the framework of the Lord’s church men and women have different roles and responsibilities.

Paul gives an explanation

1 Timothy 2:13 “For Adam was first formed, then Eve.”

“For” is a term of explanation

Paul did not address the role of men and women from a cultural point of view but from creation. God created Adam first and gave him responsibility and authority. He created Eve to be a helpmeet for Adam in accomplishing his divine calling.

Henry Morris - The intended leadership role for men in the basic institutions of the home and church dates from the creation itself. That is, Eve was formed from Adam's side to be "an help meet for him" (Genesis 2:18). This is not an invention of the supposedly anti-feminist apostle, as some have alleged but the stipulation of God Himself, even before the entrance of sin and the curse into the world. This in no way means that man is superior to woman in God's sight, for both were created "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27), and both are "one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Each, however, was created for a distinctive role and purpose, and neither is truly fulfilled apart from that.

1 Timothy 2:14 “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

When Eve stepped out of the protection and leadership of her husband, she was deceived.

Eve was deceived, Adam did so with eyes wide open.

Paul’s meaning seems clear. Women are not to have the role of teaching authority in the church. To be under authority is the principle; not teaching is the application.

Woman’s beauty

1 Timothy 2:15 “Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”

The idea is not that a women is delivered from her sins through having children. This would destroy the fundamental truth of Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Though Eve precipitated the fall she can be delivered from the stigma through child bearing.

JM: “The rescue, the delivery, the freeing of women from the stigma of having led the race into sin happens when they bring up a righteous seed.”

What are the two main arguments that are consistent with the context and the Bible:

A woman’s importance within the church community is to raise kids in the nurture and admonition of the Lord - To do this, they must continue in faith and love with holiness (sanctity) and sobriety (self-restraint).

2 Timothy 1:5 “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

This is an allusion to Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

The seed of a woman will crush the head of Satan.

Thus the reference to salvation.

In the original, it says she will be saved in the childbirth.