1 Tim 2:8-15 - Proper Christian Conduct

Introduction

We are coming to the end of a perplexing 8 weeks for preachers. How much attention should be given to graduates, when not everyone in the congregation is graduating? Then the same question for Mothers and now Father’s. And then we throw in Memorial Day which is also normally on Pentecost Sunday, so which is more important for the congregation to hear about? Perhaps the best thing I can do is frame this sermon as some advice for Fathers and those who live with them.

Paul has very specific expectations regarding the 2 (and only 2) genders. Here he only divides between male and female. in Titus (that we studied in Fellowship Hall Discipleship group last Sunday with brother Troy) we also found separation by age. Titus only had 4 squares - you are either young or old, you are either man or woman. Timothy is only pointed to 2 distinctions.

‌ The word used in the first half of this chapter for every person (anthropos) is changed to 2 distinct words in this section -andros and gyne. The “men” in v.8 would never have need for a gynecologist for themselves!

‌ I’m have no intent of using this sermon to increase hate or animosity toward people who are SSA (same-sex attracted). There are plenty of other passages of Scripture that could be used to point to the need for all of us to order our passions and control our affections. But I believe it does a disservice to those who wrestle with their affections when a whole separate group of people leverage gay rights for the --btqia alphabet soup that denies that God made men and God made women. I think it is time we have a little more pride in who God created us to be, rather than what we wish we were. This very text only mentions 2 (two) genders; and there is no room for either to hate, despise, or minimize the value of the other. Listen closely because many attempts to honor women get filtered and labeled as misogyny.

If I treat this cup and saucer (antique china) differently than this one (styrofoam), it is because the one on your left has more value. I don’t handle this carefully because it is weak, but because it is precious! Today I’m going to say a lot to men about how we treat women, but I want it clearly understood it is because of value, NOT contempt, that I choose chivalry.

Timothy was a man who had been shaped significantly by his mother and grandmother whom we are introduced to in the first chapter of Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy. Paul is a man writing to a man even if most of today’s text is about women. The point we cannot miss is that the way a man treats the women in his life will largely influence the way those women view themselves and are perceived by the community.

Godly Men Pray Everywhere (v.8)

‌ If you have seen either the 1973 original or 2004 remake of the movie Walking Tall, you are familiar with a rough and tough Sheriff who is known for a big club. Bufurd Pusser, the real-life lawman who inspired the lead character in the movie forgot the first 2 words of Teddy Roosevelt’s quote in the 1901 speech: “Speak Softly”

‌ Paul is trying to underscore the speak softly part when he says to present hands that are marked by an absence of anger or quarreling.

‌ You know the type of person who seems to have a chip on his shoulder and is always looking for a conflict so he can prove himself superior. V.8 is describing the EXACT, 180 degree, opposite of that type of personality.

No Brutes!

Brute may have been an acceptable name for 1970’s cologne but is no adjective that any man should desire.

Two weeks ago our county was full of guests who rope, ride and wrestle. But every night’s activities began with those same men taking off a hat, bowing a head and demonstrating a civility.

If the first 7 verses of this chapter told us to pray for everyone, this verse tells us to pray everywhere. Your mindset should never be more than a few seconds away from what is appropriate to talk with God.

TRANSITION: If men are challenged to prayerfulness, we should also do whatever we can to encourage women to the same demeanor.

Godly Men Provide Properly (vv.9-11)

Ever since Eden we have known that a woman will not be controlled! God made male and female both in His image and He gave a mind and a will to each. When I talk about “providing”, I am not talking about strict control, I’m saying that men should contribute to an environment where a woman can make godly decisions for herself.

A quick way to get a person to do something is to tell her or him that she cannot do it. A better way to get the behavior you prefer is to make it attractive so that the person doesn’t want to choose the other alternative.

Provide Honor (v.9)

On Mother’s Day a month ago, a speech was given that attempted to make a point that education and career is one option for women, but satisfaction in the home is another honorable option. Certain voices claimed that offering additional choice was somehow belittling or demeaning. The diabolical lie is that there is only one path to significance.

There was a season in our family where my wife chose to prioritize our home and children. There was also a season in our family when she sought training and received employment promotions outside of the home. This required that she surpass me in understanding and skill in certain areas. And my masculinity never decreased (although my ego did face some challenges).

When our children were in school I challenged each of them to excellence. I had no pretense that they would all choose higher education. But I honored each of my children enough that I wanted all 3 of them to have the full range of options of education, employment or civil service.

Honor does not pigeon-hole the women in your life, if done correctly it expands their options.

Men, I realize that we all have limitations on our resources and there are some things we can provide, and other things we cannot. But we can ALL provide honor so that they don’t feel a need to attract additional attention as described in v.9

Likewise, women you should find your honor in self-awareness and God’s view of you so that extreme styles that draw attention to the physical are not a priority. You can dress in cute outfits that both display that you respect yourself and wish to be modest. There is a wide world of choice between a burka and the outrageous gowns at the Oscars and the threads and patches at the beach.

TRANSITION: Men and women we need to return honor to that which is honorable. Paul goes on to mention 2 areas that are honorable.

Provide Opportunities to Serve (v.10)

This is not about cooking and homemaking exclusively. The women described in this verse are making profession and backing it up with works of service.

The next two verses will mention quietness. But quiet is not silent! The root of the word profess is to declare to do something with implication of obligation to carry out what is stated, promise, offer[i]It is almost impossible to make a promise without saying a word.

If the women (and men) of our church were unwilling to serve, we would not be able to promise the Gospel of salvation to the children of Chase County in 3 weeks.

If the women of our church were unwilling to serve, the Good Fridays events would not promise the Gospel of Grace to the women of our community.

If the women of our church were unwilling to serve, our Sunday School would cease to exist.

The very health and survival of a local church is dependent upon men and women who profess godliness—with good works. Refusing to serve is the quickest way to shut down a testimony in a community. If our serve disappears, it won’t be long until our services do too!

Provide Opportunities to Improve (v.11)

There are 3 ways to state a verb: as the way things are, the way things should be, and as a command. Let a woman learn in this verse is a command. This was counter cultural in first century Palestine and Asia. Illiteracy was much more common, it was even the norm. The opportunity to learn to read and to consider the world of ideas was rare and reserved for the wealthy, and wealthy males at that.

Jesus turned the world upside down by inviting the children to this feet. Jesus upset his own disciples by having a conversation with a woman at a well. Jesus even rebuked his friend Martha by saying that her sister made a better choice to sit and learn rather than scut about in the kitchen.

But this command to learn is combined with an adverb—How she is to learn. Quietly with submission

I have been blessed to study at some of the top schools in our nation (Sorry Bruce, The University in Manhattan was not one of them). And while I am usually ranked in the middle of my class, I admit that this quietly with submission is a personal challenge.

4. It is possible to learn without proving you are the expert!

5. Few qualities are less attractive than a preacher who thinks he or she deserves to be in the pulpit. The one who steps into this sacred desk with the mindset that I know what these people need to hear is a dangerous person!

TRANSITION: Men are commanded to give honor, and we are all to serve godly, and to learn quietly.

Godly Men Protect Their Household (vv.12-15)

The final 4 verses of this paragraph describe the household where men and women flourish.

Nothing to Prove/Nothing to Lose (v.12)

We each have a role to play. Each role is essential and authority is never to be weaponized.

I have a friend who does consulting for businesses, churches and faith organizations. One of his challenges to leaders is to assume a posture where you are not trying to prove anything to anyone, and live with the confidence that you have nothing to lose. You can never ADD to the grace that God gives and you can never forfeit His grace toward you.

This position of confident humility is why Paul wrote to the very church that Timothy was pastor

Ephesians 5:21 ESV:2016

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Later in that chapter Paul talks about the love and submission of a harmonious house. Earlier in this book Timothy has already been warned to rein in some of the men, and now he is reining in the women who think they have something to prove by exerting authority.

This is such a pivotal scripture in the discussions about female leadership in local churches, without getting too deep into the whole subject of women teaching or preaching, let me explain that the pairing of the verbs teach and exercise authority is significant. I believe this clarifies the type of teaching that is not permitted. Could a woman lead a demonstration of skills like cooking or the use of color with men in the group? Could a woman lead a discussion where men and women share ideas about a passage? I think the answer is yes to either of these.

Could a woman teach doctrine authoritatively, say “If you don’t agree with this point, you are outside the Faith and a false teacher (as was identified in 1 Tim 1)”? I believe it is this authoritative teaching or preaching that Paul limits. And any time an individual man does this type of teaching, even he is subject to the voice of the team of elders.

An Example of Failure (vv.13-14)

Societies change, but some distinctions supersede culture.

It is clear that 3rd millennium America is different than first century Rome. And first century Rome was different than pre-Christ Israel. But the demands of a man to protect his wife and children goes back all the way to the first man and woman.

Adam’s failure put Eve in a situation where her choices did damage to all of those who were to be born of Adam’s line. There is a natural, creative order. BOTH sexes were created fully in the image of God and have worth, value, and dignity! But v.13 states that the created order means one is responsible for the actions of the one who came later.

Safe Harbor (v.15)

How did chapter 1 end? With demonstration of a shipwrecked faith by those who failed to stay in their lane. Chapter 2 ends with a recipe to avoid shipwreck, to find safety.

It would be wrong to jump to the conclusion that bearing children grants transfer from Hell to Heaven.

On my day off this week I watched the 1997 remake of the classic film 12 Angry Men which is the story of deliberations of a jury in a murder case. At one point one juror claims “The defendant is guilty because he literally said ‘I’m going to kill you’ then the victim winds up dead.” In the midst of deliberations this jury becomes angry with another jury and says, “I’m going to kill you!” Of course the first juror claims, you know I didn’t literally mean I was going to end his life. And he realizes the error of his assumptions.

3. The word saved in v.15 has complex meanings. It can mean either rescued, healed, or made whole.

4. Regardless of any other accomplishments, her legacy can be rescued by leaving a heritage of faithful, loving, holy and self-controlled offspring (whether biological, legal, or spiritual).

Conclusion:

I believe our lives would have less tension if we all lived in such a way that at any moment in any place it would not be strange for us to say “let’s pray about that.”

I believe our lives would be more harmonious if we each honored, engaged is service, and pursued learning in gentleness.

I believe our homes would be a safe harbor if we never tried to power play others.

Response Song #56................. “Day by Day”

Benediction: Revelation 22:21 (ESV) — The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

[i] Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, Walter Bauer, and F. Wilbur Gingrich. 2000. In A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., 356. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.