1 Timothy 2:9-15 Living Out God’s Order

Scripture Reading: Bill Niemi

Intro:

Paul says that he desires that all men pray

He continues that thought and addresses some issues with women

There is no more controversial passage in all of scripture when it comes to men and women that this section

You have people who have taken what this says way too far

At the same time you have people reject it and say that it is outdated and for that time.

There are three thoughts on Women and leadership in the church

Egalitarian believes that men and women are equal and that they both can inhabit any role in the church

Patriarchal believes that women have little to no role in the church and are to remain silent and submissive

Complimentarian believes men are called to lead and teach in the church and that there are roles that women can hold underneath that structure

Let me summarize my sermon and it is also the title

God established and order for the church where men lead and teach while women come alongside and assist in accomplishing God’s mission

Modestly & Godliness vs. 9-10

The first area that Paul addresses is modesty & Godliness

He hits on how women should dress in church

vs. 9 Modesty

The key here is not on the objects, those are cultural, but on respectability

In our “hook-up” culture where people declare their body count by the number of people they have slept with, a Christian woman’s modesty is a weapon to fight the good fight of faith

What is modesty?

The NKJV uses propriety & moderation

Propriety = correctness concerning standards of behavior and morals

vs. 10 Godliness & Good Works

Yielding to Authority in Church vs. 11-12

The second area that Paul addresses is Yielding to Authority in Church

vs. 11 Learn Peaceably

The word quiet here is a really bad translation of the Greek

It should say peaceably

The idea is without contention instead of total silence

So many people have abused this verse and demanded that women be silent in the church

To learn in silence has the idea of women receiving the teaching of the men God has chosen to lead in the church, with submission instead of contention

vs. 12a Teaching Authority

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.

But the cultural challenge must be seen in its true context – not just a struggle between men and women, but as a struggle with the issue of authority in general.

Since the 1960’s, there has been a massive change in the way we see and accept authority.

Citizens do not have the same respect for government’s authority.

Students do not have the same respect for teacher’s authority.

Women do not have the same respect for men’s authority.

Children do not have the same respect for parental authority.

Employees do not have the same respect for their employer’s authority.

People do not have the same respect for the police’s authority.

Christians no longer have the same respect for church authority.

vs. 12b Exercise Authority

Our culture, having rejected the idea of a difference in role between men and women, now rejects the idea of any difference between men and women.

The driving trends in our culture point towards men who are more like women, and women who are more like men.

The Bible is just as specific that there is no general submission of women unto men commanded in society; only in the spheres of the home and in the church.

God has not commanded in His word that men have exclusive authority in the areas of politics, business, education, and so on.

It also does not mean that every woman in the church is under the authority of every man in the church.

Instead it means that those who lead the church – pastors and ruling elders – must be men, and the women (and others) must respect their authority.

The failure of men to lead in the home and in the church, and to lead in the way Jesus would lead, has been a chief cause of the rejection of male authority

Saved Thru Childbearing vs. 13-15

The final area that Paul addresses is the issue of childbearing

The first reason for male authority in the church is order of creation.

Adam (man) was created first, and given original authority on earth.

The woman being deceived: The second reason is the difference in the sin of Adam and Eve, as connected to their difference in authority.

Both Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, and Eve clearly sinned first.

Yet, the Bible never blames Eve for the fall of the human race, but always blames Adam

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Adam is responsible because of there was a difference of authority.

Adam had an authority Eve did not have; therefore he also had a responsibility Eve did not have.

Adam failed in his responsibility in a far more significant way than Eve did.

Eve was tricked; but Adam sinned knowing exactly what he was doing when he rebelled.

Some approach this passage saying saved refers to gaining eternal life.

Yet this interpretation is even more difficult.

Are women saved eternally by giving birth to children – but only if they continue with godly virtues?

What about women who can’t have children? Are they denied salvation?

Some say that Paul “Has mostly in mind that child-bearing, not public teaching, is the peculiar function of woman, with a glory and dignity all its own.” (Robinson)

The idea is that one should let the men teach in church and let the women have the babies.

A better way to approach this passage is based on the grammar in the original Greek language. In the original, it says she will be saved in the childbirth.

This has the sense, “Even though women were deceived, and fell into transgression starting with Eve, women can be saved by the Messiah – whom a woman brought into the world.”