Public worship: prayers and places
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The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Service—Or Circus? (1 Timothy 2)
In these days of “Women’s Lib” and other feminist movements, the word “submission” makes some people see red. Some well-meaning writers have even accused Paul of being a “crusty old bachelor” who was antiwomen. Those of us who hold to the inspiration and authority of the Word of God know that Paul’s teachings came from God and not from himself. If we have a problem with what the Bible says about women in the church, the issue is not with Paul (or Peter—see 1 Peter 3:1–7), but with the Lord who gave the Word (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
The word translated “subjection” in 1 Timothy 2:11 is translated “submitting” and “submit” in Ephesians 5:21–22 and Colossians 3:18. It literally means “to rank under.” Anyone who has served in the armed forces knows that “rank” has to do with order and authority, not with value or ability. A colonel is higher in rank than a private, but that does not necessarily mean that the colonel is a better man than the private. It only means that the colonel has a higher rank and, therefore, more authority.
“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40) is a principle God follows in His creation. Just as an army would be in confusion if there were no levels of authority, so society would be in chaos without submission. Children should submit to their parents because God has given parents the authority to train their children and discipline them in love. Employees should submit to employers and obey them (Eph. 6:5–8, where the immediate reference is to household slaves, but the application can be made to workers today). Citizens should submit to government authorities, even if the authorities are not Christians (Rom. 13; 1 Peter 2:13–20).
Submission is not subjugation. Submission is recognizing God’s order in the home and the church, and joyfully obeying it. When a Christian wife joyfully submits to the Lord and to her own husband, it should bring out the best in her. (For this to happen, the husband must love his wife and use God’s order as a tool to build with, not a weapon to fight with—Eph. 5:18–33.) Submission is the key to spiritual growth and ministry: husbands should be submitted to the Lord, Christians should submit to each other (Eph. 5:21), and wives should be submitted to the Lord and to their husbands.
The emphasis in this section (1 Tim. 2:9–15) is on the place of women in the local church. Paul admonished these believing women to give evidence of their submission in several ways.
Introduction:
Introduction:
A difficult passage but still needed today as seen from Ruth Kennedy’s prayer letter:
At Grace Village we teach God’s Word as verbally inspired, pure and undefiled, taking it literally.
Come now to this island:
· The wee church I attend occasionally has a woman speak about transgender being in the bible… (note the small ‘b’).
· The church secretary isn’t too sure about Christ being God, he asked me why I did not consider becoming a member. I shared briefly that I am a member of a church already.
· In the mix are those who see nothing wrong with women leading the church.
· Recently one lady who ‘does the Bible readings’ spoke disparagingly of legalists who deny women their rights to choose whether or not to have a baby. She reacted quite strongly when I said that I believed in the sanctity of life, all life, the zygote, the foetus and the new-born. —Ruth Kennedy
Its easy to understand why the world would reject it as they attempt to throw off any restraints given by God
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
We cannot attempt to make the passage acceptable to our liking neither do we need to use it to people in their place according to our prefernences
We do need to us proper interpretation rules: Method of Hermeneutics
All scripture is divinely inspired
Using the wrong method will lead to wrong interpretations of the passage
Hermeneutics (from the Greek word hermeneuo, which means to explain or interpret) is the branch of theology that focuses on identifying and applying sound principles of biblical interpretation. While the Bible is generally plain in its meaning, proper interpretation requires careful study and is not always an easy task. Consider that the Bible was written over a period of roughly 2,000 years by 40 or more authors using three languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek). The authors wrote in different genres and had different vocabularies, personalities, cultural backgrounds, and social standings. The Holy Spirit moved each of these men to produce His inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word (; ), but He allowed their various writing styles and personalities to be expressed in its pages. It was written in a culture very different from our modern world and has been translated from its original languages. These are just some of the factors that must be taken into account as we interpret...Bible-believing Christians generally follow a method of interpretation known as the historical-grammatical approach. That is, we try to find the plain (literal) meaning of the words based on an understanding of the historical and cultural settings in which the book was written. We then follow standard rules of grammar, according to the book’s particular genre, to arrive at an interpretation. We seek to perform careful interpretation or exegesis—that is, to “read out of” the text what the author intended it to mean. This is in contrast to eisegesis, which occurs when someone “reads into” the text his own ideas—what the reader wants the text to mean. In other words, exegesis is finding the AIM (Author’s Intended Meaning) of the passage because its true meaning is determined by the sender of the message, not the recipient.—Answers in Genesis
Three views to interpret this passage
(Extreme) Literalism apply exactly as written (John Stott)
We be used by those taking a Pharisaical legalistic approach
It would leave no room for the culture and circumstances in this local church that brought the need for Paul’s teaching
It would place unnecessary restrictions on women and where they could serve and worship in the church
Liberalism dismiss all as irrelevant today (John Stott)
Teaching the passage so as to allow liberal wordly view to be acceptable
It would leave no restrictions at all for where women could hold positions in the church
Cultural transposition (John Stott)
This passage should be interpreted taking in consideration the culture and circumstances of this local church allowing the unchanging truth to be our guide today. Not society
Three views to interpret passage
Literalism apply exactly as written
Liberalism dismiss all as irrelevant today
Cultural transposition
Difficulty of transferring the application of scripture from one culture to another culture
So far, I have suggested that we should reject the two opposite extremes in relation to the cultural element in the biblical revelation. We might call them ‘literalism’ (enthroning both) and ‘liberalism’ (dismissing both). The third and mediating position is ‘cultural transposition’. For this we have to discern in Scripture between God’s essential revelation (which is changeless) and its cultural expression (which is changeable). Then we are in a position to preserve the former as permanent and universal, and transpose the latter into contemporary cultural terms. Thus, in response to Jesus’ command to us to wash one another’s feet, we neither obey literally and go round washing people’s feet, nor dismiss the passage as having no relevance to us, but discern what is intrinsic (no service will be too menial if we love one another) and then transpose it into the realities of today (we will gladly wash the dishes or clean the toilet). —John Stott
There are ‘universal truths’ that do not change but are the same for all cultures
There are cultural issues that the scripture addresses that might not be applicable to other cultures but the principle taught would apply
Proper understanding of the context and culture of this passage will lead to a proper biblical view
All scripture is divinely inspired
This letter by Paul was written to real people who made up a real local congregation in Ephesus. That meant they had real problems and issues that Paul wanted to address
Timothy was sent and told to remain in Ephesus to teach and instruct the members of this church and deal with issues effecting the church
He was to deal with error in teaching and belief
He was dealing with problems and practices and the structure of this Ephesian church. This particular portion 2:8-15 was dealing with the public worship of the church. Note we think of our worship service when looking at this passage but their order and form of worship would be different than ours
This passage being taught with a Pharisaical legalistic attitude toward women leading to error in its interpretation and unnecessary restrictions
Paul is addressing problems in the church of Ephesus to which Timothy would need to address
This passage being taught with a liberal wordly view on the the roles of men and women as well leaving no restrictions
This passage should be interpreted taking in consideration the culture and circumstances of this local church allowing the unchanging truth to be our guide today. Not society
Proper prayer for men and possibly all
Proper apparel for women for prayer and worship
Proper place of ministry within the church
The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus 2. Holy Living by Men and Women (2:8–15)
Two features of this section deserve comment at the outset. First, the context for Paul’s appeal was not the world or the home front but the worship life of the church. Paul was providing instructions for praying and teaching within the confines of the local congregation. Second, Paul’s advice was generally for men and women, but the responsibilities of wives and mothers were also in Paul’s mind. It is recognized that the women in 2:15 must be wives, but the references in 2:8–9 are for men and women.
This morning through the help of the Holy Spirit we hope to view this passage with a godly mindset thus giving us a biblical view
Three views to interpret passage
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Literalism apply exactly as written
Liberalism dismiss all as irrelevant today
Cultural transposition
Difficulty of transferring the application of scripture from one culture to another culture
So far, I have suggested that we should reject the two opposite extremes in relation to the cultural element in the biblical revelation. We might call them ‘literalism’ (enthroning both) and ‘liberalism’ (dismissing both). The third and mediating position is ‘cultural transposition’. For this we have to discern in Scripture between God’s essential revelation (which is changeless) and its cultural expression (which is changeable). Then we are in a position to preserve the former as permanent and universal, and transpose the latter into contemporary cultural terms. Thus, in response to Jesus’ command to us to wash one another’s feet, we neither obey literally and go round washing people’s feet, nor dismiss the passage as having no relevance to us, but discern what is intrinsic (no service will be too menial if we love one another) and then transpose it into the realities of today (we will gladly wash the dishes or clean the toilet). —John Stott
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
There are ‘universal truths’ that do not change but are the same for all cultures
There are cultural issues that the scripture addresses that might not be applicable to other cultures but the principle taught would apply
Proper biblical view
Let all things be done decently and in order.
1 Corinthians 10:4
Proper approach for public prayers
Proper approach for public prayers
Proper approach means having a holy heart
Paul wants men to pray everywhere
Pray is the verb form of prayers in verse 1 to petition God
To petition God
Adult male or husband in verse 8 but humanity or mankind in verse 1
Adult male or husband in verse 8 but humanity or mankind in verse 1
Paul wants prayer to come from a holy heart
Holy means holy, trustworthy (show me your hands), devout, pious, pleasing to God (a prayer of faith). Refers to the integrity, trustworthiness and reliability of God and a human attitude of reverent dependence upon God
Entering the throne room of a holy God demands a clean heart
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 24:
So I said:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The Lord of hosts.”
Isaiah 6:
Unclean lips are caused by an unclean heart
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Matthew 12
The position of the hands should reveal the position of the heart - The key word is holy
Lifting up of hands is the physical position for prayer practiced in the culture especially the Jewish religion
It’s not mandated neither is it forbidden
Other postures are taken in the Scriptures
Standing ;
Hands spread out ;
Sitting
Kneeling ;
Prostrate
I do believe body language reveals something about the prayer. I should be totally involved in prayer. We should pray with body, soul, and spirit
Paul wants prayer to come from a holy heart
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The position of the hands should reveal the position of the heart
Lifting up of hands is the physical position for prayer practiced in the culture especially the Jewish religion
An action that is present and on going
It’s not mandated neither is it forbidden
Other postures taken in the Scriptures
It can be an imperative both in adjective and verbal form
Standing ;
The position of the hands should reveal the position of the heart
Hands spread out ;
Sitting
Kneeling ;
Prostrate
I do believe body language should be involved in prayer. We should pray with body, soul, and spirit
The position of the hands should reveal the position of the heart - The key word is holy
Holy means holy, trustworthy (show me your hands), devout, pious, pleasing to God (a prayer of faith). Refers to the integrity, trustworthiness and reliability of God and a human attitude of reverent dependence upon God
Hand means that part of your body at the end of your arm
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
Psalm 24:3-4
Body posture: Prayer is a spiritual activity so we must pray with body, soul, and spirit - bowed heads, close eyes, raise hands
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The body is the Temple of God so it the instrument we use in prayer
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
Paul wants prayers free of wrath
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
2 Corinthians
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
“I will be a Father to you,
and you shall be My sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 6:
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Paul wants the right heart motive in prayer
Inward issue
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
No room for wrath
James 1:
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Ephesians 4:31
An unforgiving spirit
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Paul wants prayers free of wrong thoughts
Outward quarrleing
Doubting can mean reasoning, thought, or opinion, dispute
Doubting = a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal
reasoning, a carefully thinking out of (Ro 1:21; 1Co 3:20+); 2. LN 30.16 what is reasoned, content or result of one’s thinking (Mt 15:19; Mk 7:21; Lk 2:35; 5:22; 6:8; 9:47; Jas 2:4+); 3. LN 33.446 dispute, argument (Lk 9:46; Ro 14:1; Php 2:14; 1Ti 2:8+); 4. LN 31.37 doubt, be uncertain about (Lk 24:38+)
Don’t go into prayer already having decided
And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
Reasoning,
If disputes
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
If doubts
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
This is why we need the Holy Spirit when we pray
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Proper approach means having a humble spirit
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The New American Commentary: 1, 2 Timothy, Titus Moral Behavior of the Women (2:9–10)
Acceptable standards of modesty will vary with place and generation, but Paul wanted the women to cultivate the fear of God rather than vanity.
The women in the same way (I believe approaching in prayer)
What to do when the culture clashes with our faith?
The women are to show humility and godliness even in their apparel
Adorning one’s self with modest apparel
The intent of the heart is the main thing not the specifics of what to wear or not to wear
Adorn is to beautify, make attractive, decorate, dress, put in order or well ordered, respectable
Women and their apparel
Women and their apparel
Apparel that is:
Modest the message of the apparel
What Paul is emphasizing is that Christian women should adorn themselves with clothing, hairstyles and jewelry which in their culture are inexpensive not extravagant, modest not vain, and chaste not suggestive. —John Stott
Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
1 Peter
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Modest is appropriate, proper, moderate. Translated ‘good behavior’ in as character trait needed to be a bishop
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Apparel is clothing or garment
Adorning one’s self with propriety and discretion (moderation)
With propriety is self-conscious modesty n. — a self-conscious timidity which fears committing an act unworthy of oneself or representing oneself in an unworthy manner.
self-conscious modesty n. — a self-conscious timidity which fears committing an act unworthy of oneself or representing oneself in an unworthy manner.
self-conscious modesty n. — a self-conscious timidity which fears committing an act unworthy of oneself or representing oneself in an unworthy manner.
With moderation is with discretion. Self-control and sound judgement
Paul lists 3 specifics within the context of the society this church was worshipping
Braided hair
Gold or pearls
Costly clothing - expensive, luxurious
VERSE 10 Paul gives the main thing which the things discussed in verse 9 could be a hinderance to the main thing. Society and the world should not determine how we dress
Choose clothing that is proper for a godly woman
Professing is to promise, assert, or declare
Godliness reverence, fear of God, piety
Couple your godly clothing with good works as an evidence of godliness
Proper places for men and women in public worship
Proper places for men and women in public worship
The goal is to learn the word of God
Learn is to be taught, to realize, to understand
The issues in this church led Paul to instruct them concerning the behavior required for women in public worship especially when the word of God was being taught
What spurred Paul’s teaching? Were these women in Ephesus being disruptive? Was there a gender struggle for power? Were they not respecting those in authority that had been placed there by God
The goal can only be achieved by accepting God’s rules and design for His church
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Consider what God wants you to learn about your treasure during this month’s study. Ask Him to make you teachable. Sometimes material is right there in front of us, but we’re not willing or able to take it in. Ask the Lord to keep your heart and mind open so His Word can do its work!—Today in the Word
Submission is not subjugation. Submission is recognizing God’s order in the home and the church, and joyfully obeying it. When a Christian wife joyfully submits to the Lord and to her own husband, it should bring out the best in her. (For this to happen, the husband must love his wife and use God’s order as a tool to build with, not a weapon to fight with—.) Submission is the key to spiritual growth and ministry: husbands should be submitted to the Lord, Christians should submit to each other (), and wives should be submitted to the Lord and to their husbands.
The emphasis in this section () is on the place of women in the local church. Paul admonished these believing women to give evidence of their submission in several ways. —Warren Wiersbe
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Service—Or Circus? (1 Timothy 2)
There is nothing wrong with a godly woman instructing a man in private (Acts 18:24–28); but she must not assume authority in the church and try to take the place of a man. She should exercise “quietness” and help keep order in the church.
A teachable spirit - Are you teachable?
The issues in this church led Paul to instruct them concerning the behavior required for women in the church
What spurred Paul’s teaching? Were these women in Ephesus being disruptive? Was there a gender struggle for power? Were they not respecting those in authority that had been placed there by God
Consider what God wants you to learn about your treasure during this month’s study. Ask Him to make you teachable. Sometimes material is right there in front of us, but we’re not willing or able to take it in. Ask the Lord to keep your heart and mind open so His Word can do its work!—Today in the Word
The goal is to learn, to be taught, to realize, to understand
The issues in this church led Paul to instruct them concerning the behavior required for women in the church
What spurred Paul’s teaching? Were these women in Ephesus being disruptive? Was there a gender struggle for power? Were they not respecting those in authority that had been placed there by God
Takes a quiet spirit - Learn in silence speaking of being quite or quietness ( work in quietness), being peaceable, calm.
Silence does not mean not a word
And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.
Then he said:
Acts
When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”
So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”
Possibly the atmosphere these women were creating made it difficult if not impossible to teach
Takes a submissive heart
Submission is obedience
Obeying what is being learned
Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
All are required to be submissive
Galatians 2:
Theological Lexicon of the New Testament ἡσυχάζω, ἡσυχία, ἡσύχιος
So it is that a woman—like a disciple in the school of a teacher—should receive “instruction in silence (en hēsychia), in all submissiveness (en pasē hypotagē).” This mandate is more psychological and religious than physical: it calls for an attitude of attentiveness and receptiveness
So it is that a woman—like a disciple in the school of a teacher—should receive “instruction in silence (en hēsychia), in all submissiveness (en pasē hypotagē).” This mandate is more psychological and religious than physical: it calls for an attitude of attentiveness and receptiveness
Submission is accepting God’s will
Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. (1994). Theological lexicon of the New Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 178–179). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
The responsibility for leading the public worship is given to a man (see that man next week)
Paul’s authority to direct the public worship of a local church was His apostleship - I do not permit
Paul taught there had to be an order of authority in a church for the church to operate properly
A woman was not permitted to take it upon herself the responsibility of teaching men in the public format of the church
Acts
So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
A woman was not permitted to usurp the authority of the male leadership by causing a disturbance
The reason the man inherits this responsibility
The order of creation
The disorder caused by the woman’s deception
May not the requirement of silence, like the requirement of veils,72 have been a first-century cultural symbol of masculine headship, which is not necessarily appropriate today? For silence is not an essential ingredient of submission; submission is expressed in different ways in different cultures.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Service—Or Circus? ()
Paul gave several arguments to back up this admonition that the Christian men in the church should be the spiritual leaders. The first is an argument from Creation: Adam was formed first, and then Eve (). (Paul used this same argument in .) We must keep in mind that priority does not mean superiority. Man and woman were both created by God and in God’s image. The issue is only authority: man was created first.
The second argument has to do with man’s fall into sin. Satan deceived the woman into sinning (; ); the man sinned with his eyes wide open. Because Adam rejected the God-given order, he listened to his wife, disobeyed God, and brought sin and death into the world. The submission of wives to their own husbands is a part of the original Creation. The disorder we have in society today results from a violation of that God-given order.
It is more probable, therefore, that the essence of Eve’s part in the fall was not that she was deceived, but that she took an improper initiative, usurped Adam’s authority and thus reversed their respective role.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
The mystery of verse 15a but the plain understanding of what to strive for
This is one of the most difficult verses of the New Testament to interpret. The ambiguous words kept safe through childbirth have given rise to several diverse interpretations: (a) preserved (physically) through the difficult and dangerous process of childbirth; (b) preserved (from insignificance) by means of her role in the family; (c) saved through the ultimate childbirth of Jesus Christ the Savior (an indirect reference to Gen. 3:15); and (d) kept from the corruption of society by being at home raising children.
She will be saved in childbearing
It does not teach a woman receive’s salvation by having a child
It probably does not refer to physical safety during childbirth
But don’t miss the second half of the verse trying to figure out this mystery of the first part
Saving faith is revealed in these 4 virutes
She will continue in faith
She will continue in love
She will continue in holiness
She will be under self-control
We can now sum up this distinction as it has recurred three times in the second half of . As men should pray in holiness, love and peace, but not necessarily lift up their hands while they do so; and as women should adorn themselves with modesty, decency and good works, but not necessarily abstain from all hair-plaiting, gold and pearls; so women should submit to the headship (caring responsibility) of men, and not try to reverse sexual roles, but not necessarily refrain from teaching them.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
the most likely, namely that women ‘will be saved through the Birth of the Child’ (NEB mg.), referring to Christ. By this rendering, ‘saved’ has a spiritual connotation, ‘through’ is the means by which salvation comes, and the definite article before ‘childbearing’ in the Greek sentence is explained. Above all, this interpretation commends itself by ‘its extreme appropriateness’.113 Earlier in the chapter the ‘one mediator between God and men’ has been identified as ‘the man Christ Jesus’ (5), who of course became a human being by being ‘born of a woman’.114 Further, in the context of Paul’s references to the creation and fall, recalling and 3, a further reference to the coming redemption through the woman’s seed, recalling , would be most apt. The serpent had deceived her; her posterity would defeat him.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Concluding questions In developing the concept of cultural transposition, I am not claiming (as my readers might wish me to claim)
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Service—Or Circus? (1 Timothy 2)
Paul gave several arguments to back up this admonition that the Christian men in the church should be the spiritual leaders. The first is an argument from Creation: Adam was formed first, and then Eve (1 Tim. 2:12–13). (Paul used this same argument in 1 Cor. 11:1–10.) We must keep in mind that priority does not mean superiority. Man and woman were both created by God and in God’s image. The issue is only authority: man was created first.
The second argument has to do with man’s fall into sin. Satan deceived the woman into sinning (Gen. 3:1ff; 2 Cor. 11:3); the man sinned with his eyes wide open. Because Adam rejected the God-given order, he listened to his wife, disobeyed God, and brought sin and death into the world. The submission of wives to their own husbands is a part of the original Creation. The disorder we have in society today results from a violation of that God-given order.
Why we struggle?
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
The issues in this church led Paul to remind them of the divine order
Stott, John. The Message of 1 Timothy and Titus (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.
It’s unpopular to hold to the biblical view of the roles of men and women everywhere even in the church. We are being told in today’s culture no one has to accept God’s original design. You can be whatever you want to be. To hold to the teachings of the Bible labels you as outdated and many uncomplimentary names. Sad to say many in the church is leaning towards this worldly view instead of holding to the truth of God’s word passed down from one generation to the next.
Narrow and Pharisaical applications of this passage has caused many to swing to the more liberal view
The pride of our sinful nature rebells against God’s design and roles
We find our worth or value in our own accomplishments not in God’s grace and purposes
We minimize the need and importance of the supportive role
The body in
And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”