1 Timothy 2:9-15

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Introduction

I was initially going to take a detour, not from 1 Timothy but, from alliteration. This week has been draining physically, mentally, and spiritually. I have felt beat up on multiple occasions and time flew faster than I would have liked.
Several times this week, my wife mentioned she planned on using her time to study Latin for homeschooling. However, her time slipped away from her faster than she would have liked.
I have seen her in the past studying different words and putting in great effort. For this passage, I am going to take a lesson from her and we will use this opportunity to read through this passage and look at some key words; however, instead of in Latin, we will look at Greek.
So, I trust your are in:
1 Timothy 2:9–15 KJV 1900
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; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
The first topic we see Paul addressing is a women’s apparel.

Apparel

Paul just completed a section on prayer. He says “men were to pray and do so with holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
He starts this passage, “In like manner. also.” Can it be said, in like manner, women are to be holy, while not having wrath and doubting?
I don’t know but I do know scripture says, “In like manner also.” So both men and women should pray with unpolluted lives while not harboring wrath and disputes.
After addressing the men, Paul turns his attention to women who had become a distraction in the church. We can reason this was the case from Paul’s instructions in 1 Ti 2.9.
This is a situation where it is helpful to understand the culture into which Paul was speaking, a culture in many ways that is similar with our culture.
Ephesus was known for sexual immorality.
It was common for women to use fashion to attract attention to themselves, sometimes in seductive ways.
Paul gave the women in the church at Ephesus a different exhortation: “women adorn themselves in modest apparel.”
This adorn carries the idea of “beautify, make attractive, decorate, dress, put in order.”
There is nothing wrong with beautifying yourself, but do it modestly.
One’s attire is the expression of tastes, interests, and character.
The application for us in our context is “Christian women should have a different motivation in their dress than the surrounding culture.
While this passage is directed at women, I too could learn a thing or two. My wife is quick to point out when my attire does not display good taste or depicts poor character.
Pastor Minnick pointed out my suit last week…aparently I was swimming in my suit. It wasn’t anything inappropriate but I could use a new suit. Men and women need to beware...
Looking at Greek, we learn that modest means “moderate and well ordered.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Service—Or Circus? (1 Timothy 2)

The word translated “modest” (1 Tim. 2:9) simply means “decent and orderly.” It is related to the Greek word from which we get the English word “cosmetic.”

These women were looking to draw people’s attention. Paul is essentially saying, “stop drawing people’s attention, particularly men.
Their attire wasn’t modest. As one commentator put it, “their clothing should be ‘modest,’ a word that can have sexual overtones.”
The motivation behind our dress should not be, “what draws the most attention to me?
It should be, “what displays a humble heart devotion to the worship of God?
The limits, markers or boundaries of one’s apparel.
If you shoot on the range, you know what your left and right lateral limits are for safety. Paul is about to provide some limits for women safety.
On one end, Paul says with shamefacedness. THis is not a common word in our day but in the Greek it simply means “decency” and sobriety alludes to “moderate, self-controlled.
On the other end, he says not with “broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.
Is it wrong to have nice attire? No! This is another area where it is helpful to understand the context.
What was the issue Paul was addressing?
These things, “broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array,” were highlighting the wealthy and poor in the church.
Some women were using their wealth to assert their social status, and to these women Paul says “don’t draw attention to yourself.”
When you come to worship, remember God—He is the One you are competing with for attention.
You want your worship and life in every way to draw attention to Him.
How does this apply to us? Don’t draw attention to worldly wealth or worldly fashions. Don’t seek worldly praise, seek to be praised of God.
This lead me to my next point, Paul moves from apparel to attitude.

Attitude

Paul introduces us to this attitude in 1 Ti 2.10 where he says, “which becometh women professing godliness.
Godliness in the Greek means “the worship and reverence and observance for God.
Women in this church were causing distractions and not focused on a godly attitude.
Paul had to remind them attitude carries weight. You need to lay claim to worship, reverence, and observe God. You do this by not being a distraction but with good works.
One commentator put it this way, “It is always appropriate for a Christian woman to adorn herself “with good works.”
In other words, when people think about a certain woman in the church, their attention should be called to her helpfulness, hospitality, and friendliness; not to her lavish clothing and extravagant appearance.
When a woman claims to be a Christian, she professes (literally, promises) godliness, that is, a lifestyle in both appearance and behavior which readily identifies her as a woman who loves and serves God.”
Let me say this…women are hard workers. I know women can accomplish great amounts for the glory of God with the right attitude.
Women have a distinct nature to multitask where men can barely stay focused on one task.
What was I taking about…? Oh a woman ability to multitask.
Someone said it this way, “There are people in this world who spend every day making important decisions, troubleshooting, refereeing fights, nursing egos, doing damage control, and multitasking. They are called mothers.
This action of the women has reference to their conduct in the public worship services.
Paul continues:
1 Timothy 2:11–12 KJV 1900
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Women were to have an attitude of a students of the word and the same could be said to men. Be willing to learn. This learning in the Greek carries the idea of to “be taught, study, be instructed.
Paul continues “in silence with all subjection.” Did Paul mean for women to enter the public worship service with lips sealed?
No talking…Keep quiet…
I don’t think so, why? Because this silence relates to “quiet circumstances, a lack of disturbance.” Paul is saying “don’t become a distraction.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Service—Or Circus? (1 Timothy 2)

This is the same word that is translated “peaceable” in 1 Timothy 2:2. Some of the women abused their newfound freedom in Christ and created disturbances in the services by interrupting. It is this problem that Paul addressed in this admonition. It appears that women were in danger of upsetting the church by trying to “enjoy” their freedom.

We also read of subjection. This is not a word that comes with ease. It makes some women cringe. My guess it is because it has been taken out of context or has been abused.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Service—Or Circus? (1 Timothy 2)

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.

Don’t take this to mean a woman is of less worth…women are far more valuable than we can credit them.
So what is the point Paul is trying to drive home? I find it useful to quote a commentator…
1 Thessalonians through Philemon (1) With Regard to Learning (2:11)

The point is, however, that she must never speak in such a way as to challenge or show disrespect to the male leadership in the church. If she speaks, it should be with the agreement and under the direction of the church’s male leadership. In today’s society Christian women have much wisdom that can benefit the church, and Paul’s instructions would certainly not forbid hearing the advice of wise female counsel, providing that it is given under the right circumstances.

So, were can women serve in the local church? I have seen women serving in bus ministries, nurseries, and nursing homes.
One of the best areas I have seen women serving is, in their home. Teaching their children and helping their husbands. I wouldn’t be were I am in life if it wasn’t for my wife.
Marriage is not a competition but completion.
Timothy was taught by his mother and grandmother, and the older women should likewise teach the other younger women.
It is appropriate for woman to teach other women but not to be in an authoritative position over men in the context of the local church.
We see this by Paul mentioning women were not to usurp, which once again in the Greek means, “control, have authority over.”
So, we see the need for the right apparel, attitude, not Paul turns his attention to the ability of women.

Ability

Last night, I had the privilege to see Power Rangers on television for the first time in nearly twenty years.
While I know I didn’t do much following along, I can tell you Power Rangers is an American entertainment built around a live-action superhero television series.
The team consist of 5 rangers who have different characters, powers, and colors.
Each color has its uniqueness. The colors correspond to the way they deal with circumstances and situation. The colors reflect their genuine character which eventually build powerful strength and great bonding between the members.
As the Power Rangers have unique abilities, so do women. In fact, woman have many abilities, and in many ways, they are smarter than men.
Women are allowed to teach. As I mentioned already, the older women should teach the younger women. This needs to be done in the right attitude given they have the ability to do so.
We see the older women in Titus being encouraged to teach younger women. Paul says:
Titus 2:3–4 KJV 1900
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Timothy was taught at home by his mother and grandmother. For we read … in 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy 1:5 KJV 1900
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 KJV 1900
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 unfeigned, (genuine, sincere, without hypocrisy), faith was not only in Timothy but in his grandmother and mother.
Two women that took their walk with Christ seriously. Timothy has a Greek father and apparently an unbeliever, he did not try to interfere with Timothy’s faith and his work for Christ (Acts 16:1), but these two women made such as impact in Timothy’s life.
This is an great example of a women using their God-given abilities to impact future generations.
In their their teaching ministry, women must not “lord” of congregants.
There is nothing wrong with a godly woman instructing a man in outside the context of the local church (Acts 18:24–28); but women must not assume authority in the church and try to take the place of a man.
She should exercise “silence” and help keep order in the church.
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).
Man and woman were both created by God and in God’s image. The issue here is only on 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. As men, we can be dumb.
Adam rejected the God-given order, he listened to his Eve, 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 this God-given order.
Warren Wiersbe said, “I do not think Paul suggested that women are more gullible than men and thus more easily deceived; for experience proves that both men and women are deceived by Satan. On one occasion, Abraham listened to his wife and got into trouble (Gen. 16).
Later on, she gave him counsel and God told him to obey it (Gen. 21).”
In his own pastoral ministry, Warren Wiersbe said he has “benefited greatly from the encouragement and counsel of godly women; but I have tried not to let them usurp authority in the church.”
While Paul lists the order of creation, this doesn’t take away from the abilities of women.
Warren Wiersbe said “the godly women I have known have no desire to “run” things in the church.”
The creation of humans and their fall both seem to put the woman in an inferior position, but she does have a ministry from God (1 Tim. 2:15).
There was probably a close relationship in Paul’s mind between what he wrote here and what Moses wrote in Genesis 3:15-16the promise of the Saviour who would be “made of a woman” (Gal 4:4).
It was through a woman the Saviour came into the world. (Jesus had an earthly mother but not an earthly father—Matt. 1:18ff; Luke 1:34–35.)
We read about the linage of Jesus in “Once Upon a NON-Time.” Where it says, Even though many people looked down on women, Jesus loved them, appreciated them, cherished them, and honored them. We know women in history have made tremendous impact for the advancement of God.
I know a Pastor in Texas, a fellow 3510, Joe Serrano. His wife was instrumental in his salvation and service. I have met other women, Mrs. Gordy, who served God in the community and poured out her heart to unprivileged kids.
Speaking of Mrs. Gordy, I saw her cry when Pastor Goetsch removed her from the bus ministry because she had a heart to serve in her abilities. Why was she removed? Because her husband, another retired Chief Warrant Officer had health issues.
But Paul teaches a practical lesson (1 Tim. 2:15). He promised that the woman would “be saved in childbearing” if “they” (both husband and wife) continued in sincere dedication to the Lord.
History and experience both tell us that Christian mothers die in childbirth. I believe this is referencing our Savior.
God has His purposes, and His ways are far above our thoughts (Isa. 55:8–9). Paul laid down a general principle that encouraged the believing women of that day.
Their ministry was not to “run” the church, but to care for the home and bear children to the glory of God.
We read of this later in Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:14 KJV 1900
14 I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.
Their home congregation would give them abundant opportunities for teaching the Word and ministering to the saints (see Rom. 16:1–6).
Godly women do have an important ministry and ability in the local assembly, even though they are not called to be teachers of the Word in a pastoral sense.
If all is done “decently and in order,” then God will bless.
Today, we have seen three truths in this text, Paul first listed the apparel, followed by attitude, and closed by a woman’s ability. The truth worth reenforcing is, “christians, both men and women, must control their thinking by the discipline of God’s Word, not by the philosophy of this age.
The knowledge of this age will say “dress as you will, apparel doesn’t make a difference, don’t maintain a peaceable attitude, and there is not difference between a man or women ability. We need to control our thinking by the discipline of God’s Word!
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