1 Timothy 2:8-15
8: Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.
9: Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
10: but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
11: A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
12: But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
13: For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.
14: And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15: But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
Therefore—because Paul had just urged them to pray for those in authority—he instructed Timothy to have the men pray publicly—in every place—lifting up holy hands. Hands extended toward heaven. Holy hands, free from wrongdoing. Without wrath and dissension—things which would hinder prayer.
He addressed the women and said likewise—or also in regard to public conduct—they should dress modestly, not flaunt riches or excessive jewelry, but instead let their good works be their outer garments of beauty. In their public conduct, the women were to receive instruction quietly—not to teach or exercise authority (lord it over) the man, but to learn with a submissive heart. Receiving the Word with a teachable spirit—not challenging or questioning authority. If the woman had any question as to what was being taught, she should wait to discuss it at home with her husband (1 Corinthians 14:35). Remember, the foundations of the Church were being established during this time period. Staying true to Scripture was vital.
Listening intently to the teaching of the Word will hopefully arm and shield women to prevent any deception that presents itself to them, of which Paul had already mentioned there was much going on in Ephesus. In spite of the woman’s deception in the garden, and the associated curse because of it (Genesis 3:16), Paul added that she would be saved in childbearing if she continued in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
Of course, women did speak and sometimes instructed men privately, as Priscilla and Aquilla did with Apollos regarding his doctrine (Acts 18:26). However, Paul instructed Timothy in regard to public conduct, explaining that Adam was created first, calling to mind the order of creation. Adam was the one who received the command from God not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which he apparently communicated to Eve, to some extent. Unfortunately, she was deceived by the serpent.
Adam was not deceived, but was persuaded to join his wife in doing that which God had commanded not to do. For a husband and wife to stand as one against the enemy’s deceptiveness, both the woman and the man must accurately know and understand the Word, in both the hearing and teaching of it. When that’s the case, they may support each other in following the Lord. Any deception which would try to work its way in, is more apt to be exposed and not acted upon, when the husband and wife discuss it openly between themselves.
9: Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
10: but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
11: A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.
12: But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.
13: For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve.
14: And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
15: But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
***
Therefore—because Paul had just urged them to pray for those in authority—he instructed Timothy to have the men pray publicly—in every place—lifting up holy hands. Hands extended toward heaven. Holy hands, free from wrongdoing. Without wrath and dissension—things which would hinder prayer.
He addressed the women and said likewise—or also in regard to public conduct—they should dress modestly, not flaunt riches or excessive jewelry, but instead let their good works be their outer garments of beauty. In their public conduct, the women were to receive instruction quietly—not to teach or exercise authority (lord it over) the man, but to learn with a submissive heart. Receiving the Word with a teachable spirit—not challenging or questioning authority. If the woman had any question as to what was being taught, she should wait to discuss it at home with her husband (1 Corinthians 14:35). Remember, the foundations of the Church were being established during this time period. Staying true to Scripture was vital.
Listening intently to the teaching of the Word will hopefully arm and shield women to prevent any deception that presents itself to them, of which Paul had already mentioned there was much going on in Ephesus. In spite of the woman’s deception in the garden, and the associated curse because of it (Genesis 3:16), Paul added that she would be saved in childbearing if she continued in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
Of course, women did speak and sometimes instructed men privately, as Priscilla and Aquilla did with Apollos regarding his doctrine (Acts 18:26). However, Paul instructed Timothy in regard to public conduct, explaining that Adam was created first, calling to mind the order of creation. Adam was the one who received the command from God not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which he apparently communicated to Eve, to some extent. Unfortunately, she was deceived by the serpent.
Adam was not deceived, but was persuaded to join his wife in doing that which God had commanded not to do. For a husband and wife to stand as one against the enemy’s deceptiveness, both the woman and the man must accurately know and understand the Word, in both the hearing and teaching of it. When that’s the case, they may support each other in following the Lord. Any deception which would try to work its way in, is more apt to be exposed and not acted upon, when the husband and wife discuss it openly between themselves.
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