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1 Timothy 2:11–15
The teachings of the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 are quite astounding by our standards of respect in the world today for the woman. But we must realize and understand that Paul intends no disrespect for women in his teachings, rather, in all respect for everyone, the individual roles of the man and the woman. Paul declares in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (NKJV), “11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.”
This is an example of the different roles of the man and the woman historically while working together in respect to one another to accomplish the goals of the Church.
There was a time when the roles of the man and the woman were much different than that which we are accustomed to today in the western world. The direction of the Apostle Paul seems to be that of God creating Adam first and then Eve to be his companion as God did not want Adam to be alone in this world (Genesis 2:7, 18, 21–24).
In 1 Timothy 2:14–15 the Apostle Paul states, “14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” The account of the fall is recorded in Genesis 3 as it was Eve who was attacked by the devil in temptation. It is also implied in Genesis 3:6 that Adam was with Eve while the temptation was taking place. We must also realize and understand that this was the first time something other than purity was presented to Adam and Eve, suspecting their gullibility of being at such a high level as to not even be questionable as to something other than purity to be presented to them. They had no reason to question but simply to learn and grow.
The purity to be found in a fallen state is that of Paul’s statement in 1 Timothy 2:15, “15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” The punishment God gave to the woman is found in Genesis 3:16 stating, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” In Genesis 3:20 the Bible teaches us, “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.”
This continues with the punishment for Adam as we learn in Genesis 3:17-19, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”
Satan sneaks his way into our lives not always through the most obvious ways, but through the ways in which we are most vulnerable. The devil did not attack Adam but his companion – the one in which he confided – the one in which he trusted completely as he had no reason to not trust in her. Adam and Eve both fell to temptation, and both were disobedient to God in their actions and both were punished for it. This I believe, however, is the reason why the Apostle Paul made his statement in 1 Timothy 2:11–15.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to realize and understand that the lesson today is not about disrespect for women, but about the sinful nature of this world that perverts the respect and importance of men and women working together in different roles in our lives. And LORD, please help us all to have respect for one another as Jesus taught in John 13:34-35 declaring, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” In Jesus name I pray, amen.