Men have a tendency to feel a pressing need to get things done. So, Paul reminded them to be quiet and pray. Women are notably different than men, not only physiologically but psychologically. So, Paul treats them differently in 1 Timothy than he does the men.
Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint (1 Timothy 2:9-15).
We first take note of the word, “likewise.” Paul’s instruction to women does not devalue them or make them unequal to the men. They are receiving different instruction because they are different, not unequal. Paul encouraged men toward humility. He now also instructs women toward humility. Though the specific application of humility looks different, the heart of the instruction is exactly the same for women as it is for men. It is important for us to remember a biblical definition of gender equality. God did create two distinct sexes. The world as God created it is not equitous. Men and women have different strengths and weaknesses. Men and women are respectively suited for different jobs and even roles in the home and church. But, men and women are equals in God’s eyes. In fact, they are complementary to each other. So, we should never think that Paul left women out or treats them as lesser beings. The Bible is actually very generous to women and elevates them in their own right. Like the men are to pray lifting holy hands, women are to adorn themselves with proper clothing.
This clothing is to be modest and discreet—not with braided har, gold, pearls, or costly garments. In Ephesus, the jewelry and braids may have some pagan innuendo, but Paul is not explicit about that, and I feel it best to just stick to the text. Instead of focusing on dressing in ways people can see, Paul instructs women to dress by means of good works. Men were encouraged to live a tranquil and quiet life. Likewise, women are encouraged not to dress in a way that draws attention to them. Rather, they should content themselves with service. This is how to live like a godly woman.
We often fail to speak properly of modesty in our context today. We speak of modesty as if the Bible means dressing such that certain parts of the body are covered so as not to draw others into sin. While something can be said about that, and we should care enough about others not to tempt them to sin, that’s not how the Bible describes feminine modesty. Instead, modesty is about not dressing such that all attention is drawn to you. Men show off in other ways. Paul seems to be addressing a temptation that is generally particular to women. I can’t speak from a woman’s perspective, but I seem to see such a tendency especially on social media in our own day. Women use their bodies and clothing to get attention. To live like that is a waste of time and money and typically attracts the wrong kind of attention anyway. You’ll only be left hurting and lonely in the end. Instead of living that way, serve others; clothe yourself with good works.
We see some instructions that are highly debated in our time—a time when people love to have all attention and recognition on themselves. First, a woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. What an offensive thing to say in our society, but I don’t think Paul meant it offensively. Remember, this is like the instruction for men. Men were to quietly lift holy hands in prayer. Women are to quietly receive instruction. The heart of the instruction is the same. Show me a room full of people talking over one another, where everyone is trying to be heard but no one is praying or listening, and I’ll show you a group of people who aren’t following Christ. Isn’t that the very temptation during times of transition while we are looking to appoint pastors? Everyone wants to be heard and no one wants to listen? Since men and women are different, having different temptations in this season, Paul applies the humility principle differently to them in 1 Timothy.
Paul goes on to a probably more well known clarification, “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.” People err to extrude this clarification into an excuse for misogyny since men are also to be quiet and humble. Paul suddenly mentions the teaching role in the church as if he is transitioning to write particularly about appointing pastors. He also mentions authority as if he is transitioning to speak about positions of authority. Since Paul gives the explicit qualification for elders in the next section of his letter, we must assume that, in context, that’s the kind of teaching authority Paul is referring to here. If he is not, I don’t know what to do with this verse because the context clues lead us to no other conclusion. This is a statement about the teaching authority of the elders, or pastors. It does not mean women can’t say anything. It doesn’t even indicate women can’t teach at all (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:5). It doesn’t mean men can’t learn something from women. I’m thankful for that because I love to read Jen Wilkin and Nancy Guthrie. Somehow, for the sake of humility and unity in the congregation, women are not to assume any type of pastoral or elder role in the church—to teach with authority over men. Why? Paul provides a reason:
For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression (1 Timothy 2:13-14).
Women are not to speak with authority over men because (1) Adam was created first and (2) Eve was the one who was deceived and fell into transgression. Paul’s audience would know that Adam also fell. I don’t think he means to insinuate that women are lesser than men, as I pointed out already. He provides his reasoning in two parts.
First, he reasons as a matter of the created order. Adam was created first. Thinking back to Genesis, Adam, being the first created, bore the responsibility to steward the earth and multiply. Eve was given as a suitable helper in that task. God knows men are helpless on their own. He created men and women with different strengths to complement each other. Since God does not change, it stands to reason that His purpose for men and women remains the same now that it was in Genesis 1-2.
Second, he reasons as a matter of the order of transgression. Eve disobeyed God first. She gave some fruit to Adam, who was with her, and he also sinned. Neither women nor men are innocent, but we see the woman’s ability to lead her husband if she so chooses. It is no secret to us how women can have a certain mastery over men—especially if they dress a certain way, which Paul has already mentioned. This is in a way a complement to women’s beauty. It is also a warning about their hold over men and, especially their husbands. A humble woman will be submissive rather than entice others to do her bidding. Biblical submission, then, isn’t slavery but humble character. Humble, godly women don’t seek out positions of authority because they can too easily mislead the masses by their charm and, even if accidentally, take their followers deep into sin. Men aren’t so cunning or beautiful. If they mislead others, they use different methods addressed elsewhere in Scripture.
- God gave the primary responsibility to men.
- Women have too much hold on men to be in that kind of position.
So, we honor God and protect the congregation by listening to Paul here. Be humble. Women, don’t teach with authority over men. Even though Paul doesn’t mean to offend women, I’m sure he is aware that some women will be offended by his words. So, he offers a consolation:
But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint (1 Timothy 2:15).
While some have construed this to minimize the role of women to simple baby-makers, I don’t think Paul is so simple-minded. Look at the syntax. He doesn’t say, “Women, resolve to do nothing but bear children…” He doesn’t say that because it’s not what he wants to say. Paul’s encouragement is not an imperative, so it is not the case that women must bear children to be saved. “Bearing of children” (τεκνογονια) is a compound word used only in this verse—which weakens any English translation because we don’t really have other words to compare it to in their contexts to check our definition of the word. Γινομαι is “to become.” Τεκνον is “child.” There are several other translation difficulties in this verse. I have to show you.
Just a simple, word-for-word translation reads,
“She will be saved and through the child-becoming if they abide in faith and love and sanctification with sober-mindedness.”
You can see what makes translators’ work so difficult. The subjects don’t agree grammatically. The words fit together awkwardly at best. It seems at first glance a little out of character for Paul’s hand—unless he is trying to convey a more complex idea. So, we will simply take it piece by piece from the word-for-word and see what we discover.
She will…
The Greek word is singular even though many translations give us the plural, “women,” which causes us much headache when we try to read in English. So far, Paul has talked about women in the plural. Then, in verse 15, he is suddenly referring to a particular she in the singular. He is not referring to all women, but one. He has only mentioned one woman by name… Eve. The woman, Eve, fell into transgression. She will be saved through childbearing. In reality, her seed will crush the head of the serpent.
It is simply not the case that all women are saved by bearing children. It is the case that Eve bore a seed that would save her. She bore the seed, offspring, that would save all humanity.
…be saved…
This literally refers to salvation or preservation.
…through the child becoming…
This is also in the singular, not the plural, in the Greek. It refers to the becoming of one child in relation to the singular woman, Eve. This is about the incarnation of Jesus, not women giving birth to children. Literally, Eve would be saved through the birth of the promised seed—Jesus.
…if they abide…
Paul suddenly begins using the plural. Who are “they”? Grammatically, it is a stretch to go back to verse 9 and say, “Women!” There are only two people mentioned in this sentence’s grammatical context, Eve and Jesus. Paul is very particular about his grammar, unlike John for instance, who seems a little looser with his language. “They” are Eve and Jesus. Eve is saved through her abiding and Jesus’s abiding.
…in faith and love and sanctification with sober-mindedness…
If Eve abides in faith, love, and sanctity with sober-mindedness, she is saved. If Jesus abides in faith, love, and sanctity with sober-mindedness, Eve is saved.
Eve fell into transgression. As opposed to how this verse is often presented, it is not her work that saves her anyway. It is the abiding presence of Jesus, her promised seed. Eve, and all people in the Old Testament, are saved by grace like we are in the New Testament. Paul is taking us back to the original gospel presentation. Women are not to speak with authority over men. Instead they are to quietly receive instruction because they are like Eve (in a good way). Like Eve, they are not saved by their own work or presentation of themselves. All women everywhere are saved through the abiding presence of Jesus Christ. They should focus on abiding with Him instead of seeking positions of influence, especially in the church.
I would argue that anyone seeking a position of influence is disqualified from the pastorate anyway. Paul’s admonition for women in 1 Timothy is much more fitting with the Gospel and the direction of His letter to Timothy than people often make it. Translators are good, but 1 Timothy 2:15 is a particularly difficult verse to translate. I am not a Greek scholar. My emphasis is on Biblical and Systematic Theology. Yet, I can see that this verse sits awkwardly because Paul tried to do something difficult—connect the role of women in the church to Eve and Jesus while also connecting it with the truth of salvation for simple, humble, abiding. For Paul, this was an entirely clear but difficult to convey message to his audience. It is apparently difficult for us as well. Nevertheless it is hopefully encouraging to women.
Be modest and humble. Your worth is not found in your influence over men.You are equal but have a different role by God’s good design. Your worth is found in the abiding presence of Jesus Christ. You are saved because of His birth promised to Eve, not by anything you can do or any position you think you deserve—equally like men (cf. v. 9). Praise God that no person has to have a position to be important in the kingdom of heaven. In fact, every indication here points to Jesus Christ’s position as the only one that matters for our salvation, the salvation of the world, and the life of the church. We put far too much emphasis on our little positions, paling in comparison to the glory and reign of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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