1 Timothy 2:11-15

 

1 Tim 2:11 (KJB)

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

 

Subjection - To be in submission or to submit oneself

 

Just as the Christian woman is to dress modestly, she is also to learn the things of God in silence. If God would have meant this to be only the first century, then it would not have been included in the Bible for succeeding generations. They are to be in subjection not only to their own husbands, but to the church leaders. The word for woman in the Greek is the word “gunê ” which may also be translated as “wife.” So if the wife is in view then she is to be subject to her husband and if a single woman is in view, then she is first of all to be subject to her father. Then ultimately she, like her husband, is to be subject to the biblical teachings they learn together.

 

1 Tim 2:12 (KJB)

But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

 

Suffer - Allow

Usurp - Exercise authority or have mastery over

 

Here the Scriptures are teaching that a woman is not to teach nor to exercise authority over a man in the church. Since she is to learn in silence, this means that she was not permitted to speak. This verse has been literally trashed in our day because of the Feminist Movement and the fear that men have of these women. So the men in the churches would rather obey the women than God. One just has to turn on the TV and you will see a plethora of women preachers who have self-appointed themselves. Women like Joyce Meyers, Juanita Bynum, Gloria Copeland and others have usurped the authority which God forbids them to have. The wife is supposed to be under the authority of her husband as designed in marriage by the Lord. When a woman starts preaching publicly and her husband is in the audience, then at that time she is exercising authority over him which God forbids. This is just another example of the reversal of spiritual things which Satan is doing in these last days. (Isa 5:20 KJV) Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! There are many men who have acquiesced to the ungodly Christian Feminist movement in the church and as a result have been feminized since they accept being under the spiritual authority of a woman. No one is saying a woman does not have a place in ministry but that place is not in authority over men but under their authority. The twelve apostles were not twelve apostlettes. There were women involved in the ministry of Jesus and they were the first ones at the empty tomb but that does not translate into women pastors or elders. If God states they are to learn in subjection and silence but one is teaching and preaching with men in the audience, then she is living in sin and so are the men for remaining under her preaching. Many try to use Deborah as an example of women leaders, okay, what about Jezebel or Athaliah who destroyed the royal seed an usurped the throne for six years (2 Kings 11).

 

1 Tim 2:13 (KJB)

For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

 

Adam was the first human to be formed from the dust by the hand of God and then when God saw that everything was good but Adam had no companion suitable for him, God took one of his ribs and formed Eve to be his help meet. (Gen 2:18 KJV) And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. Both were formed by God and Eve was not inferior to Adam but submission is based upon order.

 

1 Tim 2:14 (KJB)

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

 

Deceived - Something which gives a false impression either by appearance, statement, or influence

 

Paul now states that Adam was not the one who was deceived by Satan but Eve was the one who allowed Satan to deceive her. Satan came to Eve to tempt her and not Adam. What was Eve’s greatest mistake before she sinned? It was the fact that she dialogued with Satan instead of rebuking him. (Gen 3:2-3 KJV) And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: {3} But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. This may have been the reason that Satan went after Eve because she may have been much more easily deceived by dialogue. This is why the woman is to remain silent in the church because their emotional make up will allow them to accept false doctrines based upon emotionalism. When one listens to ministries like Focus on the Family, their ministry is primarily to weepy women. Dobson knows how to sell books and tapes and what audience to target. I had listened to a clip of Beth Moore and she talked more about herself than the subject she was supposed to be teaching. She got her audience emotionally charged and I guarantee she sold a lot of tapes and books that day. Paul is telling us that Eve was first in transgression and then Adam.

 

1 Tim 2:15 (KJB)

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

 

Sobriety - Mental soundness or self-control

 

Here the Apostle Paul is giving tremendous encouragement to the Christian woman. Paul does not end the chapter by having people believe that women cannot be saved. This verse almost looks like a woman who bears a child will be saved. However, there are many women who cannot have children and that does not make them any less a woman. What is in view here is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ who came through Mary. Just as all Christian women are saved in this manner, so are all Christian men because Christ came to earth to save sinners and that means women and men alike. No one can be saved by the law which was still prevalent at that time and that is why Paul is using a different way of saying that a person becomes saved only through the Lord Jesus Christ. The second half of this verse is the spiritual evidence that someone has become truly saved. The evidence that a woman is saved is if she continues or abides in faith, charity, and holiness which are three characteristics of the redeemed person. Then Paul states that a mind of sobriety, not from being drunk, but a sound mind which gives evidence of pure thoughts. (1 Th 5:8 KJV) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. If they continue in these things, then it is giving evidence that they are saved. If a woman or even a man lacks these things, then it is evidence they have not become saved.

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