The Woman’s Involvement – 1 Timothy 2:11-15

10th Lesson in a verse by verse exposition in the Epistle of 1 Timothy. This lesson covers the God-ordained place of women in the local assembly.

This Section: Chapter 2 covers the role of men and women in the public life of the church and chapter 3 covers the qualifications of Bishops and Deacons.

Vs. 9-15: The role of women in the church. Two main areas are addressed. 1. The Woman’s Adornment (9-10) & 2. The Woman’s Involvement (11-15)

The modern approach to this passage

1. Cultural re-orientation
2. Essential & Non-essential categorization
3. Both of the above positions leave man as the final authority over the Word of God rather than the correct position of submitting to the rule of Scripture. There are 3 key points relating to a woman’s place in the public worship of the local church:

Her Education (Vs. 11)

1. Silence
   1. ‘learn’ = a teachable spirit; a willing listener.
   2. Context: The formal assembly of the church.
   3. 1 Corinthians 14:33-37
      1. Questions to be asked of husbands at home
      2. Husbands need to know the Word!
      3. Inspired commands; not preferential suggestions
   4. Does not exclude a woman from offering a personal Word of encouragement in an informal setting. Does not preclude a woman from participating in a prayer meeting (Acts 1:14)
2. Submission
   1. Submission is voluntary
   2. Indicates humility. Contrary to the in your face, feminist ideals of today.

Her Prohibition (Vs. 12-14)

1. What? (Vs. 12)
   1. Teaching
      1. A woman can teach her children (Prov 31:1 – King Lemuel)
      2. A woman can teach other women (Titus 2)
      3. A woman can exhort and encourage in an informal setting
         1. Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:26)
         2. Philips Daughters (Acts 21:9)
      4. A woman can participate in a meeting for prayer (Acts 1:14)
      5. A woman cannot be a teacher over men in the church! A Pastor or teacher in the local church must be a man just like the head of a home must be a man.
   2. Ruling
      1. A woman has authority over her children (Col 3:20; Eph 6:1)
      2. A woman has authority to run the house
         1. 1. Timothy 5:14 “I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”
         2. “guide the house” = (oikodespotew) Compound word – oikos + despoteis. Literally, a house ruler/master. A despot is one who has absolute authority and power. Word is used in Jude 1:4 “only Lord God”
      3. A woman is not to exercise authority over a man in the local church setting.
         Illustration: Joyce Meyer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urp-fmP4wT4 “You know when God called me to do this I lost every friend I had. You think I wasn’t tempted to compromise right there. But I had a decision to make…People thought I had lost my mind because the circles I was coming out of women didn’t do this. I didn’t know I couldn’t do it until people started telling me I couldn’t do it…”Well you can’t do this you’re a women.” I said to God, “I can’t do this I’m a women.” He said “You think I don’t know what sex you are.” That’s all a bunch of nonsense anyway.”
         Referring to Mary’s appearance at the tomb Sunday morning she tries to prove being a women preacher is Scriptural…
         “Mary was there bright and early and the angel appeared to her because the tomb was empty and said “Go and tell my disciples that He is risen”. I don’t know anybody who can read that and say “women aren’t supposed to preach.”
         Regarding Paul’s teaching she states:
         “Well Paul did say some things that are a little difficult to understand but you’ve got to read them in context to the culture he was living in and what was going on in the early church at the time Paul said them.”
2. Why? (Vs. 13-14)
   1. Creation’s Order (Vs. 13)
      1. Man was to tend and keep the garden. He was given the responsibility of naming all of God’s creatures. Eve was created to be his helper.
      2. 1 Cor 11:3 “But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.”
   2. Eve’s Deception (Vs. 14)
      1. Adam sinned with full knowledge of what he was doing. Hence the responsibility for bringing sin into the world fell on his shoulders (Rom 5:12).
      2. Eve transgressed God’s command but was genuinely beguiled by the devil (Gen 3:13). ‘deceived’ = completely deceived
      3. Eve was particularly vulnerable to satanic deception when she stepped outside of Adam’s umbrella of protection. This same vulnerability comes when a woman usurps her God ordained role in the N.T. church.

Her Salvation (Vs. 15)

1. The meaning of ‘saved’
   1. The second part of the verse reveals this is not referring to salvation from sin.
   2. The word ‘saved’ in the N.T. is not always used to describe salvation from sin. For example:
      1. It can refer to salvation from physical sickness (Mk 5:34)
      2. It can refer to salvation from physical danger (Matt 8:25, Acts 27:20)
      3. It can refer to salvation from doctrinal error (1 Tim 4:16)
   3. The context: Saved from overstepping the Scriptural boundaries in relation to men in the local church. Rescued from the blight of the fall. Directs attention to the principle sphere of a woman’s activity.
2. The Sphere
   1. Childbearing – a unique and special function for a woman
   2. The home – raising the next generation of leaders
3. The Conditions
   1. Faith
   2. Charity = Love
   3. Holiness = purity of life
   4. Sobriety = a sound mind

Conclusion

Embrace your God-given role as a high calling

Sermon 10 of 27 in 1 Timothy Series

Sermon Audio Id: 5221667232