The Worthy Woman – Part 2
Introduction:
We have seen in our study of women’s role in worship
that God has given different functions and
responsibilities to men and women. These do not make
one inferior to the other. In I
Timothy, the apostle Paul is writing to a young preacher
instructing him on how to deal with church life. He is
directing one to follow God’s order for congregations
and correcting those who would teach something else.
Notice I Timothy 3:14-15. “These things I write to you,
though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am
delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to
conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the
church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the
truth.” I Timothy 1:3-7 “As I urged you when I went
into Macedonia – remain in Ephesus that you may charge
some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to
fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes
rather that godly edification which is in faith. Now
the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure
heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to
idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law,
understanding neither what they say nor the things which
they affirm.”
NKJV
Those to whom all of us must submit: God and Christ.
Paul also informs his readers as to why they must listen
to his instructions. He is an inspired apostle.
Text:
I Timothy 2:8-15
Body:
I.
Men and Women’s Conduct in Worship
(Verses 8-10)
I Timothy 2:8-10
“I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in
like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in
modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with
braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but,
which is proper for women professing godliness, with
good works.”
NKJV
“I desire” – A command from an apostle, therefore
it is a diving command.
A.
Men
– This is a Greek word for adult males. They are to
lead the prayers in all places where the assemble meets
to worship. “Lifting up holy hands” – This
is a figure of speech for the manner of lives of those
leading prayer. The men must be holy, spiritual.
“Without wrath and doubting” – They cannot
harbor anger nor be quarrelsome. Those who lead public
prayers should be carefully chosen.
B.
Women
– After telling the men how to conduct themselves during
periods of worship, he now turns to the women. Physical
dress must not be shameful or indecent. It must not be
improper but appropriate for one in whose presence you
are. Clothing is to be discrete and moderate, not
extravagant or showy. A woman is not to dress to call
attention to herself. This would be opposite of a
submissive spirit. Instead of adorning
herself with showy and elaborate dress, she should
rather adorn herself with good works. Others should
know her for spending more time visiting the sick, etc.
than shopping for clothes. Possibly in these three
verses Paul is contrasting a tendency for women to dress
inappropriately and for men to argue. Both would keep
them from following God’s role for each.
II.
Men and Women’s Role in Worship
(Verses 11-12) I
Timothy 2:11-12
“Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And
I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority
over a man, but to be in silence.”
NKJV
Paul wants women to learn, to receive instruction.
[Some of the most knowledgeable Bible students that I’ve
known were women.] “In silence” – This can
mean either absence of sound or with a gentle attitude.
“With all submission” – This is entire
submissiveness. The definition of the Greek word is
“readiness to renounce one’s own will for the sake of
others; subordinate oneself in every respect.”
This, of course, doesn’t imply women are inferior to
men. They aren’t; rather God gave each different roles.
Paul, in Verse 12, limits a woman’s activity in the
church setting. A woman is not allowed to teach over a
man nor is she allowed to have authority over a man.
This doesn’t mean she can’t teach at all because she is
to teach in certain circumstances. See Titus 2. Women
are not to teach nor in any other way exercise authority
over men in any church-type setting or worship setting.
Rather she is to be submissive. The Christian males are
to have leadership roles. This would forbid her from
leading men in prayer, preaching or teaching in worship
assemble where men are present, leading singing,
presiding at the Lord’s Table, etc. Recall Paul is
instructing with divine authority!
III.
God’s Reasons for these Restrictions
(Verses 13-15)
I Timothy 2:13-15
“For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not
deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into
transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in
childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and
holiness, with self-control.”
NKJV
Paul now answers questions as to why women are not to
have authority over men during periods of worship.
A.
Adam was formed first. Notice this has nothing to do
with the culture or customs of first century, but goes
all the way back to creation! This certainly doesn’t
mean that women are to be submissive to men because Adam
happened to come first. Rather God created Adam first
for a reason. It was to indicate the leadership God
intended for men. It shows the relationship that God
intended between men and women. Paul affirms this in I
Corinthians 11:8-9 when he says, “For man is not from
woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the
woman, but woman for the man.”
NKJV
Notice this order of creation doesn’t imply superiority
though. God does inform us that man has responsibility
to provide leadership which he often doesn’t do; or as
Paul puts it, “the head of woman is man.”
B.
“Adam was not deceived.” Paul continues to explain why
women are to be submissive in worship. Eve
violated the principle of male leadership. She took the
lead in eating the fruit and getting Adam to do the
same. Read Genesis 3:6. “So when the woman saw that the
tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of
its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with
her, and he ate.”
NKJV
Adam was seemingly right there with Eve and should have
stepped in to protect her. Adam was cursed as a result.
(Genesis 3:17-19) “Then to Adam He said, ‘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.’ ”
NKJV
Notice especially the words of Verse 17 to Adam,
“Because you have heeded the voice of your wife,” Adam
allowed his wife to take the lead instead of him being
head as God directed. Eve should have submitted to her
husband. Because she didn’t, notice Genesis 3:16. “To
the woman He said: ‘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.’ ”
NKJV
So Paul reminds us in I Timothy 2:13-14 that God made
men and women with different roles, especially is this
true in worship.
C.
Finally, women can be kept safe from taking leadership
roles preserved for men by fulfilling her own God-given
role in the home, especially as seen in the caring for
her family. Similar is Paul’s admonition in Titus
2:4-5. “that they admonish the young women to love their
husbands, to love their children, to be discreet,
chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own
husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
NKJV
When she properly controls her desires, lives a life of
faith, love, and holiness, while confining herself to
God’s natural order, she will find favor in the sight of
both God and man.
Conclusion:
From the creation of man and woman, God has intended for
each to have separate functions or roles. The roles do
not imply any inferiority at all. God knew what
functions were best for man and what ones were best for
woman. After all, He made them! Let each of us do our
best in fulfilling those roles. While God made a
distinction between men and women as for as function is
concerned, salvation is offered to all, whosoever
chooses to obey the gospel.
Bobby Stafford
August 2, 2015
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