1 Tim 2:8-15
"I desire therefore that the men pray
everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting; 9 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, 10 but, which is
proper for women professing godliness,
with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in
silence with all submission. 12 And I do not
permit a woman to teach or to have
authority over a man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14
And Adam was not deceived, but the
woman being deceived, fell into
transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be
saved in childbearing if they continue in
faith, love, and holiness, with self- control."
Ok, this is a tough one!
It seems like Paul is saying that all women
should just be quiet, have babies, and leave
everything else to us men!
But my wife assures me that I am
misunderstanding him completely!
Just kidding.
So what is his point, exactly?
In order to fully understand the message of
this portion of scripture we need to read a
little more before we dig into it!
In chapter 3 we read:
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires
the position of a bishop, he desires a good
work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless,
the husband of one wife, temperate, soberminded, of good behavior, hospitable, able
to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent,
not greedy for money, but gentle, not
quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules
his own house well, having his children in
submission with all reverence 5 (for if a
man does not know how to rule his own
house, how will he take care of the church
of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed
up with pride he fall into the same
condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he
must have a good testimony among those
who are outside, lest he fall into reproach
and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise
deacons must be reverent, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not
greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of
the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let
these also first be tested; then let them
serve as deacons, being found blameless.
11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent,
not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all
things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of
one wife, ruling their children and their own
houses well. 13 For those who have served
well as deacons obtain for themselves a
good standing and great boldness in the
faith which is in Christ Jesus. 14 These
things I write to you, though I hope to come
to you shortly; 15 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."
So the message being communicated to us
is a guideline concerning orderly worship
and church-life!
The Bible points us back to the order God
established in His creation of humanity.
He created man first and gave to men the
primary duties of oversight within His
creation.
The problem comes when men don't lead in
the way God intends.
Men are not supposed to dominate like
tyrants, but to lead as servants.
As I've said so many times, being the
"head" means that we men are called to die
first.
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus taught us:
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “ If
anyone desires to come after Me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save
his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is
it to a man if he gains the whole world, and
loses his own soul? Or what will a man give
in exchange for his soul?"
A Godly man must set aside his own
desires and needs in favor of the needs and
concerns of his family!
Adam failed to do that when Eve was
decieved by Satan, choosing to allow his
wife to lead the family off course and into
disaster!
So the Bible gives us guidelines for church
leadership.
These are not iron clad, but they are fairly
clear.
It teaches us that it isn't God's ideal for
women to lead men as their pastors.
That does not mean that women never
teach men under any circumstances!
I love Beth Moore!
She's a great teacher! And so is my wife!
It would be very foolish for me to refuse to
listen to a Godly woman teaching the Bible
simply because she is female!
But the primary role of the Godly woman is
to lead and teach other women.
And her example should be one of inner
beauty, not outward flamboyance!
Again, 1 Tomothy 2:8 says:
"I desire therefore that the men pray
everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting; 9 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, 10 but, which is
proper for women professing godliness,
with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in
silence with all submission. 12 And I do not
permit a woman to teach or to have
authority over a man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14
And Adam was not deceived, but the
woman being deceived, fell into
transgression."
Apparently, in Ephesus the men were
dealing with anger issues that even affected
their public prayers!
Paul told them to calm down and deal with
their anger in a Godly manner!
And he told the women, who were still
dressing like the ungodly culture around
them, to dress less seductively!
In 1 Peter 3:3 the same idea is
addressed in this way:
"Do not let your adornment be merely
outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold,
or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be
the hidden person of the heart, with the
incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet
spirit, which is very precious in the sight of
God."
Ladies I hope you can hear the heart
behind this!
You aren't being asked to dress yourselves
in an unattractive manner!
But if your choice in clothing is intended to
draw a man's attention to your curves, or to
be a bit seductive, that's actually
dishonoring to you and to God.
Listen, when I was a young guy I realized
something important.
I dated some really pretty girls.
But after a while I would find them less and
less beautiful.
What was on the inside soon overshadowed the outward beauty.
It always does, one way or the other.
That's how my daughter got her name!
After I accepted Christ I began to pray
about how to know when I met the right
woman.
The Lord directed me to this passage in 1
Peter.
I realized that while I needed to be attracted
to the physical beauty of the woman I would
choose to marry, that the most important
quality for the long term was "the hidden
person of the heart, with the incorruptible
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit".
I began to pray that God would lead me to a
woman with that serene spirit!
And He did! My wife is gorgeous! Her blue
eyes left me breathless!
But it's her inner beauty that keeps me
attracted to her after more than 20 years!
When we first married I was ministering
mostly to young fashion models.
It's how this church got it's start.
And Elisabet once asked me if I would
some day be tempted to trade her in for a
beautiful younger model!
I told her the truth that day.
As we get older, there will always be
younger women whose bodies have yet to
bear children and who spend time focusing
mostly on outward beauty.
But my attraction to Elisabet runs deeper
than that.
I would never trade the deep relationship
we have, a relationship that's based on
friendship, respect, and commitment, for
something temporary!
Pastor Chuck always says about church
growth that "what you get them with you
have to keep them with".
That's true for you ladies, too.
If you have the affection of a man only
because of outward appearance, the day
will come when you are 40 or 50 years old
and your "shallow Hal" decides to trade you
in for the pretty, younger model.
But if you have devoted time and attention
to cultivating the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and
quiet spirit, only a fool will allow you to get
away!
Godly men aren't fools.
They are men who will serve you and lead
you toward a sweet, joyful life together.
A life filled with laughter and beauty.
It's the kind of harmony that God wants His
children to enjoy!
Pray
Questions:
Why does the Bible refer us back to Adam
and Eve?
Who is our example for Godly leadership?
Describe the qualities of a Servant-leader.
How is it short-sighted for a woman to dress
seductively?