Sermon notes from Sunday 11/14/2010. Now I know there will be some who read this post (as some who read the following passage of Scripture) who will completely disagree with me. However, the Bible speaks about and we will too. This is why we go through books of the Bible expositionally – there is no way for us to avoid uncomfortable topics and controversial parts of the Bible.

One commentator I read said, “If one one position were truly clear or obvious, then there would not be significantly divergent positions held by respectable scholars” (William D. Mounce, Word Biblical Comentary, pg 103). However, this statement is erroneous in that there are more reasons as to why people would come to many different conclusions about the same text other than the text itself is unclear. Often when someone doesn’t like a portion of Scripture they will do one of four things: 1) They will throw the text out completely; 2) They will redefine the passage’s meaning to best fit what they wish the text had originally said; 3) They will call the text archaic and say it holds no practical or cultural implication for us today; 4) They will submit to the text as their highest court of authority and believe that what the text says is truth. The reason we find so many opinions about what this text means is because there are so many people who don’t like what it means, so they redefine it.

So I would ask you, as you study along with us in this passage of Scripture, not to rise up in self-righteousness and condemn the words of the Bible, but to humbly submit yourself to them.

1st Timothy 2:8-15, “[8] I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; [9] likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, [10] but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. [11] Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. [12] I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. [13] For Adam was formed first, then Eve; [14] and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. [15] Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.”

The Foundation of Paul’s Argument: Genesis

At the end of Paul’s argument he gives us the foundation for his entire argument. To be sure, teaching like this is affirmed throughout the entirety of the Bible and is not limited to Paul’s teachings.

In the beginning who was created first? Man or women? Man. Who was given the responsibilities of naming all of the animals? Man. Who had named everything previously? God. Who named the woman? Man.

This pattern is an extremely important one as we look at leadership and the design of men and women. Man was created first and given similar responsibilities to God in that he was allowed to name creatures and even his wife Eve. Furthermore, Eve was created as a helper to Adam (Genesis 2:20). Before you get all upset about the word helper, remember that God Himself is called our help and God the Holy Spirit also holds this title (John 14:26). So therefore, it is not a denigration to be called a helper, because God Himself is called our Helper.

From the very beginning God created men and women differently to fulfill different roles and compliment one another. This means gender is more than simple plumbing. This is the foundation of Paul’s argument to Timothy.

Historical Context: What was happening in the church?

Paul is writing to Timothy in the mid 60′s AD in the Greco-Roman city of Ephesus. During this time in history the women of the day had very simple hair styles and dress. Yet the women who were rich had extremely elaborate hair styles adorned with expensive pearls and gold pendants as well as wore extremely costly dresses.

In an effort to emulate these women the women of the church in Ephesus were dressing and doing their hair like the rich Roman women (much like our day when women try to be like the women from Hollywood). These women would walk in to the church’s prayer meetings and gatherings all bling’ed out and dressed in costly, immodest attire, thereby distracting everyone from what they were there to do: worship Jesus and pray as a body.

These women wanted the attention on them rather than the attention on God. Something Paul was not going to let continue.

Paul’s admonition

Paul tells Timothy to instruct the women in the church in Ephesus to first of all dress. This is actually something very relevant for us today. Women should dress. Not only dress, but modestly. I’m all for a women wearing a low cut shirt, mini skirt and some fish-net stockings, but at home with their husband. Ladies, have you any idea what men are thinking about you when you dress provocatively? Do you want to be a sexual object? Would you allow your own daughter to dress that way? How would you feel if men were thinking of your own daughter the way they are thinking about you when you dress immodestly?

Now I know that the word “modest” has so many cultural implications and definitions to us so it’s difficult to define. However, women must seek to dress in a modest way that is fitting for what God would have for them.

Again, hear me out. I’m all for women not wearing clothes. Just with their husbands.

Furthermore, Paul tells women he want’s them to learn. This is completely antithetical to the cultural norms of this day. Women were NEVER encouraged to learn. Their testimony in a court of law wasn’t even legal. Yet, Paul here encourages them to learn.

Sometimes there is nothing sexier than a woman who knows her Bible and studies theology. True story.

Women should learn. Women should get undergraduate degrees, masters degrees and PHD’s. Women should go to seminary. Women are incredibly smart, important and needed. I say “amen” when Paul says women should learn!

Yet Paul tells them how they are to learn. With submission. Again, most will bristle at this word, yet again it is used of God. Jesus Christ submitted to the will of the Father (Matthew 26:36-46). They are to learn submitted to authority, the authority of their husband (if they have one), their pastors, the Scriptures and most importantly Jesus. Similarly, men are to be submitted to the authority of the pastors of their church, the Scriptures and Jesus.

Should women be silent in the church? When Paul tells the women to be silent he is speaking about a principle (submission to authority) which is culturally applied in the church in Ephesus as calling the women to be quiet. The way this principle is applied in our churches today can be significantly different than how it was applied in Ephesus in the mid 60′s AD. However, it is clear that Paul is saying that the highest level of authority in the church (Pastor/Elder/Overseer, used interchangeably) is reserved exclusively for men. All other positions in the church are open for women to lead it and start ministries. At Paradox we hold to a position called Complementarianism (as opposed to Eqalitarianism or a Hierarchical position). These positions are outlined in the bullet points below:

• Hierarchical: All roles and offices in the church are reserved exclusively for men.
• Complementarian: Highest position and office is reserved for me (Pastor/Elder). All other roles and offices are open for women.
• Egalitarian: All positions are open for everyone.

We believe that the complementarian position is most clearly outlined and supported throughout the entirety of the Scriptures and began in the beginning with Adam and Eve where Adam was the head and leader.

With that said, I do believe many churches are fuzzy on this issue and often will not call women pastors and instead call them “directors” or some other title. This may seem like semantics, but it is important. I believe we do a disservice to women who lead in the church in an extremely vital and important spiritual role by not giving them the spiritual authority and title God has allowed for them in the church. We allow women to be deacons and recognize this as a very high calling with spiritual authority.

Women and Mommys

Paul teaches Timothy that one of the primary ways that women are sanctified to be more like Jesus is through childbearing and being mommy’s. I think perhaps (I’m not a mommy, but I’m married to one) that this happens primarily through the fact that when you parent a child you are forced to understand how childish you really are in your relationship to God.

When Jesus gives us children He often says, “See what it’s like: I constantly tell you what to do, but you never listen?”

Conclusion:

Paul tells the women to continue in faith, love and holiness with self-control. Women are an incredibly important part of the church, society and God’s mission. Paradox loves women. We want women to be transformed by God and become missionaries to this great city through His grace. We desire to see women pursue their calling from God through studying the Scriptures.