My Question Is About Paul’s Admonishment About Women
Anonymous writes…
Dear sisters…first of all thank you for what you are doing. May God bless your labour of love and also keep you and all your loved ones on the narrow path.
My question is about Paul’s admonishment about women talking church where he adds that they will be saved in childbirth and that they should not speak in church because Eve was deceived and men are the spiritual head. What does he mean (especially when he talks about being saved in childbirth) ?
I have read many different explanations but I don’t want to feel like I’m explaining it away to suit what I want it to mean. I’m sure you must have thought about it before and I also wanted to ask it on here because someone else might be wondering the same.
Thank you and may God bless you
Precious In His Sight replies…
Hello my sister, I want to first of all say thank you for writing into this website. It is because of dear sisters like yourself that encourages us to stay in our gifting and want to continue laboring for the kingdom of God.
In your question, I assume that you are referring to 1Timothy 2:11-15 which says; 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. 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.
You ask what does Paul mean in these verses of scripture, especially when he talks about being saved in childbirth. My study bible (New Living Translation; Application Study Bible) explains it best; In first-century Jewish culture, women were not allowed to study. In these verses, Paul was offering women a new opportunity when he said that women should learn quietly and submissively. These women did not have enough knowledge or experience and that is why Paul said that he did not want them to teach. Back then these women had no formal religious training and they enjoyed their freedom to study Christian truth, but because they were so eager to learn, they were targeted and taken advantage of by false teachers.
2Timothy 3:6-7 says; They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by many desires. Such women are forever following new teachings, but they never understand the truth.
It is not so now. We as women have to be smart and have a discerning spirit in order to know if God is calling us to stand before a crowd and teach His word. There are many, many awesome women teachers of the day, and they have risen to a level in which they are able to bring forth the word of God with power because of right teaching and receiving wisdom and knowledge through God’s word.
Personally, I do not think that Paul was admonishing all women to just sit down, be quiet and not talk about God’s word. I feel that we as women should take our rightful and “God filled” place in this world and speak about His goodness, grace and mercy. God says in His word that we should; Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
To me this word is telling all of us to seek after God’s will and He will give us what we need. And, I take this as God talking to ALL of us and not just a particular gender.
As far as the second part of your question; being saved through childbirth, my study bible explains it this way; childbearing is a reference to the birth of Jesus Christ, and we are saved because of His birth. As Mary labored in her child bearing bringing forth our Savior, so do we as women labor in our servant hood, our submission to our husbands, our parents, our employers, and we also labor in our faith, our love and even in having self-control.
I hope that this answers your question and I want to share with you a website that you can read up on which talks about women being Teachers and Preachers. http://www.thewordoftruthministries.org/Women%20Preachers.htm
Be blessed by His word,
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