5. Men and Women in God’s Household
1 Timothy: Healthy Words • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
General: Reading Someone Else’s Mail Game
Dear Alex, I just got back from an amazing city where we visited a massive tower with iron beams crisscrossing all the way to the top! The pastries were delicious, and we spent hours strolling along the river, enjoying the sights. (Answer: Paris, France)
Dear Fred, I just got back from an unforgettable trip! We rode mules down a steep, winding trail with towering rock walls on either side. At the bottom, we had lunch by a rushing river that carved its way through the massive canyon. The views were absolutely breathtaking! (Answer: Grand Canyon, Arizona)
Dear Jamie, This trip was incredible! We saw huge waterfalls crashing down from the cliffs, and everywhere we looked, there were rainbows in the mist. We even took a boat ride right up to the falls—so close that we go soaked! (Answer: Niagara Falls, USA/Canada)
Dear Casey, I had a wonderful trip! We explored a massive, ancient stone city, walking through temples, courtyards, and towering pyramids. The carvings on the walls told stories of a civilization long past. From the top of one of the structures, we could see the jungle stretching out for miles in every direction. It was magnificent! (Answer: Chichén Itzá, Mexico OR Tikal, Guatemala)
Personal: Read 1 Tim 2:8-15. This text is one of the most researched, discussed, debated, and controversial passages in the New Testament. It’s also one of the least clear.
I place a high value in the Bible as God’s Word. It can be understood by the average reader. It is relevant and applicable today, just as it was thousands of years ago when it was written. But, not every verse is equally clear. Not every verse is equally relevant. Not every verse is equally applicable.
For example: Leviticus… Revelation…
Tough Passage Tips
The main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.
Context, context, context.
Try to think about how the original audience would have understood the passage.
Let Scripture interpret Scripture.
Hold your conclusions with humility. // In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.
Biblical: What is the context of 1 Tim 2:8-15?
The big idea of 1 Timothy is: Healthy words and trustworthy sayings lead to godly living and Christlike character.
In this section of the letter, Paul is giving instructions for church gatherings (1 Tim 3:14-15). The objective is to be godly and dignified in every way (1 Tim 2:1-2). The purpose is so that people will be saved and come to know the truth (1 Tim 2:3-4).
Subject of chapters 2-3: When we gather to practice our faith, we must do it in a godly and dignified way.
Big Question: How do Paul’s comments about men and women in 1 Tim 2:8-15 relate to godly and dignified church gatherings?
Body
Body
Read 1 Tim 2:8-10. Your external actions and appearance should not be in conflict with your inner character. // Be who you are.
Exposition
To the men: When you pray, pray with holiness and integrity. Don’t be hypocrites.
Illustration: If you cuss at your neighbor on Saturday and sing praises to God on Sunday, what message does that send about faith in Jesus?
Men, are you peacemakers or troublemakers?
To the women: When you pray, dress appropriately, and let your good works be your accessories. Don’t try to draw attention to yourself through vain, extravagant, or suggestive clothing, but understand that you are beautiful in Christ.
Warren Wiersbe: “Ephesus was a wealthy commercial city, and some women there competed against each other for attention and popularity. In that day expensive hairdos arrayed with costly jewelry were an accepted way to get to the top socially. Paul admonished the Christian women to major on the “inner person,” the true beauty that only Christ can give. He did not forbid the use of nice clothing or ornaments. He urged balance and propriety, with the emphasis on modesty and holy character.”
Important Point: There is BOTH a timeless principle (dress modestly and let your beauty come from godliness) AND a cultural application (braided hair, gold, pearls, etc.).
Summary: When you gather to practice your faith in a godly and dignified way, your external actions and appearances should not be in conflict with your inner character. Men, pray with holiness and integrity. Women, when you pray, be dressed appropriately because you are beautiful in Christ.
Read 1 Tim 2:11-15.
Exposition
What is Paul’s objective?
Is Paul putting women in their place and excluding them? Or is he raising women up and including them? Read these verses through the eyes of a 1st-century Roman, not a 21st-century American.
Paul is raising the status of women in the eyes of the culture. He isn’t excluding them. He’s inviting them to learn. The only command is verse 11.
What is Paul’s point?
To the men: Let women learn. Don’t exclude them.
To the women: When you are learning, have the right attitude.
Illustration: Have you ever been in a college class where one student argues with the professor about almost everything? It’s annoying.
What do we do with verses 12-15?
Fixed-Order View: These instructions transcend the cultural context of ancient Ephesus, and restrict women from teaching and leading men in all places at all times.
Paul appeals to the order of creation (1 Tim 2:13).
Other Scriptures make similar statements (1 Cor 14:33-35).
Church tradition.
Context-Specific View: These instructions were specific to the culture and context of ancient Ephesus, and their application will look different in our culture and context.
Paul appeals to humanity’s fall into sin (1 Tim 2:14).
Other Scriptures reference women who were leaders in the early church: some of Jesus’s disciples were women (Luke 8:1-3); the first person charged with proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus to the men was Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:1-8); Paul himself had women on his ministry team (Phil 4:2-3).
Paul placed these restrictions on the women in Ephesus because they had been uneducated and weren’t ready to teach or lead, yet.
Timeless Principle, Cultural Application View: These instructions contain both a timeless principle of order in God’s household and a cultural application specific to the ancient Greco-Roman world.
Paul appeals to both the order of creation and the fall into sin (1 Tim 2:13-14).
There’s an order in creation… there is order in God’s household… like an older brother watching his younger siblings while mom is at the store.
Verse 14… “Satan deceived the woman into sinning; the man sinned with his eyes wide open.” ~ Commentary
Sin didn’t come into the world through Eve but Adam (Rom 5:12… Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—).
Sin came into the world through a man but Paul says in 1 Tim 2:15 that salvation came into the world through a woman: Mary gave birth to Jesus who came to save us from our sin.
We know that women participated in church gatherings and public worship services (1 Cor 11:2-16; Rom 16:1-2).
Many women were leaders in the church: Tabitha (Acts 9:36), Lydia (Acts 16:14), Priscilla (Acts 18:1-3), Phoebe was a deacon (Rom 16:1).
How should we understand 1 Tim 2:12? Timeless principle, cultural application.
Timeless principle: Men and women are created equal and both should be allowed to learn and lead. But God has established order in his household, and that order is good.
Cultural application: I don’t permit women to teach or exercise authority over men.
1 Cori 11… appeal to creation to make a cultural application
Warren Wiersbe ~ “Women are permitted to teach… But in their teaching ministry, they must not lord it over men. There is nothing wrong with a godly woman teaching; but she must not try to override the authority God has established in the church, namely, the overseers.”
Summary: When you gather to practice your faith, do it in a godly and dignified way. Your external actions and appearances should not be in conflict with your inner character. And let women learn—don’t exclude them. But, they should learn with the right attitude, and shouldn’t try to overturn the order God has established for his household.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We trust God’s Word, even when our questions aren’t answered, even when we don’t understand, even when it challenges our ideas. We trust God’s Word because we trust the God who inspired the Word.
