BIG IDEA:
THE CHURCH NEEDS BOTH GODLY MEN AND GODLY WOMEN TO
FULFILL THEIR PROPER ROLES
I. EXPLANATION OF THE DIFFERENT ROLES
A. Men Need to Lead in Prayer in the Public Assembly
1. Action -- "Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray"
Wuest: "The word ’therefore’ is resumptive, picking up again the general topic of public worship from which Paul digressed in verses 3-7."
Wuest: "wherever Christian congregations assemble"
2. Heart Attitude
a. "lifting up holy hands"
b. "without wrath and dissension"
Wuest: "freedom from irritation towards our fellowmen, and confidence toward God"
Kent: "a reference to that spirit of argumentation or disputing, whether with others or within oneself, a spirit which has no place in true prayer."
B. Women Need to Dress Modestly and Focus on Good Works
1. Issue of Dress
a. Positively: "to adorn themselves with":
1) "proper clothing"
2) "modestly"
3) "discreetly"
b. Negatively:
1) "not with braided hair"
2) "and gold or pearls"
3) "or costly garments"
2. Issue of Good Works
a. "but rather by means of good works"
b. "as befits woman making a claim to godliness"
Guthrie: "a woman’s dress is a mirror of her mind. Outward ostentation is not in keeping with a prayerful and devout approach."
Wiersbe: "The contrast here is between the artificial glamour of the world and the true beauty of a godly life."
C. Women Need to Receive Instruction
(rather than Teach or Exercising Authority over Men)
1. Action: "receive instruction"
2. Heart Attitude:
a. "quietly"
b. "with entire submissiveness"
3. Limitations
a. Not allowed to Teach (men in public church gatherings)
"But I do not allow a woman to teach"
b. Not allowed to Exercise Authority over Men (in the church)
"or exercise authority over a man"
c. Must "Remain Quiet "
Wiersbe: "’Silence’ is an unfortunate translation because it gives the impression that believing women were never to open their mouths in the assembly. This is the same word that is translated ’peaceable’ in verse 2. Some of the women abused their newfound freedom in Christ, and created disturbances in the
services by interrupting. It is this problem that Paul addressed in this admonition."
D. (By Implication) Men Need to Teach and Exercise Authority in the Assembly as Appropriate
1. Teach
2. Exercise Authority
II. REASONS FOR THE DIFFERENT ROLES
A. Argument from Priority of Creation
"For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve."
Lenski: "The creative order certainly reveals God’s intent, that Eve was not to direct, rule, supervise him, that she was not to be the head, but he."
B. Argument from Susceptibility to Deception (in the Garden of Eden)
"And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression."
III. SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO EXCEL
"But women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint."
Hiebert: "’Child-bearing’ denotes the proper sphere in which the woman finds the true fulfillment of her destiny. It speaks of the highest ideal of Christian womanhood. It brings out that which is noblest and best within her being. Paul’s thought naturally
includes the training of the children in a Christian home. It stands in opposition to the sphere of public teaching which was closed to her."
Wiersbe: "Paul laid down a general principle that encouraged the believing women of that day. Their ministry was not to ’run’ the church, but to care for the home and bear children to the glory of God (1 Tim. 5:14). Their home congregations would give them
abundant opportunities for teaching the Word and ministering to the saints."
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Do we give enough attention to prayer in our public worship services? Are godly men given the freedom and opportunity to lead in prayer? Do we find prayer boring
and difficult to hold our attention?
2) Do women dress appropriately in our assembly and devote themselves to good works in a manner befitting godliness? What types of good works do you think Paul
had in mind?
3) What types of pressure are being exerted on men and women to deny their unique roles when it comes to the propriety of teaching and exercising leadership in the
church? How much stronger is this pressure today than it was 75 years ago?
4) What are some of the different views of the difficult passage of vs. 15? What are some of the practical applications that result from the different views? Is the subject of.the second half of the verse ("they") the women already mentioned or their children?" What is the nature of the "salvation" or "deliverance" mentioned?
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