Awake & Alive: 1 Timothy Reading Plan
Day 8
11Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.Â
The exact nature and purpose of this particular passage in this Epistle is debated. It’s important to remember again that the main purpose of this letter is to instruct Timothy on how to ensure the church at Ephesus can most accurately return to the true Gospel message. Some argue this passage is simply a reference specific to the church at Ephesus at this point in history. Others believe it primarily concerns husband-wife relationships. Still others maintain that a literal word-for-word reading in modern English is still the most applicable use today.
While Paul writes under the authority of an apostle, regardless of the adopted view, it’s key to remember these are not just the opinions of a historical figure. They are written under divine inspiration, at what Paul described as his commissioning by God.
The passage’s intent is certainly not to demean or belittle anyone. Scripture is full of incredibly devout and faithful women who do tremendous work for God’s kingdom. What’s clear is that men and women are given distinct identities in God’s design. This is why Paul references creation and the fall found in Genesis 1-3. It’s essential that these distinct identities are not interpreted as making one gender lesser than the other. That is never the intent of any passage of scripture, and any exegetical work that arrives at that conclusion is flawed.
The beauty of this passage, which can be difficult to grasp in modern Western culture, is the reminder that all humanity is invited to play a role in God’s redemptive plan. When living within God’s design, humanity is free from the pressure to be something we’re not. God created, loves, and values each of us with a unique identity and purpose.
The call to quietness and submission in this passage is most accurately understood as the joyful trust found in resting in God’s plan. We don’t need to contend for value based on merit, gender, or education. Instead, we are offered a peace beyond comprehension in the identity Christ purchased.
This promise holds even during seasons of immense pain. Paul’s reference to childbearing is a reminder that difficulty is often the means by which faith is refined, and faith is always the agent that leads us to God’s grace.