Author: missionspaul

If ever there was a verse you wished you never picked out of the Bible promise box then it is this one, especially if you’re a man.

“But womenwill be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” (1 Timothy 2 v 15)

What does it mean?

I don’t think anyone can say they know. Other than Paul and Timothy and the 1^st century readers.

• It can’t mean the gospel salvation, for Paul believed that is not by works but by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• He was addressing some false teaching that was creeping into the church and perhaps it was around childbirth.
• It can’t mean that women will be physically saved, important for ancient times and some tribal areas of the world today, but it can’t mean that surely, so many have died in childbirth.

Some would point to the major deity of Ephesus being Artemis who had a temple which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was believed that Artemis had the power to bring about new life and also to take life away. She was also seen as the midwife who helped women during childbirth. They think that Paul was addressing those women tempted to call on Artemis during their childbirth for her help. Therefore Paul was emphasising that their safety came through faith in Christ and not calling on a false god. It fits but it is speculation because Paul never mentions Artemis in his letter to Timothy.

What can it mean? (I’m asking myself!)

Remember this: “To the woman God said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children.’ Genesis 3:16.

The curse of sin was pronounced on Adam and he would have to work hard by the sweat of his brow and Eve’s curse would be in her childbearing. The pain of childbearing reminded every generation of the sin of Eve and Adam. Can you imagine this curse continuing for generations before all the amazing pain-killing medicines of today? Can you imagine all the women through the centuries who just felt God was against them. Can you imagine them cursing Eve? God must just hate them. How can He be their Saviour?

Is that it? Is that what Paul is saying? He certainly had Eve in mind in his previous sentences (see previous verses of v13-14).

If so then Paul is saying there is hope. The pain isn’t the final word from God to women. God saves women. They will be saved through the curse. The curse doesn’t win. But the women need to turn to the Saviour Jesus Christ (maybe that equates to ‘if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety’)

Maybe. It certainly is the gospel.

I don’t actually believe that title, I used it to grab your attention.
But some people do.
They like their women to be a certain type of woman. By ‘they’, I mean the men, the opposite sex who are experts in the field of what is acceptable or not have here verses in the Bible that support their graciousness.
“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. ⁹ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰ but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. ¹² I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man;^[b] she must be quiet. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ¹⁴ And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. ¹⁵ But womenwill be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” (1 Timothy 2 v 8-15)

For centuries the great minds of New Testament Greek and Theology have hotly debated what Paul really meant.
So let me join in the fun with a few of my own simple thoughts:

“Therefore …” what’s it there for? Always ask this, it’s important. Previous to this passage Paul had told Timothy to deal with the false teachers that had infiltrated the church.

1. Paul was writing to Timothy not a universal letter to everyone in other nations. The men in this church were angry and the women were problematic causing further division. The main problem is the false teaching and not the gender of the person speaking.

2. The Ephesus church were believing a lot of false strange teaching from women who were not qualified to do so. They obviously came from a class of society that could afford to dress elaborately and expensively the way Paul highlighted. Therefore coming from a higher class they could wrongfully assume that they could also lord it over those beneath them. Just because you have education and can speak more eloquently doesn’t mean you have the calling to teach and preach. These women may not have been discipled to do so. They were deceived, like Eve.

3. Paul does not say, “I will never permit women to teach” as in at any time or anywhere. Though that’s what some will believe. He could have said that but he didn’t. This is a specific period of time to sort out a specific problem in a specific church.

4. The best learning environment is not loud and noisy with a disrespectful disarray, that’s the point and we assume rightly this also applies to men as Paul indicated earlier their use of ‘clenched fists’.

5. Who is the woman Paul has in mind? This is not women in general but a singular woman, maybe a few at the most. She presumably was teaching false doctrines and she was assuming authority over men. The word to focus on is not authority as is the word assuming. The word carries meanings of arrogance, presumptuous and forcefully taking over as opposed to being invited to do so. Paul would not let the woman in question do that.

Not everyone believes the above, the objectors tend to be men.

This is written for a certain church in Ephesus in the ancient world and for a certain reason of addressing false teachers. This has got nothing to do with Paul and his desires for what the genders are allowed to do in church. Both men and women are called to submit to one another. Paul knows and teaches this.

To those men who still walk out of churches when they find out a woman is preaching, stop it! To those male Pastors who suppress women in their churches to that of rotas and children’s workers (children who are male and female) and never allow them to stand behind the pulpit, stop it! Control doesn’t look good on you.

Just as men lifting up their hands in prayer Paul was demonstrating the holiness of their hearts, so with women. This is not so much about fashion as it is about hearts. This is not about braided hair but it is about holiness. The decadent fashions of the Roman world had found its way to impacting Paul’s churches. Our spirituality mustn’t draw attention to ourselves but to God. That’s the heart of this message. Further, let’s not focus on what women shouldn’t wear but let us look at the amazing good deeds they do in their worship of God.

^“ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰ but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Tim 2 v 9-10)

4 questions we can all ask whether female or male:-

1. What is my motivation? What am I trying to communicate through my appearance? Is my goal to elevate my own status or to honour God?
2. Where do I invest the most? With regards appearances how much of my time, money and mental energy is given to it? Am I bordering on being obsessive? (This is not advocating not trying to be presentable!)
3. Do I believe in my inner beauty? Does the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control of the Spirit shine through my life?
4. Am I generous? Do I give as much or more to others than I give to myself? How much self-focus do I give?

Paul is not trying to be legalistic or to shame anyone and it is true that different cultures will equate modesty differently. The key again is the heart. We must focus more on God’s beauty being seen than ours. That’s what Paul was saying.

It is really easy to lift up your hands in prayer and worship. It is a whole lot harder to give God your heart.

Paul is after a postured heart not the position of the body.

“Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.” (1 Timothy 2 v 8)

Paul is seeking:-

• Surrender to God.
• Holiness in our activities to others; the kindness and generosity we show.
• Without anger or grievance.

Paul is wanting no barriers preventing prayer to God. He is instructing the men. After speaking of prayers and petitions for all people he is making sure the men everywhere, meaning in all the house churches, are engaging in prayer not in divided opinions. Look at your church today? Who is seen as the intercessors, is it mostly women or men?

Paul speaks next about the women but he challenges the men to direct their voices not to man but to God and to do so by the lifting up of their hands. The position of surrender as Jesus did for us.

Are you angry today? Lift up your hands and release it to God as you pray.

Are there any disputed relationships? Lift up your hands and release it to God as you pray.

It was Paul’s desire that there would be dedicated, consecrated, holy lives given and presented to the Lord.

Having told Timothy to pray for kings and all those in authority, including Nero, he now declares (if it is at all needed) who is above all these titles.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. ⁷ And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.” (1 Tim 2 v 5-7)

There is one God. We are reminded of the great Shema of Deuteronomy 6 declaring monotheism over polytheism.

There is one mediator. The man Christ Jesus who became the bridge between God and mankind.

There is one ransom. The price paid to release slaves and prisoners.

There is one proper time. As part of God’s eternal plan, the incarnation, death and resurrection didn’t happen randomly but with perfect timing.

There is one purpose. That is for all to be saved. Not just the Jews but the Gentiles also.

In these 3 verses Paul gives a complete theology of salvation. God desires all to be saved, through a Saviour who gave His all, to make that possible and a mission that continues to go to every part of this world.

Where is the herald? The one who proclaims the gospel to those close and far.

Where is the apostle? Who is sent.

Where is the teacher? Who instructs and explains the gospel.

Where? Right here, the one writing and the one reading this devotion today!

Nero, the Roman Emperor reigned during the time of Paul. He was known for his wickedness especially his persecution of Christians. Nero was feared. Nero certainly wasn’t liked by the Christians. Nero was the Pharaoh of the Old Testament.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2 v 1-4)

Who don’t you like? Maybe you cannot even say their name. Who has authority over you and who makes your life difficult?

Who’s your Nero?

Paul challenges Timothy to bring requests to God, four focused prayers, these are not casual grunts, petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgivings, who for? For all people. Including your Nero!

This is so counter cultural.

It doesn’t mean we are praying for their successes in their policies nor especially their wicked behaviour or injustices.

It does mean we pray so that we can continue in our discipleship. To live peacefully, quietly and with godliness and holiness.

The fact is that God wants our Nero’s saved. Regardless of their position, politics or however they have impacted your life, hurt you or stood against you, God wants to reach them with His love.

• Pray regularly for your leaders, good ones and bad ones, even those that hurt you.
• Pray for the advance of the gospel.
• Give thanks even in tough times.

Above all remember that one of the great benefits of prayer is that it doesn’t just change circumstances  – it changes us.

We are going to read some of the most sobering words in the whole of Paul’s letter to Timothy. As leaders we must read it carefully. It reveals the weight of leadership responsibility; the necessity of difficult decisions; and the ultimate goal of restoration.

 ^“Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1 v 20)

Among who? The previous verses tells us, “have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.”

This doesn’t give us the right to be harsh or quick to discipline. This isn’t about excommunicating people who don’t agree with the leadership. This verse in the hands of the abusive leader can be very dangerous.

We don’t know who these 2 people are. Paul says in v19 that some have not held on to the faith nor a good conscience and describes it like a shipwreck. Their end was the opposite of how they thought it would be when they started out in the faith. These were people from within the Church. They were well-known. Maybe they were leaders themselves. They were guilty of blaspheming, of bringing shame to Christ’s name and Paul handed them over to Satan. Paul used this phrase in 1 Corinthians 5:5 in the context of sexual immorality. So for Paul this handing over to Satan was not to do so physically but to separate the individual from the Church community for a time in order to restore them.

Sometimes love requires difficult decisions. The goal is always restoration. It is always redemption. Leadership isn’t to avoid difficult situations but rather to navigate them with wisdom and courage.

Leaders carry a weight of responsibility for people they love and serve. Sometimes the very people they have invested in and worked alongside make choices that harm the mission, the organization, the community.

Leaders have to make difficult decisions. Here is the most severest decision to make regarding discipline. This wasn’t done in anger or revenge but it is the last resort, the last hope that the person can be restored. The removal of the individual that they might come back restored. These decisions are emotional and draining. Where the many may want to avoid confrontation the leader has to step in with courage and wade through the hurt and pain from all sides.

Leaders are restorers. Motivation is everything. Paul wasn’t trying to destroy these 2 men. He was creating conditions where they might come to their senses and return to the truth.

Ask any leader about Church discipline and they will say it is needed but it is difficult. The removal to restore is perhaps one of the most painful of moments for the one who has brought shame to Christ but also to the leader who loves that individual. But without Church discipline what would we have?

You may have a Bible where you underlined that important verse which spoke to you all those years ago. You may have a plaque on the wall or a fridge magnet where the quotation is a voice in your house. You may have a journal with that prophetic word given to you in a church service was written down in excited enthusiasm.

Paul is wanting Timothy to remember what God had spoken to him about in order to be encouraged to stay in Ephesus.

“Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, ¹⁹ holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.” (1 Timothy 1 v 18-19)

So what should you do with the personal prophecies you receive?
From these two verses we can see we should:

1. Remember them.
2. Tell someone else about them and ask them to remember too.
3. Follow them, aligning your life with them.
4. Be inspired by them and helped in life by them.
5. Let them cause you to hold on despite your struggles.

It may seem strange to have a doxology when this pastoral and leadership letter to Timothy is far from over. But Paul has just finished recounting how he went from being a “blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man” (v13) to become an apostle of Jesus Christ. When you have been overwhelmed with grace and mercy then spontaneous doxologies burst from your mouth as they do here!

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1 v 17)

There is no beginning and no end to God’s kingdom. Beyond time itself, beyond your difficult day or season or even the whole of your life stands an eternal King who is sovereignly working all things out for His purpose.

There is no death or decay with God. Every part of creation is mortal but God remains unchanging and indestructible. His love for us will never fade; His promises will always remain and He is totally reliable on every occasion.

There is no limitation to God. We cannot reduce Him through our human perception. He is not bound by physical barriers but He is omnipresent. He makes Himself known in the most unlikeliest of places.

There is no other like Him. He is the only God. The world has competing gods and ideologies. But there is only one true God who deserves all the worship.

Your world may have changed overnight. News has come and life now seems uncertain. This doxology is the anchor for your soul.

It gives you a corrected perspective in the midst of trial. Our struggles are temporary but He is eternal.

It protects you from pride. You may be feeling victorious today but every victory and achievement has come because the only true God helped you.

It guides how you spend your life. You begin to think eternally when you worship and eternal God.

Paul ends with an AMEN. LET IT BE SO.

Can you say AMEN today?

Leaders often feel the pressure to be someone strong, to have everything worked out, competent, smiling all the time and 100% holy in everything they think, speak and do. Every leader knows this is not only a false image but totally unlivable.

Paul’s leadership letter to Timothy is this: You need grace as much as anyone so live like that – and in doing so you will create the space for others to find hope in their journey too.

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1 v 15-16)

So what is this leadership example?

Paul had a testimony. This testimony became his most powerful leadership tool. When he speaks of God’s mercy, this is not some theology, this is a lived-out experience. Those who are able to articulate their own personal struggles and need of God’s mercy build bridges to those they lead.

Paul has needed patience. Not for others but for himself from Christ. Jesus Christ has worked with a flawed Paul and in the end produced transformation. In the same way the leader expresses patience to those who have made mistakes, recognising that character development takes time and understanding that you too haven’t arrived.

Paul leaves a legacy. Paul is cultivating future leadership by showing God can use anyone – even the worst of sinners. Instead of looking at the shortcomings, the sin and what is wrong with the person, can you see their leadership potential? The next leader could come from an unexpected place.

This is the leadership example from these 2 sentences of Paul.