Instructions to Women 1 Tim. 2:9-15 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Paul addressed three major areas of difficulty for women and gave Timothy instructions to help them deal with these potential problem areas. These challenges include:
Adornment – 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Adornment deals principally with her outward appearance. Paul instructed women concerning:
- Modest apparel. Contrast this with the apparel of the woman in Proverbs 7:10. Modest apparel properly covers the body. It shows a disinterest in attracting attention to oneself. Modest apparel does not distract from the hidden man of the heart (1 Peter 3:3-4).
- Shamefacedness. A woman who is shamefaced is modest, restrained, retiring, and reserved. That doesn’t mean she is crestfallen. But it does mean that she is not impudent (Proverbs 7:13). An impudent woman is forward and saucy, bold and brash.
- Sobriety. A sober woman is sedate, serene, serious, and quiet. Contrast her with the woman in Proverbs 7:11.
- Broided hair, gold, pearls, costly array. Compare these adornments with 1 Peter 3:3. Basically, Paul and Peter are teaching against over dressing. Be simple. Be who you are. Don’t try to be something you’re not like a flashy model or a worldly actress.
A woman should be adorned with good works. Compare her to the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:10-31. Pay attention to verses 28 through 31. A virtuous, modest woman who is adorned with good works professes godliness. Her outward appearance matches her inward beauty.
Authority – 1 Timothy 2:11-13. Women can have trouble in marriage by failing to be in subjection to their own husbands. A woman is to learn in silence. Generally, women like to talk. Therefore, Peter said that they should have a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4). This spirit is in the sight of God of great price.
A woman is to be in subjection even when her husband is not obedient to the word of God. See 1 Peter 3:1; Ephesians 5:22-24. Therefore, women are not to teach men. However, wives can often “advise” their husbands well. Good examples are Sarah, who advised Abraham to separate from Hagar and Ishmael; Abigail, who advised David not to kill Nabal and his men; and Esther, who advised King Ahasuerus against Haman’s wicked decree. These women were in subjection but their advice was invaluable.
Notice that the command for women to keep silence in the church in 1 Corinthians 14:34 is in the context of preaching in the congregation. Women are great in children’s ministries. Women are not to usurp authority over men. See 1 Corinthians 11:3 and 1 Peter 3:5-7. Adam was formed before Eve; she was made to help him (Genesis 2:20); not the other way around.
Affection – 1 Timothy 2:14-15. Women often trust their intuition. They have a sense or a “feel” about certain things and people. But this intuition (affection) is not reliable. It failed Eve in her temptation by the serpent. What he was saying to her felt right but it wasn’t right. Genesis 2:17 was plain. She was deceived. Feelings and words often deceive women. They tend to be too trusting or not trusting enough based on their feelings.
Women are particularly vulnerable during childbearing. A wife will be saved from deception if “they” (she and her husband) continue in faith, charity, holiness and sobriety.
- Faith is believing the word of God and the truth and trusting God. Eve did not believe Genesis 2:17.
- Charity is well described in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. Love is her greatest need. Therefore, her husband is to love her as Christ also loved the church. A woman may feel unloved when her body changes due to bearing children.
- Holiness involves protecting their vessels with purity [1 Thes 4:3-5] and abstaining from unholy words and things. Husbands and wives should not bring defiling, unholy things into their marriage.
- We have already talked about sobriety earlier in the lesson.
Conclusion: it’s in these three areas where women often get tripped up. So, careful attention must be paid to these things.