We’ve gotten down the overall purpose of the book of 1 Timothy. Paul has left Timothy to appoint worthy elders because some of the elders have fallen into false teaching and are actually leading some of the Christians (some women are especially noted) away from the faith. It’s time now to look at Paul’s particular commands about women not being allowed to teach (1 Tim. 2:8-15).
As we’ve said, we’re not trying to figure out what the letter is saying to US just yet; we’re just working on what Paul was saying to Timothy about handling the situation at Ephesus. In trying to understand that, we need to practice asking questions of the text. Good interpretive questions usually begin with one of these words: who, what, when, where, why, how. Here are a few examples of the types of questions we need to ask of this passage.
1. Why in 2:8 are men directed to pray?
2. What context does this discussion of men praying suggest?
3. Why does Paul say “likewise” (or “in like manner”) to begin 2:9?
4. How does women dressing modestly relate to men praying?
5. What does it mean for a woman to learn “in silence with all submission”, and why would Paul command Timothy to teach, observe, and enforce this?
6. Why does Paul tell Timothy that he, Paul, does not permit a woman to teach?
7. What is meant by “teaching”?
8. What is meant by “having authority”?
9. What is the relationship between a woman teaching and a woman having authority over men?
10. What two reasons does Paul give for a woman not being permitted to teach or have authority over a man?
11. Where does Paul get these reasons?
12. What significance is there in these reasons?
13. What does childbearing (2:15) have to do with a woman’s being “saved”, and why does Paul bring that up?
14. How does a woman participating in childbearing relate to a woman’s not being permitted to teach or have authority over a man?
Seek to answer some of these questions as you read…
Or, feel free to come up with MORE questions…
And we’ll chat on Sunday night…
– PC
