Be a Man… Do the Right Thing… (1 Timothy 2:8-15) 300608
8 Bou,lomai ou=n proseu,cesqai tou.j a;ndraj evn panti. to,pw| evpai,rontaj o`si,ouj cei/raj cwri.j ovrgh/j kai. dialogismou/Å 9 ~Wsau,twj Îkai.Ð gunai/kaj evn katastolh/| kosmi,w| meta. aivdou/j kai. swfrosu,nhj kosmei/n e`auta,j( mh. evn ple,gmasin kai. crusi,w| h’ margari,taij h’ i`matismw/| polutelei/( 10 avllV o] pre,pei gunaixi.n evpaggellome,naij qeose,beian( diV e;rgwn avgaqw/nÅ 11 Gunh. evn h`suci,a| manqane,tw evn pa,sh| u`potagh/|\ 12 dida,skein de. gunaiki. ouvk evpitre,pw ouvde. auvqentei/n avndro,j( avllV ei=nai evn h`suci,a|Å 13 VAda.m ga.r prw/toj evpla,sqh( ei=ta Eu[aÅ 14 kai. VAda.m ouvk hvpath,qh( h` de. gunh. evxapathqei/sa evn paraba,sei ge,gonen\ 15 swqh,setai de. dia. th/j teknogoni,aj( eva.n mei,nwsin evn pi,stei kai. avga,ph| kai. a`giasmw/| meta. swfrosu,nhj\
Therefore, I wish the men in all places to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubt. Likewise, women (are) to adorn themselves in appropriate clothing with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing. But what is proper for women who profess piety, is through good works. Woman in quietness, learn by obedience to all, but I do not permit woman to teach and not to have authority over man, but to be in quietness.
For Adam was first created, then Eve. And Adam was not being deceived, but the woman is the one who was being deceived, she had become in transgression, but she shall be saved through the bearing of children, if they remained in faith and love and holiness with self-control.
This is one of the toughest passages I created for myself to handle. There are many technical issues presented before me as I have translated this passage from the Greek text. The grammar and the syntax is high complicated and technical. It is maybe my Greek is not at the level to handle such text. Another difficulty is the controversial topic about the role and behavior of woman in church, or rather in public worship (v9-12). I have my views and position on this matter, but I am sure that there are many people who will be disagreeing with me. And last but not least, I also have difficulty understanding how Paul appeals his argument from the Genesis creation account (v13-15). This New Testament used of Old Testament passage is highly debatable in biblical scholarship circle.
I investigated three commentaries on this passage. Though I have a certain idea what is happening or what Paul is trying to do in this passage, I still have great difficulty to present it as a devotional thought. Maybe it is because the coverage of my passage is too huge and the content and its messages demand greater attention than this. But the problem is that I can discuss one issue in isolation of the other issues. I cannot talk about Paul wishes for the men in all places to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubt (v8) without his address of women to be in quietness and their dress sense (v9-12). And I can leave this controversial topic hanging there without discussing about how Paul appeals the Old Testament text to substantiate his argument (v13-15).
From the study of this passage, I have concluded that we cannot simplistically state our stand or position with a verse of a short passage. Theological position has to be in counsel with the larger context. And because of our unfamiliarity with the ancient text and culture, it is very difficult for us to actually to be overly dogmatic about our position as the only position. I can see from the read of different commentaries on this passage, they are also split in their views and without bias, they presented other possibilities of interpretation and they are opened to other views. I am humbled by them. These are scholars who have spends hundreds and thousands of hours investigating and studying and they are the experts, but yet not willing to put other people’s understanding of the scriptures down. Who am I? I am merely a beginner in studying the scripture in slightly greater depth.
Maybe I should state my tentative position about the role and behavior of woman in public worship. If there is any lady reading this, please do not crucify me.
Paul wants women to adorn themselves in appropriate clothing with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing (v9). I think this is absolutely good advice. The historical context of his advice is against the pagan culture of Ephesus, whereby women who are deeply involve with pagan cultic worship are dressed in such a way which are tempting to men and often women with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing are associated with temple prostitutes. This is why Paul advice against it. But in our context, I think we just have to be careful not to write off our ladies in church who wear spaghetti strip or tube, because in general, this dress sense has nothing to do with cultic worship, but I do think that they are distracting to brothers, at least I can confess that I am distracted at times. Maybe ladies can reconsider their dress sense (not only in church, but in general) whether they are a distraction or an attraction to God.
Verses 11 and 12 are a sub-point by its own:
Woman in quietness, learn by obedience to all, but I do not permit woman to teach and not to have authority over man, but to be in quietness.
Structurally, Paul do not permit woman to teach and do not permit woman to have authority over man, using the idea that woman should be “in quietness” as brackets. Does Paul really forbid woman to teach man or have authority over man in all situations? Even at home? Won’t Paul be contradicting Priscilla initiative to take Apollos in to train him in Acts 18:24-26? In cultural context, we know that most of the religious teaching at home is done by the mother. Is Paul really anti-culture to that extend? In modern day context, how about Sunday school? Most of the Sunday school teachers are ladies and I am sure that there are boys in the midst of the Sunday school. If we do not boys as man, then how about lady who are teaching in youth groups or adult cell groups, will that be permissible?
I think you know my stand by now. I think that woman can teach, as long the authority of her teaching is the Word of God. For the authority over man, this is subjected to situation. Because of Paul’s appeal to creation order, which I think is valid for man to take the lead, and in view of what Christ has done on the Cross which presents all (both men and women) equal before God, woman can have authority if only a man authority is not available and the woman is to exercise this authority in quietness.
The main issue for me here is not really about whether woman can have authority over man or not. It is a reminder for man to do what God has intended for them to do. A failure for man to take a lead in ministry is a failure to fulfill God’s purpose for us.
Therefore, be a man, do the right thing.
HHS…
Abel…
