1 Timothy 5

Timothy 2:8-16.

-Read 2:8-16

- review test: who wrote this letter? To whom? Where at? - not written to women directly but to Timothy [CEO to manager of local branch with poor productivity] - implication that church leadership has a right to take an interest even in the way you dress.

- speak to issues more directly and bluntly than they would actually  be delivered (cf. 1 Tim 5:2 appeal to the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity ).

- but doesn’t alter the issues needing addressing. Paul gave instruction regarding women in the church (also 1 Tim 5:1-16) which was obviously a problem - an area out of control that needed to be brought into order - a tendency that still exists in many fellowships in this feminist era where women wish to dominate and be involved in areas that are the domain of men. They will seek to be noticed by a variety of subtle and not so subtle means. For this reason Paul give direction on the order of women in Christian society.

"Likewise" (ὡσαύτως = just as) - Paul had given direction concerning men, now, in like manner, he gives direction concerning women. Men were not to be causing a disturbance through anger and disagreements, women were likewise not to be disrupting the fellowship with flashy dress, seductive dress that draws attention to themselves, their beauty, their riches and thus away from Jesus Christ upon whom every eye should be fixed. It is the world’s way for women to seduce and attract men’s attention through their adornment - this is not the way it is to be done in the church - their beauty is of a different, more precious and more lasting kind (10; 1 Pet 3:1-6): a submissive, gentle, quiet spirit (cf. 11-15; Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.- the issue is of how women adorn themselves - why do they do it?: 1/ not satisfied with present appearance, need to improve on the way God made them. 2/ attract attention to themselves - glory to me, robbing Jesus (God’s way vs. World’s way). 3/ to feel good about yourself  - pride - all three are self orientated.

- the adorning is outward (1 Samuel 16:7 for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”) - that’s the world’s way - dedicated follower of fashion

- compare external vs. internal adornment:

- fading vs. flourishing - effects of age inevitable (depressing thought) but inner beauty ever increasing

- nature vs. nurture - slight modifications can be made, excessive effort and dollars into modifying appearance but basically can’t undo genetics (Dad’s nose) but inner beauty can be developed - you’re not fated with what you’ve received.

- physical vs. spiritual - outer shell vs. who you truly are (cf. 1 Tim 4:8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.)

- temporal vs. eternal - invest efforts into what will soon pass (life a vapour) (Matthew 6:19-21 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ) - inner beauty remains: faith, hope & love.

- worldly vs. heavenly - are we living for this world or the one to come?

- pleasing man vs. pleasing God - whose opinion matters most? - it will be seen in your adornment.

- so here are Paul’s beauty tips for inner adornment:

- decency                - opposite to crude - sexual nuance - provocative dress distracts mens attention, our eyes should be fixed on Jesus.

- modesty - robbing Jesus of attention.

- sensible (2x) -sober-minded/discretely/self-restraint -The truth of the matter is that in Christianity women became free, equal to their husbands. The danger, however, was always present that they might use this new-found freedom and take it beyond the limitations that God had placed in appointing man as head over woman in the marital relationship. The inherent differences in people and things is recognized by the person with discretion. This is a person who recognizes who he is, what he is, what he can and cannot do, and how he must behave in certain given circumstances. The whole thesis of the apostle Paul is that women should not try to look or act like men and should not attempt to usurp the position of their husbands in the home and in the church, thus maintaining the parallel of the Church as the bride of Christ.

- good works -the evidence of Jesus’ life within (Matt 5:16)

- quietness(2x) -quietness of spirit rather than silence, not unruly, disrupting the order, attracting attention - feminism has brought many loud women, assertive, taking control and authority. Why is such a quiet and submissive spirit “of great worth in God’s sight”? (1 Peter 3:4) Because it manifests an understanding and acceptance of His design for the human race.

-submission - number one key attitude, wherever women are referred to in the NT “submission/subjection” is the theme - for a reason - submission is an ugly word to a rebel (your reaction to this issue reveals your heart) - the delight of submission (I was a rebel, release from being in control of my own life “perfect submission all is at rest, I in my Saviour am happy and blessed”)

- Sarah’s beauty secret: (1 Peter 3:1-6 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behaviour of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behaviour. Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewellery, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.)

-child-bearing - (Sandra & Judy) from in control of own destiny to selflessness, giving love

- faith - total reliance on Jesus alone

- love - laying down life for others

- holiness - separated from the world, fashion, its concept of beauty, outward adornment

 - these qualities are totally contrary to controlling, being in charge - women are not to exercise authority over men

- in the church context this means women are not to teach men - the one in authority teaches. A woman is to receive instruction (v.11), not give it (v.12).

- the authority structure God put in place: God then Christ then husband then wife then children.

- eg. of Samuel telling Richard to brush his teeth and go to bed 

- Paul based his view of male/female relationships in the church on the account of Creation recorded in Genesis, the roles Paul spelled out here are a product of God’s fundamental design wherein Adam was formed first, then Eve (cf. Gen. 2:7-25). More is involved here than mere chronological priority. Paul saw the priority in time as indicative of the leadership given to the male, to which the woman, the “helper suitable for him” (Gen. 2:18), should respond. 1/ by order of creation -hence man authority over women (1 Corinthians 11:8,9 For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.)

2/ by behaviour (Gen 3:1-6) A further reason for the woman not being allowed to teach, exercise authority but to remain quiet, was the woman’s transgression [ = stepping over the boundary that God had set in place]. in the garden of Eden. Not only did she step over the boundary which God had placed: "You shall not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Gen 2:17); but she also stepped over the boundary of the authority structure set in place by God - she took the initiative, she made the decision, she ate (Gen 3:1-6).

- v.6 influenced by senses not by God’s Word.

- v.13 woman admits she’s been deceived.

- Adam sinned, Eve deceived - it is accounted as his sin not Eve’s because he had authority, the man is held responsible.

 - The deceived became a deceiver.

- given knowledge, what did she do? Did she warn Adam? Knowing she was naked and had sinned she gave the fruit to Adam -deliberately deceived so she wouldn’t be alone in her sin.She took the lead, leading Adam astray into sin - the authority structure was reversed - the woman was taking the lead not the man. This course inevitably leads to disaster. Therefore a woman is not to exercise authority

-Adam was not deceived, he was persuaded - he knew what he was doing - sinned deliberately!

-susceptible to deception - trusting, not suspicious, cynical male.

- v.13 shows why the woman is not to “usurp authority over the man.” v.14 shows why she ought not “to teach.” She is more easily deceived, and more easily deceives. -deception of false teaching compared with Eve’s deception (2 Corinthians 11:2,3 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ).

- The effect of Adam’s sin passed down to man - we all sin. - The effect of Eve’s action passed on? Ask someone who’s given birth!

- Like it or not, the effects of that one event 6,000 years ago have their effect today. That is why a woman is not to have authority over a man. -susceptibility to deception is why women are not permitted to teach

- Disaster when authority structure God designed is reversed - it was true in Eden, it is true today.

- Authority is invested in the head of the household, the man.

- Teaching, involving authority in the gathering of the saints, is mans prerogative, endowed by the Spirit of God.

- men saved by faith and women by child-birth (v.15)? -spinsters can’t be saved! -it obviously means something else:

- Read Gen 3:14,15

- kept safe through child-birth - even today it is not without risk -that travail came in as a result of the fall but God keeps His own in that time (cf. Mavis Down) - some Pentecostals hold to the doctrine of painless childbirth, usually before they’ve had children!

- preserved from insignificance by means of her role in the family - doesn’t teach in the fellowship but a mother’s role in the family  is imparting these fundamental and essential qualities: faith, love, holiness and discretion. She is moulding the character of a person at the most influential period in their life - far more influence than teaching in the fellowship.

- saved in that salvation came through the birth of Christ to a woman - reversal of the curse - Through a woman (Eve) the curse came but through a woman (Mary) the release from the curse came! (Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman). Child birth would bring great suffering to woman because of the fall but through that great suffering over many generations the line would be continued until the Messiah came forth, through whom she will be saved. Child bearing is the highest and most honourable privilege and is woman’s privilege alone

- Paul is saying is that the Christian woman should return to the role that God originally intended for woman (cf. v.9,10) - not brash and bolshy, asserting her rights, loud and coarse, taking authority and ruling the roost, not in seeking the male role, but in fulfilling God’s design for her.Living quietly, submissively raising a family in the faith and in love.

When God’s appointed order and authority structure is violated disaster and misery follows. But now it is possible for that to be reversed, salvation has come! - when a Christian woman returns to that place in God’s authority structure for which she was originally intended she will find her greatest satisfaction and meaning in life: contentment, fulfilment, joy, peace and wholeness return.