1 Timothy 2:9-15 A Woman's Role

Likewise,  I want  women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,  but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.  A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.  But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.  For it was Adam who was first created,  and  then Eve.  And  it was  not Adam  who  was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.  But  women  will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

Observation:

Here is the main question, is Paul referring to women in Ephesus culture or is he making a doctrinal statement about women in church? The truth is I really wrestled with this scripture. I have heard both sides. One church say's anything goes and another say's that women can't speak until they are out in the parking lot at church. I don't agree with either extreme viewpoints. I believe Paul is addressing both the women in the Ephesus culture and women in church. 

Paul is addressing women in Ephesus when he say's to not get distracted on the things that don't matter, I.e. how you look. Women were idolized in Ephesus, the goddess Artremis was a wonder of the ancient world. It was tempting to find their identity in how they looked, sound familiar?

But Paul is also addressing a woman's authority in the church. Paul is saying that women shouldn't usurp the authority given to the male elders of the church. Women don't need to prove themselves to be like men, because they are not like men. God has given women a covering in men. The husband is a woman's covering in the home and the elders are a covering for the women in the church. 

Application

My initial reaction when reading this scripture verse was to hear and a believe that women have less value in the church then men. As a woman in leadership I felt rejected and a little angry. Does God want me to stop teaching and leading? It is confusing to me because God has given me the gift of teaching and leadership. I've been in leadership since I was 17 years old. So I took these questions to God in prayer. God revealed that He has given me a covering with my handsome hubby,Tim, and with Dan and the Elders of RiverPoint. This was confirmation to keep on going forward.  Nevertheless, I still felt like I needed to understand this passage in more detail. So I read commentaries and Charles Swindoll's take, but I still was dissatisfied with the information given.  So I took my questions on the scripture to Pastor Dan. He really is one of the smartest people I know, especially when it comes to the Word of God. He is explained the different theories and then where he personally stands. It helped me so much! 

Prayer

Father, thank You for the covering I receive from my husband and from the elders of RiverPoint. Please bless them with Your wisdom and leadership each day.  I love You!