Many of us, though we want to live godly lives, chafe against some of the Bible’s teaching on women, including submission. We’re told on the one hand that we are equal to men, yet we are to submit to our husbands and male leaders in the church. So, are submission and equality mutually exclusive?
Today’s Readings:
Jeremiah 31 & 32
Psalm 119.49-56
Proverbs 27.20
1 Timothy 2.1-15
Chafing Against the Bible’s Teaching on Women?
1 Timothy 2.1-15
Submission & Equality
Submission and equality, those two things sound mutually exclusive. But are they? Before we answer that question, let’s look at a portion of today’s reading in verses 9-15:
9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
How can we begin to understand, to say nothing of embrace, a passage like this one? I believe we need to start with some basic truths about God, His Word, and His character.
His Thoughts Toward Us
Jeremiah 29.11 says:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
And Galatians 3.28-29 says:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Psalm 119 speaking of God, says “You are good, and do good ….” (v. 68). And about His Word, the psalmist said, “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (v18). He went on to say he had life and freedom because he followed God’s Word (vv. 45, 50).
So, if He is good—all the time, if He loves us and calls us heirs along with men (so much so that He tells our husbands in 1 Peter 3.7 that their prayers will be hindered if they don’t treat us that way), and if His Word gives life and freedom, how should we understand 1 Timothy 2?
Modesty, Gold & Braided Hair
Verse 9 begins, “in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation.” The word “adorn” here means to arrange. So, we should arrange ourselves so that our clothing and manner are modest and respectful. That doesn’t mean we must look drab or unattractive.
“… not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” In the time period in which Paul was writing, women would weave gold and other jewelry into their hair to attract attention to themselves. Others would wear expensive clothing to show off their wealth. It wasn’t the specific hairstyle or that the clothing was expensive, it was the attitude of the heart Paul was addressing.
Today we might say, “… not with tattoos or designer clothing …” Again, not legalistically saying tattoos or designer clothing are sinful, but what is the attitude of the heart? The same could be said of certain styles of clothing.
While there is great freedom in Christ, we should be willing to forego wearing things that could be a stumbling block to our brothers in Christ or to their wives, our sisters in Christ, as they struggle to trust God with where their husbands’ eyes are going. Our willingness should come from our reverence for God, our desire to please Him above all else, and our love for our brothers and sisters.
Teaching & Leadership
So, what about teaching and leadership in the church? How are we to better understand those commands? Verses 11-14:
Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
These few verses have caused some to say, Paul was just a woman-hater. How can the Bible teach that we are joint heirs with men and then tell us there are limitations on how we serve Him? How can there be submission between equals?
To understand this, we must go back to the Trinity.
Submission within the Trinity
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all equally God, but God is a God of order. Scripture teaches us that Jesus willingly submitted to the Father (Jn. 5.19; Lk. 22.42) and that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Jn. 14.26, 15.26, Jn. 16.7) and gives glory to them (Jn. 15.26).
And God has stamped this divine imprint on the social order He has set up, including the family and the church.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything (Eph. 5.22-23).
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Eph. 5.32).
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise (Eph. 6.1-2).
Just as Jesus submitted to the Father, wives are to submit to their husbands. And just as the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, children proceed from, respect, and honor their parents.
In the church, Christ is the Head, Pastors submit to Christ, and the congregation submits to and honors them both. It’s the same picture (Heb. 13.17).
A Dirty Word
Instead, the world has made submission a dirty word. But we don’t think less of Christ because He submitted to the Father. He’s not somehow less God. Neither are we less in God’s economy because He has asked us to submit to our leaders both at home and in the church.
This does not mean that women cannot teach at all or serve in the church, but we are not to be the primary interpreters of doctrine, have authority over men, or have key positions of leadership in the church, such as pastors and elders.
Neither does it mean that submission is unlimited or that wives shouldn’t express their thoughts and ideas. Paul told the Ephesian Christians that wives were to submit “as to the Lord” and in Colossians, he said, “as is fitting in the Lord.” Submission is never expected if a husband or anyone in authority asks a woman to sin. There are also times when we should respectfully reprove or rebuke our husband or some other leader (Gal. 6.1-2). But it should be over a genuine sin issue and not merely our opinion.
Today’s Other Readings:
Jeremiah 31 & 32:
“Is Anything Too Hard for Him?”
Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You … (Jer. 32.17).
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me (Jer.32.27).
Do we even begin to understand who God is?—the omnipotent creator of the universe! He is not only omnipotent (all-powerful), but He is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), and sovereign, totally and completely in charge and in control! Add to that—the fact that He is good (Ps. 119.68); He is love (1 Jn. 4.8), and He is holy (1 Pet. 1.15). And that’s just the beginning of His attributes!
And yet, we try to wrestle control away from Him, the All-Powerful One, as if we know better than our All-Knowing God! We refuse to believe that the One who is good all the time, loves perfectly, and is so holy that there is no shadow of evil in Him, wouldn’t have our ultimate best interests at heart!
Psalm 119.49-56:
In What Do You Place Your Hope?
Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope (v. 49).
Where is your hope? Is it in God and His Word or in yourself and your ability to control your life?
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom. 5.5)
If you’re without hope, ask yourself, “Have I prayed and given my problems to Him?” If not, why not do it now?
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4.6-7)
And as you pray, don’t forget to be thankful. Remembering past and present blessings, not only builds your faith, it cultivates peace and contentment.
Proverbs 27.20:
Just a Little Bit More
Once when J.D. Rockefeller, the richest man in the world at the time, was asked, “How much money is enough money?” He replied, “Just a little bit more.”
… the eyes of man are never satisfied (v. 27b).
We tend to think just a little more will satisfy us. If only I had a bigger house, a better job, my kids were better behaved, my husband was a better spiritual leader, my wife respected me …” And so on and so on … But the only true satisfaction comes from God—allowing Him to fill those empty places and make up for any lack. Paul said:
Now godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6.6).
Coming Up:
In the next few days, we’ll talk about whether our faith is genuine, anger toward God, the veracity of the Scriptures, and more.
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Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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