8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument, 9 also that the women should dress themselves in moderate clothing with reverence and self-control, not with their hair braided or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes, but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. 11 Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve, 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
1 Tim. 2:8-15 NRSVUE
This unique and complex passage—two thousand years removed from us—is a challenge to understand and interpret correctly. Although it deserves serious time and attention, my purpose below is to give simple, timeless application that is sensitive to first-century culture, the internal evidence of the letter, and the best scholarship of our day.
- Men should be active and engaged in the life of the church. (8a) This doesn’t mean they have to literally raise their hands in a worship service (or love doing so). No, Paul’s admonition is aimed at passive and disengaged hearts, as well as false or distorted teaching that would sideline the role of men.
- In doing the above, they shouldn’t be known for being angry and argumentative. (8b) Unlike “certain people” who were twisting Scripture in and around the wealthy city of Ephesus (see especially 1.3-7), followers of Jesus need to remember the big picture which is not “speculations” (4) and “meaningless talk” (6) but “love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.” (1:5).
- Women should be known more for their character and “good deeds” than how they dress. (9-10) In other words, what is worn should be culturally appropriate and respectful. Again, knee-jerk literalism isn’t helpful: This is not an indictment of braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothes per se. In Paul’s day, there was a sexual revolution going on connected with “the new Roman woman.” His reference to these specifics—specifics that made sense in his day—were associated with extravagant, promiscuous styles that devalued traditional roles like marriage and family.
- Women should pursue literacy, along with respectful, complementary (rather than domineering) roles in the church. (11-12) Again, Paul’s strong words seem to be related to a unique situation where false teachers were distorting the Old Testament (1:7), especially origin stories that included Genesis (thus, Paul’s reference to Eve in 13-14) and genealogies (1:4). These false teachers were empowering, as well as potentially preying on the patronage of wealthy, uneducated women (4:7a)—some of whom were widows (5:13-15). Additionally, they were promoting distortions of healthy teaching either by embracing promiscuous, sexual trends or promoting ascetic extremes that forbade marriage altogether. (4:3) The context of 1 Timothy suggests that women were being elevated in ways that ran contra to God’s intent for men, women, marriage, and family. This is why Paul straightens out their revisionist history in verses 13-14. What he is saying is perhaps something like, “Although Eve does mean ‘the mother of all living,’ Eve wasn’t created first, Adam was, and her epic deception is playing out again. By listening to the wrong voice(s), as Eve did, certain women are leading others astray and bringing great harm to God’s church.” 5:15 is further evidence of this: “For some have already turned away to follow Satan.”
- Traditional marriage, childbearing, and raising kids are essential and honorable orientations and vocations. (15) If God desires all to be saved (2:4), then there is no better place than strong, healthy homes (2 Tim. 1:5) to pass on the Christian faith—the kind that produce legacies of “faith and love and holiness, with modesty.” Although this concluding verse was specifically applicable to women in Timothy’s context, it is equally applicable to women and men today.