2. I Timothy 2:9-12
9 In like manner
also, that women
with
shamefacedness
and sobriety; not
with braided
hair, or gold, or
pearls, or costly
array;
3. 10 But (which
becometh women
professing
godliness) with
good works.
11 Let the woman
learn in silence
with all
subjection.
4. 12 But I suffer
not a woman
to teach, nor
to usurp
authority over
the man, but
to be in
silence.
5. A. The Situation Today
* The debate over the role of women
in the church has reached massive
proportions.
* The feminist movement has
penetrated almost every area of our
society, and has recently made in
roads into the church.
6. * Many biblical evangelical churches, colleges, and
seminaries are abandoning biblical truths they
have.
* Books have been written affirming new truths
regarding the role of women in the church.
* Scripture teaching the traditional roles of
men and women are being reinterpreted. Some
say they should be ignored because they merely
reflect Paul’s anti-female bias.
* The Church the bastion of the truth of God, is
falling fast to the march of the feminist army.
7. This are the effort to over
throw the design of God for
men and women is not
ultimately a human effort but
it is the effort of the
archenemy of God, Satan,
who uses sinful human
agents to attain his goal.
8. God has specific roles for
men and women in
society, the family, and the
church that are very clear in
Scripture, and need to
reaffirm them.
9. B. The Situation at Ephesus
1. The Occasion of Paul’s Writing
* I Timothy is the letter from
the apostle Paul to his son in the
faith, his dear friend and co-
laborer Timothy.
10. * Paulhad been gone only a few weeks
when he wrote this letter to encourage
Timothy and give him directions for his
ministry.
* Timothy was the pastor of the
church of Ephesus.
* Apparently word had reached Paul
that things in Ephesus were not as they
should be.
11. Paul and the church of Ephesus
*He had spent 3 years of his ministry in Ephesus.
*The church was close to his heart.
*He had poured his soul into the church.
*Acts 20 – He had not failed to declare the
entire word of God to the elders of the church,
but had warned them night and day for
three years that error would come from the
outside and evil would arise from the inside
(vv27-31).
12. Unfortunately his worst fears had
come to pass:
- thechurch at Ephesus had fallen
into doctrinal error and ungodly
pattern of living.
- most significantly of all, the
leadership had been
corrupted, they needed to be
replaced with godly leader.
13. I Tim. 3:14-15 “These things write I
unto thee, hoping to come unto
thee shortly; but if I tarry long, that
thou mayest know how thou
oughtest to behave thyself in the
house of God, which is the church
of the living God, the pillar and
ground of the truth.”
14. The Situation at Ephesus
2. The Purposes of Paul’s Writing
A) The topic of women
*One of the problem areas in the
church of Ephesus was the role of
women.
*I Tim. 5:6 tells us that some
women had abandoned their
purity, and were living only for
pleasure.
15. *(vv.11-12) Some younger widows had
made promises to God to
remain single, but they were in
danger of violating them because
of lusts thus bringing
condemnation upon themselves.
16. *(v13) Some women had become
idle, wandering around from house to
house. They were talebearers and busy
bodies.
17. *(v15) Some had already turned aside to
follow Satan.
II Tim. 3:6 Paul refers to silly women laden
with lusts who are easy prey for false
teachers.
The Situation at Ephesus
2. The Purposes of Paul’s Writing
B. The Topic of Worship
Worship – is central to the church
18. I Tim. 2 focuses in on another
problem involving women.
*under the pretense of coming
to worship God, they were
flaunting themselves and
desecrating the worship service.
*their dress and demeanor
betrayed an evil intent rather than
a heart of worship.
19. *the worship services at
Ephesus were being
polluted by women
who saw in them an
opportunity to flaunt
their wealth and
beauty.
*their sexual allure
was drawing the men’s
focus away from the
worship service.
20. I. THE APPEARANCE OF WOMEN
(v.9a)
“In like
manner, also, that
women adorn
themselves in
modest apparel …
not with braided
hair, or gold, or
pearls, or costly
array.”
21.
22.
23. In like manner – often serves as a
transition between different
topics within a broader
discussion.
*Paul now moves to a new topic
within the overall subject of how
men and women should conduct
themselves in the worship
service.
24. A) The General Pattern
1. The meaning of “will”
Will – refers to
intent, purpose, determination, or
command.
- it could be translated “I
command”. It carries apostolic intent
and divine
authority. Paul is commanding men to
pray and women to adorn themselves
in a proper manner.
25. 2. The meaning of “adorn”
Adorn – “to arrange” or “to put in
order” Paul is saying women should prepare
themselves for worship.
Modest – means “well-ordered” or
“well-arranged”.
3. The meaning of Apparel
Apparel – does not only refer to
clothing, but can mean “demeanor” or
“attitude”.
26.
27. - it encompasses a
woman’s total
preparation for
worship both the
attitude of the heart
and proper
adornment on the
outside. Her
clothing should
reflect a heart
focused on God.
28. I. THE APPEARANCE OF WOMEN
B. The Specific Problem
Paul not only gives a general exhortation
about women’s appearance , but also deals with
some specific issues that were problems on
Ephesus.
1. Imitating their culture
Several ancient writers have described that
women are dressed like in the Roman culture of
Paul’s day, which no doubt influenced the
church of Ephesus.
29. 2. Flaunting their wealth
When a wealthy woman entered the
worship service wearing an expensive
dress, she caused a sensation that would
disrupt the entire service.
30. *It should be noted that the Bible does not
forbid women to wear simple braids or to
own gold, pearls etc. However the Bible does
not forbid wearing those things for wrong
motives.
*The Church is to be a place – where worship
happens, to pray, to supplicate for pardon of
thy sins, to plead for thine
offenses, beseeching the Lord not where
people put on a show.
31. I. THE APPEARANCE OF WOMEN
c. The Proper Motives
1. Of Married Women
A Christian wife should seek to attract
attention to her godly character, not her
clothing. She would show by her dress and
demeanor her love and devotion to her own
husband. She should demonstrate a humble
heart committed to worshiping God.
32. 2. Of Single Women
Single women need to realize that the
worship service isn’t the place to try to attract men.
They too should understand it is more important
that someone be attracted to their godly character
rather than their outward appearance
33. *How can both married and single women
know if they are dressed properly for the
worship service?
By examining their motives, ask yourself…
- why am I dressed the way I am?
- what is my goal?
- am I trying to draw attention to God or
to myself?
- will what I’m wearing stand out or will
it be considered appropriate for the
occasion?
34. I Peter 3:3-4
3Whose adorning let it not be that outward
adorning of plaiting the hair, and or wearing
or gold, or of putting on of apparel.
4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in
that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is
in the sight of God of great price.
*Like Paul, Peter emphasizes that a woman is
not to be preoccupied with what she
wears, but who she is.
35. Pondering the Principles
First Timothy 2:9 stresses the
importance of preparing for the
worship service. When you go to
church, the issue is not just how
well prepared the preacher or choir
is, but how well you are prepared to
worship God.
36. As you prepare yourself for the worship service, ask
yourself these questions:
- Am I sincere?
- Is my attention focused on God?
- Am I coming to worship God
knowing His acceptance of me is based
solely on what Christ has done for me?
- Am I coming with a pure
heart, having dealt with any sin in my
life?
- Am I coming to be a spectator, or
a participant?
37. II. THE ATTITUDE OF WOMEN (v9b)
“With godly fear and sobriety.”
A. Godly Fear
B. Self-control(sobriety)
1. The danger of failing to exercise self-control.
A) To the leaders
I Tim. 3 Paul says that both elders and
deacons in the church must be “the husband of
one wife) or a one-woman man.
A man in a leadership role in the church must be
totally devoted to his wife.
38. *One of the major problems at Ephesus was that the
leaders were not faithful to their wives. Satan
attacked the church by bringing alluring women
into the church to seduce the leadership. He does
the same thing today.
B) To the congregation
- younger widows remarrying
- some older women were causing problems
in the congregation
- problems involving sexual sin.
2. The judgment for failing to exercise self-
control.
Is. 3:16-26
39. III. THE TESTIMONY OF WOMEN
(v10)
“But (which becometh women
professing godliness) with good works.”
A. The Importance of Women’s
Testimony
Paul is concerned that a
woman’s testimony be consistent.
40. B. The Desecration of a Woman’s Testimony
A woman who wants to serve and
honor God cannot show disregard for what
He says about the role of women in His
word.
C. The Substance of a Woman’s Testimony
The testimony of a woman
professing godliness is a life of good
works, for righteous deeds demonstrate the
genuineness of her faith. The same is
true for anyone.
41. IV. THE ROLE OF WOMEN (vv.11-
12)
“Let the women learn in silence with all
subjection. But I permit not a woman
to teach, nor to usurp authority over
the man, but to be in silence.”
Women in First-Century Judaism
*still holding on to their Judaism
*low view of women
42. I Tim. 2:12 shows us women were teaching
and exercising authority over men, and
Paul had to tell them to stop. But before
dealt with the problem of women
usurping the role of men, he first settled
the question of whether women have a
right to learn. His brief statement…
“Let the women learn” shows us
there’s an equality of sexes in spiritual
life and blessing.”
43. THE ROLE OF WOMEN
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. Their spiritual 1. Their spiritual
equality equality
A)They have the same
A)They had the
responsibilities as
men.
same
responsibilities as
(1)To obey the law
men.
(2)To teach the law
(3)To participate in
the festivals
44. B)They had the same
protection as men.
C) They have the
same access to God
as men.
D)They have the
same privileges as
men.
45. ROLE OF WOMEN
THEIR SEPARATE ROLE
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A)They did not serve as A) They did not serve as
leaders. leaders.
B) They had no ongoing B) They did not have an
prophetic ministry. ongoing prophetic
role.
46. Pondering the Principles
The church at Ephesus had been influenced
by the prevailing views of society regarding
women. The same could be said about the
church today. In this as in other areas, the
church has been influenced by the world
instead of being influence on the world.
47. Are your views of current issues being shaped by the
prevailing opinions of society, or by God’s Word?
Perhaps you need to rethink your position on such
issues as women’s roles, women’s
rights, abortion, homosexuality, RH Bill, the creation-
evolution controversy, the Christian’s responsibility to
the government, lawsuits, and divorce and remarriage.
Spend some time in prayer and ask God to give you the
courage to take a stand on the issues based on His
Word-no matter what the society propagates. Then
pray that the church as a whole will also stand firm for
God’s truth.
48. C. In the Church
The woman’s silence has been misinterpreted
in two ways.
1. Those who believe women should be
permitted to preach in the church
interpret “silence” as a reference to a meek
and quiet spirit. They claim that all this
passage is saying is that women preachers
or teachers are to have a meek and quiet
demeanors.
49. 2. Others go to the opposite extreme and
insist that no woman should ever talk
in church under any circumstances-
not even to the person they’re sitting
next to.
*However Paul makes it clear in verse 12
what he means by “silence”: women
are to be silent in the sense of not
teaching or exercising over men in the
church.
50. Role of women in the Church
1. They are to learn in silence (I Cor. 14)
I Cor. 14:34 echoes the thought of I Tim.
2:11. Paul writes, “Let your women keep in
silence in the churches; for it is not
permitted unto them to speak, but they are
commanded to be under obedience, as also
saith the law.”
51. The context of I Cor. 14 indicates
that the silence of Paul
commanded was not intended to
preclude women from speaking at
all, but to keep them from speaking
in tongues and prophesying in the
church.
52. 2. They are to learn in subjection.
(I Cor. 11)
In I Cor. 11:3 Paul says, “The head of every ; and the
head of the woman is the man; and the head of
Christ is God.” That verse teaches that women are
to be in submission to men in the sense that they
are not to usurp the role of leadership in the
church, which belongs to qualified men only.
53. Pondering the Principles
1. Some women in the Ephesian and Corinthian
churches were more concerned with their rights than
their responsibilities to God and the Church. What
about you?
- Is your focus on getting or giving?
- Do you more frequently demand your rights or fulfill
your responsibilities?
Remember the Jesus come not “to be served, but to serve.”
If your focus has gradually changed from ministering
to the needs of others to looking out for your
rights, pls. read or memorize Phil. 2:3-4.
54. 2. We have learned that men and women
can proclaim God’s truth.
- Do you regularly look for
opportunities to share the truths of
Scripture with your friends? your
neighbors, your spouse? Your children?
To share the truths of the Bible we must
first learn them ourselves. That requires
constant study. If you aren’t regularly
studying Scripture, make a commitment
to the Lord to begin TOMORROW.
