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—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” (1 Timothy 2:13–15 (ESV)
One of the ways advocates for women pastors and preachers support their position is by referring to today’s text as merely a cultural issue then, and now. Still others appeal to Genesis and the account of God creating men and women in His image (Gen. 1:26-27). They argue that since men and women have equal value before the Lord in creation, they therefore should have equal roles in the church. Ironically, it is the Genesis creation account which the Apostle Paul cited as supporting the opposite perspective.
One woman I know is a pastor in a large metropolitan city. She advocates her position of church leadership from Genesis 1 and from her denomination’s positive stance of women serving as pastors. However, she has not commented to me about the meaning of I Timothy 2:9-15. The biblical text seems to be conveniently ignored or dismissed.
Within the biblical context of I Tim. 2:9-12, Paul argued for women to be silent, to not preach or teach, and to not have authority over men within the church. The pastor teacher and elder position was to be filled by qualified men (Titus 1:5-9). The apostle did not mean women were never permitted to pray, or to never teach in biblically approved settings, or that they did not possess spiritual gifts, or they could never serve as missionaries, or that they could not write books, or that they were inferior. The Bible states women had equal value, but not equal roles in the church with men.
Paul presented the biblical perspective that it was wrong for women to assume or hold a church leadership position in which she rules, or has authority, over a man. In such cases, the Genesis creation hierarchy is violated. How?
First, Paul stated, “For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” Since God created Adam before Eve means men are not to be subjected to the authority of women in the believing church community (Gen. 2:18; I Cor. 11:8-9).
Second, the apostle explained, “and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.” To be deceived (ἠπατήθη; epatethe) means to mislead and enticed to sin. A transgressor (παραβάσει; parabasei) is one who disobeys and breaks God’s law.
One pastor comments, “When Satan tempted Eve, she disregarded the implications of the order in which she and Adam were created. Eve removed herself from the safeguarding environment God designed and consequently fell into transgression.”
“Some chauvinists see Paul arguing here that women, as represented in their archetype Eve, are more gullible and thus more susceptible to error, than men. Thus, they say, females should not be in places of teaching or authority in the church. Others believe Paul was saying, in effect, “Look what happens when the Creation order is reversed and the man abdicates the leadership role to the woman.” In any case, Paul was emphatically not excusing or absolving Adam of blame for the Fall. Elsewhere Paul put the responsibility squarely on Adam’s shoulders (cf. Rom. 5:12–21).”[1]
“The argument might seem unfair, since both Adam and Eve sinned. But Paul’s point is correct. Eve was the one who was ‘deceived by the serpent. Paul’s argument here, with its emphasis on who was deceived, may reflect the relative success that false teachers at Ephesus were having in leading women astray (5:11-15; 2 Tim. 3:6-7). Elsewhere, Paul has no qualms about assigning responsibility for the fall to Adam (Rom. 5:12-19; I Cor. 15:21-22),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“The Fall was the result not only of disobeying God’s command but also of violating the divinely appointed role of the sexes. Eve acted independently and assumed the role of leadership. Adam violated his role by abdicating his leadership position and following Eve’s lead. Nevertheless, it is important to note that women are not more defective than men. Just as women need men, so men need women. We’re all vulnerable in different ways,” states Dr. John MacArthur.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 736.
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