공동체와 양육

What’s a Woman to Do? (1 Tim 2:8-15)

2008.10.19Rev. 에디 변

Paul's instructions in 1 Timothy 2 call the whole church to worship without distraction and to guard its heart. The passage's restriction on women teaching addressed a specific problem in Ephesus, and women are valued by God through their relationship with Christ rather than through their roles.

Worship without distraction, with hearts made right (8-10)

Paul first addresses the men in verse 8, telling them to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing. The problem was that false teaching had brought arguing and bickering into corporate prayer, so the call is to deal with the heart and attitude. Paul then speaks to women in verses 9-10 about modest dress and good deeds, not outward display, since wealth was being flaunted in a church that included the poor. For both men and women, the principle is the same: nothing in our gathering should draw attention away from God.

Learn humbly, in quietness and submission (11)

Verse 11 is first of all a positive statement: a woman should learn. Learning requires a humble and quiet spirit toward what is being taught. Paul's words were also aimed at countering the rebellious attitudes that were spreading among the women of Ephesus. Many had been pulled in by false teaching and were passing that error on to others. So the first thing Paul asks is that they learn humbly.

Let others lead and teach for now (12)

Paul does not permit women to teach or to have authority over men in this situation. The word for authority here is used only once in the whole Bible, and it means to domineer or misuse authority. The restriction addressed a particular occasion of false teaching in Ephesus, not a universal rule, because Paul elsewhere honors women teachers and leaders. Applying the same literal strictness to verses 8 and 9 would show that we do not follow those verses literally either. The point is that, for now, others should lead and teach while the church is corrected.

Let the truth of God's Word shape you (13-14)

Verses 13 and 14 are connected by the words formed and deceived. Adam was formed first, and God gave him the command not to eat from the tree, so he bore the responsibility to teach and protect his wife. Eve was deceived, while Adam knowingly rebelled and ate with her. The Genesis account shows that Eve's understanding of God's command was not fully accurate, which points to a failure in Adam's teaching. Paul's point is that the women must let God's truth form them into faithful students.

Your value is found in Christ, not in your role (15)

Verse 15 is not saying that women are saved by having children. Some interpreters point to the birth of Christ, while others see Paul affirming the value of motherhood against false teaching that dismissed marriage and childbearing. In either case, the verse affirms that women have a God-given role that men cannot fulfill. Role does not equal value, because the source of our worth is our relationship with Christ. Paul is honoring women, not putting them down.

Apply to Life

  • Let us come to worship early and prepare our hearts, so that nothing distracts us from focusing on God.
  • Let us humbly learn God's Word and allow its truth to shape how we think and live.
  • Let us use the gifts God has given us, whether to teach, lead, serve, or raise up disciples.
  • Let us find our worth in our relationship with Christ rather than in our roles or status.
  • Let us confess the words and attitudes that have put others down, and seek forgiveness and healing together.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

← 영어 예배(English Service) 목록