Sunday, September 6, 2009
Sovereign Grace Bible Church
Jim Kang, Pastor-Teacher
HOW IS A GODLY WOMAN KNOWN? – PART 2
1 Timothy 2:9-15
INTRODUCTION
We have been in the series of Bible exposition on the role of Christian wives. Beginning with Ephesians 5, we have examined God’s original ordained role for wives in Genesis 2 and the excellent wife in Proverbs 31.
Last Sunday we began to examine First Timothy 2, to broaden our scope in addressing all Christian women, whether married or not. The controlling theme from this text is godliness, which applies to all Christian women (and for men) regardless of one’s marital status. Hence, from this text there are six ways how a godly woman is known: 1) the way she prays for others, 2) the way she clothes herself, 3) the way she worships, 4) the way she learns, 5) the way she submits, and 6) the way she bears and rears her children.
Since I have already addressed the first three points last Sunday, I do not want to rehash them this morning. However, let us briefly review them for the sake of setting the proper context for us this morning.
I. The Way She Prays for Others (v. 9a)
The clue is given in the first word or how the text begins, namely “likewise,”[1] which forces the previous reference. The word likewise means “in the same way.” The previous reference that Paul made in verses 1 to 8 is about making intercessory prayers for all people, including those that are in authority (vv. 1-2). According to verse 3, this is good and acceptable in the sight of God. To imply it negatively, it is not good and it is not acceptable in the sight of God, if the people in the church fail to pray for those that are in authority that God has chosen to place. According to Romans 13:1-2:
NAU Romans 13:1 ¶ Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.
Hence, unless it is a matter of sin or a direct trespass against God’s word, you obey all governing authorities that God has sovereignly placed in your life. Instead of criticizing and/or complaining, Paul exhorts the church to pray for all governing authorities. Again, according to 1 Timothy 2:3, this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.
Because there are remnants of God’s chosen, that may include those that are in all governing authorities. That is the meaning of verse 4 – i.e., “all men” does not mean every single individual, but all men who are in authority (v. 2). Hence, verse 4 does not mean an Arminian view of salvation as in “unlimited atonement” or a reference to universal salvation but limited. This is a good example of interpreting a text within its context.
The biblical mandate I have from God is not to murmur or complain about those in authorities, but pray. Just as some people were praying for your soul to be converted when you were spiritually dead and lost, you need to pray for those souls in authorities that God may save them. According to verse 8, Paul exhorts the men in the church to pray in verse 8.
This is the context in which the word likewise is found in verse 9. The meaning is just as Paul wants the men in the church to pray, in the same way or likewise, he wants the women in the church to pray. This is your role.
II. The Way She Clothes Herself (v. 9a)
Here are a few observations from the text. First, it is obvious from the text that women are to clothe themselves. The language here is a clothing language. Paul’s point is that women need to be clothed or be covered, as opposed to being exposed. Believe it or not, there is a theology of clothes. It is found in the story of man’s fall in Genesis 3.
NAU Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.
As a result of their sin, their eyes have been opened to the meaning of guilt. It caused them to hide in shame. Sin instantly destroyed their innocence. Even within the God-given gift of physical intimacy, they both were polluted with a sense of shame. That is why they both sewed themselves with fig leaves to cover themselves and their shame. Hence, ever since the Fall, clothing has been a universal expression of human modesty.
Another observation from this text is not only about the danger of immodest and indecent exposure, but also improper or inappropriate clothing for appropriate occasion, namely for worship. The context in which this text is found (both immediate and surrounding context) indicates that Paul is addressing how the church should be conducted. Within the parameter of how the church should be conducted, you cannot ignore how the worship service is conducted – including who is restricted to preach and teach, and how the women should dress (and how not to dress) for such occasion. According to Paul, a godly woman is dressed with modesty and discreetly, with good works.
III. The Way She Worships (vv. 9b-10)
In verse 9, Paul not only exhorts how Christian women should dress, but also how not to dress, namely not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments. According to one scholar, if all the stuff that is described here is on a women, the total cost is about 7,000 denarii, which is equivalent to nineteen years’ of wages for an average day worker.[2] In other words, an extreme luxury.
This reminds me of an article by the Associated Press about spending habits of Britney Spears. According to the article in November 2, 2007, her monthly income was roughly $737,000. Of which, some of her monthly spending include as follows:
- $49,267 in mortgage for two houses
- $16,000 for clothes
- $102,000 on entertainment, gifts and vacation
- $4,758 on dining out
Hence, what is described here in First Timothy is not that far out, because there are plenty of women today who live like that. Paul’s point is do not dress in a way that would take the focus, attention, and conversation from God to a woman who is dressed in such a way. According to John Calvin, “[Dressing] for luxury and immoderate expense arise from a desire to make a display either for the sake of pride or of departure from chastity.”[3]
Although we do not want to dress gaudy to bring attention to ourselves, it is equally true that we can bring attention to ourselves by dressing sloppy. The evangelical landscape for the past 40 years has seen a huge shift from some sense of religious formalism to little or no formalism.
Those three points were from last Sunday, and let me now begin with the fourth point.
IV. The Way She Learns (v. 11)
Let me make two observations. First, Paul commands that she must learn. In fact, the verb is in present active imperative, which means that she is commanded continually to learn. The idea is not that she is to receive instruction occasionally but constantly and continually. This shatters a common belief that women are not obligated to learn the Bible and theology as long as their own husbands know them. It needs to be pointed out that this particular command is for all Christian women.
Feminists often argue that many women were oppressed during the biblical time. However, what they do not realize or admit is that it was actually the Christians and Christian teachings that helped liberate many women from oppressions. In fact, it was a teaching like this from verse 11 that went head-on with the cultural norm at that time. According to one source, “This was a radical and liberating departure from the Jewish view that women were not to learn the law.”[4]
In Greek, this particular verb to receive instruction shares the same meaning as to learn, being a disciple, or a student. In biblical Christianity, your spiritual conversion means an automatic enrollment to the School of Christ. That is to say, there is no Christian, who is not a learner or a student of Christ. In Christian redemption, God not only delivered us from the penalty of sin, but also from ignorance. That is why in Scripture there is repeated emphasis in deliverance from darkness to light, that is to say, from ignorance to illumination.
There are individuals in churches who say that they are simply content in being a Christian but not necessarily a student of the Bible or theology. They don’t like the idea of learning, studying, or even reading. They say, a church should be a church, not a school, as if the two are in contradiction. They don’t understand the biblical ecclesiology of Ephesians 4:11-16. Nor, do they understand the historical understanding that a local church has been the center of Christian education. Hence, when a professing Christian, especially, a professing Christian woman shows no interest in learning, studying, or even reading, I would argue from this text that she is commanded from God’s word to receive instruction.
The reason why Paul makes such a strong command here in verse 11 clearly implies that there were women in the church who were not learning or receiving instruction. In fact, two chapters later in 5:13, Paul reveals what some of the women were guilty, namely being lazy, gossiping, busybodies (i.e. meddlers), and talking about things not proper.
Because we as a church are serious about encouraging, building up, training, and equipping our women toward godliness, the women’s ministry exists. For us at Sovereign Grace Bible Church, the goal of every ministry (including our women’s fellowship) is consistent and no different from our church’s mission statement. That is why we as leadership ask that every woman in SGBC to participate actively (proactively) in monthly women’s fellowship, which by the way will kick off soon in this fall. We are very intentional about its curriculum, reading, lessons, discussions, and fellowship. Remember, you are now responsible and accountable about what to do with 1 Timothy 2:11.
Moreover, I would also ask that every husband in this church to be proactive about having their wives to be involved proactively with our monthly women’s fellowship. As the spiritual leader in your family, you need to lead and encourage her in this regard. Believe me, it would do you and your wife much good.
There is also better and more rational reason as to why Christian women, especially the wives are commanded to learn. It is because if she is in charge of educating her children at home while her husband is working, shouldn’t she be well instructed and equipped so that she can educate/equip her children (Deut. 6:4-7; Prov. 6:20) in the Lord? That is why when God called her to be the worker at home, she needs to devote her time during the day in the Word, prayer, and equip herself with truths and wisdom. That is her calling and mandated ministry.
Let me point out another observation from the text. Not only Paul commands that she must learn or be an ongoing learner or student, but he also points out how she needs to learn. In other words, this points out not only the action of learning is important but also the attitude, namely in quietness, as opposed to causing disturbance or distraction. Contextually speaking, disturbance or distractions refer to the way the women would display themselves (verse 9) and lack of submissiveness (verse 11).
Ladies, when you are learning, please check your attitude. Are you teachable? Are you thankful? Are you humble? Does 1 Peter 2:1-2 describe you?
NAU 1 Peter 2:1 ¶ Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
You attitude regards to learning apply both privately and corporately. At the privacy of your home, do you display godly attitudes of learning? How about from your own husband at home?
What about learning corporately from your church? From your elders? From older, wiser, and/or other godly women? Are you teachable, thankful, and humble? Again, your learning attitude applies both privately and corporately.
V. The Way She Submits (vv. 11b-14)
According to verse 11, “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.” Or, literally “in all submission.” The Greek word u`potagh/| (hupotage) means submission in the sense of renunciation of one’s self initiative and refers to overcoming of a certain inner resistance.[5] Hence, the word is often translated obedience, subjection, and submission. In fact, in this verse the emphasis should be placed on the word all or entire.
Like any Christian, regardless of one’s gender, a Christian woman is to respect and submit to all authorities. However, the context in which our text is found refers to submitting to authorities in the church.
The people who generally cause problems in the church, or leave the church without any dialogue, or disciplined by the leaders all have this in common – failing to respect and submit to biblical authorities. Of course, I am not suggesting a blind submission to any leader or everything. The operative word is submitting to biblical authorities and fulfilling biblical duties.
When people often make issues in the church, it is typical to hear things like “I don’t need to submit to leaders or the pastor because my obligation is only to God” as if one can only submit to God and not God-ordained office or officers. According to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith, which I personally subscribe states:
A particular church, gathered and completely organised according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons (26.8).
Although it may sound so pious to say, “I don’t need to submit to any man but only God,” it is a false piety with one-sided interpretation and leads to all sorts of erroneous applications.
[1] Unfortunately, such a translation is missing in the NIV.
[2] William D. Mounce, Pastoral Epistles, WBC (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000), 115.
[3] John Calvin, Calvin’s Commentaries, 22 volumes (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003), 21: 66.
[4] Notes from the NET Bible on 1 Timothy 2:12.
[5] TDNT, 8:46.
