Is everyone equal in everything?

Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 2:9-15 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, ¹⁰ but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.¹¹ A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. ¹² But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. ¹³ For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. ¹⁴ And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. ¹⁵ But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

Application: Paul’s explanation for the position of responsibility in this text has caused a lot of discussion over the centuries. I will not pretend to have the answer nor offer to send it to you by tape if you send me $12.95! :) It is good for us to consider certain issues here though and see if we can sense the mind of the Lord on this issue. He is not a chauvinist and holds women in the same esteem he holds men. All created in His image, all sinners and all can be saved by grace through faith!  First, let’s remember that all through the Scriptures we see the importance of women in God’s work. Jesus during His ministry was supported by women and they were some of His most faithful followers. In the early church they played key roles:

Romans 16:1,6,12 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 12  Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

Acts 18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25  He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26  He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

There are two issues: First, Paul states that Adam was created first. This was God’s choice, and in His wisdom He created man, and then created woman from man to be a “helper” to him. Think position, not essence. Woman had the purpose of completing man and working alongside him to accomplish what God desired man to do. This gave man the lead position and God holds him accountable to that. So in the Body of Christ the men are expected to be the spiritual leaders and shepherds. The women are to help them do that, which includes submitting to their leadership – as long as it does not go contrary to the Word of God. A husband or a Pastor can never compel a woman to disobey God, which includes offending her conscience. This can be a difficult task, as all submission is whether men or women. The real question is who are we trying to please? Men? Ourselves? Or God? If our submission is produced by a love to please God, that changes it’s nature. To seek His approval and His approval alone is truly liberating in this world of images and reputations. 

Meditation Questions: Can you be content not being the one in control? Do you dislike the idea of positions and roles in life? Why? Why not? What does that show you about yourself? When you are required to submit to something that you don’t like, what do you feel? What does that say? When you’re the one in charge, what do you feel when someone does not submit to your leadership? What can we do to make it easier to submit to us?