We are exploring the question:  What is a healthy church?  What does a healthy church actually look like?  What does that feel like? 

Healthy meaning that - as the Body of Christ - as a congregation we’re living and growing the way we should.

We’re pardoned sinners still struggling with sin that God is still working on.  Healthy is not perfect.  But we are in process.  Committed to each other.  Committed to seeking to become more like our Savior - seeking to live under the authority of the Word of God - seeking to communicate the Gospel and display God’s glory to the world.

Paul is writing to Timothy who is pasturing the church at Ephesus.  Paul is writing about what is vital - essential - what needs to be a part of the life of the congregation if it’s to be healthy.  Living in a fullness of life together that glorifies God who is the source of that life.  Attracting people to our Savior, Jesus.

In chapter one Paul has wrote about the vital sign of love.  Healthy meaning that love coming from God is flowing sacrificially through us to others - others in the congregation - others in the world around us.

Paul wrote about the vital sign of faith.  Healthy meaning that our trust is in God alone.  Our being totally committed to God for whatever God has for us to do.  Our trust in God that shows us in our commitment to each other even in the midst of our hang-ups and issues.

Last Sunday - when we began this section of Paul’s teaching that we’re coming back to this morning - last Sunday we looked at prayer and Godly men.

Healthy congregations have prayer as a priority.  Praise God for those who gathered last night and this morning for prayer.  In healthy congregations Godly men take leadership in prayer.  Prayer that isn’t about us.  What benefits us.  What increases our comfort zone.  But prayer that is focused on what God desires - specifically that others would come to know and believe the truth of who Jesus is as the Savior.

This morning we’re coming to the next part of that teaching - 1 Timothy 2:9-15 - and what Paul writes about prayer and Godly women.

Let’s read together:  ...likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Let a women learn quietly with all submissiveness.  I do not permit a women to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.  Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self control.

What we’re looking at here is one of the major unnecessary battlefields in the church.  A lot of people struggle with these verses.  A lot of people have been hurt.

Which is tragic.  Where we live - our community - male female relationships are often messed up.  In contrast the church should be demonstrating healthy.  Demonstrating what God desires for us in our relationships.  Giving hope to those around us.  Attracting people to Jesus. 

Paul’s intent with this teaching isn’t to create issues but to move us towards healthy.  Which means that we need to approach this section with great care - humility and whole lot of grace.  Maybe setting aside our feelings and trying to focus on what Paul is focused on.

We’re together?

Paul begins, “Likewise, also that women...”   Put another way, “with that same thought in mind, I want women…”  That “likewise” is important if we’re going to understand what Paul is focused on for women.

In 2:1 - what we looked at last Sunday - Paul began this section:  “First of all…”  Meaning this is foundational - elementary - at the core of everything else.  First of all, before we move on to step two - step one is... prayer. 

Within that context of prayer Paul wrote about Godly men.  Verse 8:  “I desire then that in every place the men should pray…”   

Prayer for the Godly man is a vital - essential - priority.  Whenever and wherever we are - and in whatever circumstance - Godly men pray.  Godly men take leadership in prayer.  They’re committed to prayer.  When there are opportunities for prayer they’re there.  They call others to prayer.  That’s what a Godly man does.

Paul wrote - in verse 8 - that Godly men “should pray lifting up holy hands without anger or quarreling.”

Which is about the heart of Godly man.  When Godly men pray they need to come before God with hearts that are pure before God - open to God.  Broken and surrendered before God.  That’s what a Godly man is.

Prayer is the priority - the context.  Men need to step up and pray.   Healthy prayer comes from healthy hearts.  “Likewise also that women…”

In the same way that men are to pay attention to their hearts before God and so to conduct themselves as Godly men - Paul is now going to speak to women about their heart attitude and conduct.

Verses 9 to 12 focus on The Priority of the Heart.

Verse 9:  ...likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

This is a photograph of the Temple of Artemis.  Well - it’s a picture of a model of the temple.  The goddess Artemis was the main god of the Ephesians. 

The Temple of Artemis has been labeled one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  It dominated the city.  And not just as a tourist attraction - which it was.  The temple and the worship of Artemis dominated Ephesian culture.  Ephesian holidays.  The Ephesian economy.  Their hopes for protection.  Their gender roles.  Their sex practices.

The worship of Artemis involved ritual prostitution.  There was a temple staff of slave-girls and eunuchs that followed the orders of head priestess.  Artemis gave a special blessing to Ephesian women - gave them special powers and dominance.  Think women having spiritual powers that out ranked the men. 

The women of Ephesus grew up and lived under the shadow of that temple.  Hugely influenced them.

In a society driven by sex clothing is crucial.

In Ephesus when women stepped out for the evening they spared no expense to look absolutely dazzling.  What Paul is referencing here in verse 9.

They would pile up their hair in braids held together with tortoise shells - pins and combs made out of ivory and silver and gold.  The wove imported pearls into their hair.  They wore clothing to match.  The more extravagant - the more expensive - the more captivating - the more seductive - the better. 

Looking pretty - feeling pretty - is a good thing.

But what was going on here was an in-your-face competition.  An ego-fest of style that was designed to bury the competition and dominate men.  Never happens today.  Right?

Women should watch men watching women.  They should listen to the comments men make to men about women.  To think about how degrading all that is.  Women should ask themselves if they really want that kind of attention from men.

It seems like a lot of them do.  A lot of women will sell themselves short - trying to get the attention of men - or influence men - by the clothing - or lack of clothing - they  wear.

You get what you advertise for.  Which isn’t a Godly man.  Certainly isn’t a man interested in the woman as a person of God given value and worth.

“Modesty and self-control” - verse 9 - focus on style coming from the heart.  There is a reserve in what Godly women wear.  Skin is covered.  Curves are not accentuated.  The focus is not on the body.  Are we together?  Godly women don’t dress like prostitutes.  

Let’s be careful.  Some have taken Paul’s teaching to the extreme.  Women shouldn’t wear make-up or jewelry or fashionable clothing.  The more drab and less flattering the better.  Gunny sacks.  Which thankfully misses Paul’s point.

Paul is focused on prayer and the heart of a Godly women.

What a women wears - or doesn’t wear - demonstrates a heart that’s either focused on self or focused on God.  The heart of a woman that’s trusting herself or trusting God.  A women who gains her self-image from what others think about her or what God thinks of her as His unique and beautiful creation. 

Godly womanhood has to do with the heart of a woman being broken and seeking the things of God - inward God inspired beauty.  What women wear - how they conduct themselves - should draw attention to God working within their hearts.  To draw attention to what it means to live life with the living God - what it means to know Jesus the Savior and to live surrendered to Him.

Going on - verse 11:  Let a women learn quietly with all submissiveness.  I do not permit a women to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 

That’s kind of a tough couple of verses.  Isn’t it?

This is Mary Daly.  Who died a few years back.  Mary was one of the first American women to earn advance degrees in Roman Catholic theology.  A theology that she was continually in conflict with.  Mary was a voice for a lot women. 

Back when Mary died, USA Today ran an op-ed piece on Mary.  Quote:  “Riding the second wave of American feminism, Daly inspired a generation of religiously concerned women to confront the fact, with all its social consequences, that “as long as God is male, the male is God.” (1)

In an interview with What Is Enlightenment? magazine, Daly said, “I don’t think about men.  I really don’t care about them.  I'm concerned with women’s capacities, which have been infinitely diminished under patriarchy.  Not that they’ve disappeared, but they’ve been made subliminal.”  (2)

Can you hear the hurt and anger in that?

“Let a women learn quietly with all submissiveness.” is a teaching that has been misused - abused - confused - and refused - by a whole lot of good people. 

“That’s an excellent suggestion, Miss Triggs.  Perhaps one of the men here would like to make it.”

These are tough verses.  Tough verses because men have not always acted in a way that preserves the worth and value of women and their God given roles - even in the church.  Let’s be honest.  A lot of the push back coming from women is because men have acted like jerks.

In some churches women - once they enter the sanctuary - women are not even allowed to say “hello” or open their mouths.  Some say its wrong for women to lead in any way when that leadership involves any authority - or semblance of authority - over a man.

No women song leaders or even musicians - because that involves authority - directing - leading men.  No women on the church board - or committees - where authority over men takes place.  Certainly no women pastors.  Missionaries maybe.  But that involves teaching ignorant savages.

We need to be careful that we don’t interpret this passage in a way that’s inconsistent with the whole of the teaching of Scripture.

We need to remember that God has used women in leadership and authority over men - Deborah the judge of Israel, Esther the Queen, and others.

Here in Ephesus - where Timothy is a pastor in the shadow the Temple of Artemis - here in Ephesus Aquila and his wife Priscilla took Apollos - a man - and both of them - husband and wife together - Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos about Jesus.  There is indication in Scripture that at times Priscilla took leadership in that teaching.  Later when Paul comes to Ephesus - Paul never reprimands them - never says Priscilla was wrong to instruct a man.

In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul himself gives instructions to women as to how they’re to pray and to teach Scripture in the church (1 Corinthians 11:3-16).

Whatever understanding we come to about these verses must fit with what the rest of Scripture teaches about women in ministry.

Context.  We need to remember that Paul is focusing on the priority of what?  Prayer.  And... the heart of a Godly women..

Verse 11, “Let a women learn quietly…” 

Then again in verse 12 - regarding authority - women are “to remain quiet.” - same Greek word - “esuchia”

In 2 Thessalonians 3:12 - Paul writing to men and women in the church who were meddling and pushy - offering a whole lot of advice about things but accomplishing nothing.  Paul instructs them to work “quietly” - same Greek word as here in 1 Timothy 2.  One English version puts it, “urge them...to settle down.” (TNLT)

That’s helpful.  When the women are being taught, urge them to settle down.  

Not hard to imagine - in Ephesus -in the opportunities where teaching was taking place - certain women were being argumentative and aggressive and stubborn - spouting off about what they know or they think they know - essentially dominating the discussion - potentially controlling the church - visibly or behind the scenes.

In verse 12 the Greek word for “exercise authority” has the idea of mastery - of domination - giving orders that someone else should follow without question.  Paul is warning about a woman giving herself that kind of authority over a man.

Which would have been understandable in women dominating men Ephesian culture.  But unhealthy for the church.  Which is something we need to be careful about today.  The church needs to penetrate culture.  Not the other way around.

Let’s be careful.  Paul doesn’t say, “It’s a mistake to educate women.  It’s wrong for women to teach.”

This isn’t an absolute prohibition against women teaching.  In the New Testament women did teach.  But, when women teach - their attitude should not be self-focused domination - exercising authority - over men.  Or having to prove that women are every bit as capable as a man. 

The heart of a Godly women is to be so sold to out to God that her trust is in God.  Her self-confidence and self-image come from God.  So that she’s able to listen to others - to have a heart attitude of humility - openness - peacefulness.  Which is evident in how she conducts herself - clothing wise - in how she receives and gives instruction.

Verses 13 to 15 focus on The Struggle of the Heart. 

What Paul writes in verses 13 to 15 is the summary of a much larger event in Genesis 1 to 3.  Meaning if we’re going to understand Paul’s point we need to be reminded of what took place in Genesis.

In 1 Timothy 2:13, Paul writes:  For Adam was formed first, then Eve;

In Genesis 1:27 - the account of creation - we know that both Adam and Eve were created in God’s image.  The Godhead is a triunity of three equal persons.  All are God in the fullness of what that means.  And yet each is unique as a person and in their roles as God.

Adam and Eve are both equally the image of God and yet different.  Adam is not Eve.  Male is not female.  Thankfully.  And there’s a designed order to creation.  Adam comes first - then Eve.  That order is reflected in the roles that God has designated for each of them.

In Genesis 1:28 God instructs both Adam and Eve to rule over the earth and to fill it with people.  There’s a command given that both of them are to be obedient to.

Then turning ahead Genesis 2:25 says - “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” 

Meaning there’s nothing between them - no sin - no issues in their relationship.  They could stand there in total innocence and openness before each other and not feel the need to hide anything.

Contained in Paul’s illustration about Adam being created first and then Eve are these truths from Genesis:  Both male and female - equal as the image of God - different as to their roles - have a partnership in obeying God’s commands.

Then 1 Timothy 2:14 - Paul writes:  and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 

Some people have suggested that women are more sinful than men.  Somehow the fall of mankind into sin should be blamed on Eve.  Wrong.

Scripture teaches that Adam - created first - who’s the representative of mankind - God holds Adam accountable for the fall of mankind into sin (Romans 5:19). 

In Genesis 2 God instructs Adam that he can eat from any tree but the one in the center of garden (Genesis 2:16-17).  A command that Adam - in his role of leadership - Adam should have passed that command on to Eve.

In Genesis 3 - the serpent comes and has this famous conversation with Eve.

Genesis 3:6:  “So 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 to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

Where was Adam?  With Eve.

Adam - who has this role of  leadership stands there and lets Eve take the fall.

Point being:  When Paul says that Eve was deceived and sinned he’s not trying to pin the whole descent of mankind into sin on Eve’s shoulders.  Paul’s point is that that happened because Adam abdicated his role of leadership in the relationship and Eve took the leadership role that wasn’t hers.

Women will step in when men step out.  Men will step out if women step in.  Not healthy.  But true.

1 Timothy 2:15 - Paul writes:  Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self control.

Some people have said that unless women are bearing children they can’t be saved.  Wrong.

What about single women or an infertile women?  Does that mean that they can’t be saved?  Obviously that’s not consistent with the rest of Scripture.  Salvation is by grace through faith not the number of children we have. 

Paul is directing us to the first mention of the Gospel in Scripture - Genesis 3:15.  God in cursing the serpent says that one day a child of Eve - who we know is Jesus - Jesus will crush the head of Satan.  Which He did. (Romans 16:20)

Eve yielding to Satan - Satan used Eve to bring sin into the world of mankind.  Mary yielding to God - God used Mary to bring our savior Jesus Christ into the world of mankind.  Because of Jesus born of a woman - a woman or a man - can be saved by grace through faith. 

Paul goes on:  if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self control.  Which are not about works we do that earn us salvation.  But about how we live our lives.

Genesis 3:7 says:  “Then the eyes of both of them - Adam and Eve - were opened, and they knew that they were naked.  And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.” 

Sin enters the relationship - comes between both equal partners of the image of God.  They’re naked and they’re ashamed. 

Genesis 3:16 - God speaking to the woman - a curse because of her sin:  “Your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.”

That’s where sin has taken us in our relationships between men and women.  This constant struggle over leadership - roles in our partnership.  Men - who Paul calls upon to take spiritual leadership and pray - yet struggle in that role.  Women who struggle with the authority of men - especially when it is demanded and not earned - or abdicated by default.

Do you see what Paul is getting at?  What was - in the Ephesian church - what was probably the most out there to be seen example of what was going on that was unhealthy.

Point being:  We - men and women - struggle with the roles of men and women in the church because - at the heart level - we - men and women -  all struggle with sin.  The women in Ephesus were doing the same thing as Eve - struggling at the heart level against the leadership of Godly men - who were struggling at the heart level to exercise that leadership.

Women struggling because the default was to follow the culture of their day and not God.  Their focus was on themselves not God and what God would have for them.

Bottom line - here it is - Paul’s teaching:  The heart attitude of a Godly woman - the actions of a Godly woman - must come from a heart broken and open before God - eagerly seeking God and the things of God - obedience to God - in faith - in love - in sanctity with self-restraint.  That is how a Godly women approaches life - approaches church - approaches God even in prayer.

Processing all that…

We need each other.

What Paul is teaching here gives us a good opportunity to refresh our thinking about when we studied Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Church and what Paul was teaching about marriage. 

Remember these? 

Cycle number one is the Weakening Cycle - which is a description of what we struggle with in our marriages.  Which relates to what we saw in Genesis - especially Genesis 3:16.  God explaining the consequences of sin to Eve - nailing the bottom line of our husband wife struggle.

God says to Eve, “your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.” 

Without love - Adam protecting Eve from the serpent - Eve insecure - reacts without respect for Adam - takes leadership away from Adam who’s let her down - desires to control her husband - and Adam - not respected by Eve - because she’s taken the role of protect and provide away from Adam - Adam reacts without love towards Eve.  Adam demanding to exercise control over Eve.  Eve desiring to control her husband.

The second cycle we looked at is the Energizing Cycle.  The number one need of a man is what?  Respect.  The number one drive of a man is what?  to provide and protect.  As a husband is giving himself to do that providing and protecting thing - he needs the unconditional respect of his wife.

The number one need of a woman is what?  Love.  She desires love - especially love that fosters a feeling of relational security.  Security coming from a husband who will be there for her in the way she needs him to be there for her - unconditionally loving her.  That love provides the protection she needs to feel - what allows her to feel secure.

Looking at the Energizing Cycle.  As the husband loves his wife it motivates her to respect him which motivates him to love her.  That energizes our marriage - energizes us to do what God has purposed and enabled us to do as a married couple.

All that doesn’t change because suddenly we’re talking about church.  It’s a very real description of the dynamic that goes on in the church in our male female relationships.

Grab this:  Godly women want to follow a man who’s following God - to give Godly men respect and honor.  But, if the Godly men are not acting Godly in their leadership - either by what they’re doing or not doing - a women will feel insecure and try to do what makes her feel secure.

Women will step in when men step out.  Men will step out if women step in.

The reverse is also true.  If Godly men step up to the plate and lead in a Godly manner Godly women will feel secure in following.  They’ll show respect and honor to the men that will energize the men to keep on doing the leading thing what helps the women to feel secure and to live out their role in the congregation.

Are we together?  We need each other.

All the differences between men and women can either make us more effective as a congregation - energize us as a congregation - serving God or they can weaken us and tear us apart.  We can either stifle each other or we can energize each other.

The bottom line of what makes all this work is the same in marriage as in the church - the same for a man and the same for a women.  Its all about the heart.  Our hearts being unconditionally sold out to God. 

And the context is prayer.  Being on our knees together.  Bowing before God together.  Which isn’t about us.  Me, myself, and I.  But seeking after God’s purposes for bringing us together as a congregation.

Which is healthy.  Very healthy.  What sets an example for our community which is worth following.  Hopeful for everyone who struggles with the disaster our culture has made out of male female relationships.  For all of us who need Jesus.

__________________________

1. USA Today, 01.25.10. 7A

2. Susan Bridle:  “No Man’s Land,” EnlightenNext Magazine, Fall-Winter 1999

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.