July 12
Women issues
1 Timothy 2:9-12

  1. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
  2. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
  3. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
  4. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

There are two issues Paul discusses here which we need to understand accurately.  The first is that women should adorn themselves in modest apparel.  The idea here is decent, modest, conservative type dress.  Not with overly expensive jewelry or clothing.  This doesn’t mean a woman can’t have nice new clothes or jewelry and that she has to wear old rags.  It doesn’t mean she can’t fix her hair.  It means to not get excessive with her hair, clothes or jewelry.

Rather than spending all this time on how she looks, she should spend more time and attention on how she acts—on "good works."  There’s much to be done for the Kingdom of God and we need to spend our attention on that rather than spending a lot of time and money on how we look.  Again, it doesn’t mean you can’t look nice and dress nice, just don’t go overboard!

The second issue here is in verses 11-12.  "Let a woman learn in silence."  And "I suffer not a woman to teach nor usurp authority over the man but to be in silence."  People here mistakenly take this to mean that a woman is not allowed to speak or teach in church.  This can’t be true because Paul gives instructions in 1 Corinthians 11:5 about women praying or prophesying in church.

As we’ve seen before, in the Greek language they had one word for man and husband.  This word man is also the word used for husband.  It implies a specific man not men in general.  These scriptures are talking about wives learning in church from their husbands.  He’s talking about wives not usurping authority over their husband.  This doesn’t mean women can’t teach.  The Bible gives examples of women prophetesses, women laboring, teaching and even publishing the Word of God (Luke 2:36-38, Acts 18:26, Psalm 68:11, Acts 2:16-18, Psalm 68:11 Amp.) !

When studying one portion of scripture it’s important to take the whole counsel of the Word of God.

 

Confession:

I will not judge other women or wives concerning their dress, their ministry or their relationship with their husbands.

As a woman I will not be excessive in my clothing, hair or jewelry but I will spend attention to those things the Lord wants me to.

As a wife, I will submit first to the Lord, then to my husband and will not usurp the godly authority the Lord has placed me under.

 

*For more on this subject, "The Woman Question" by Kenneth E. Hagin, Tulsa, Oklahoma

 

 

Obedience is a tree of life!