The Effective Woman
1 Timothy 2:9-15
February 14, 2010
We have talked about many times before how the recent church growth movement centers on pragmatism.
Pragmatism = “the end justifies the means”
For a pragmatist only one question is commonly considered, and that is: “Did it work to achieve the goal?”
If the tactic employed brought about the desired result, then the tactic is proclaimed relevant and effective and many times even published in a book on how to grow the church.
By now you know that I am not a pragmatist,
Nor do I like much of the modern day church growth movement.
We must definitely focus more on what God says than on what appears to be working.
However, that does not mean
That we are not at all concerned about our effectiveness.
Certainly we do desire for the lost to be saved.
We desire for lives to be changed.
We desire God to be glorified.
We desire for marriages to be strong.
While we do not endorse any and all means of achieving it,
We do desire effectiveness as salt and light in this world.
We do desire to accomplish our task for the Lord Jesus Christ.
We must simply make sure that we set out to accomplish that task
In the manner in which God outlines in His word.
That is precisely what we are up against in our text tonight.
I’ve called this sermon “The Effective Woman”
And by that I mean we are talking about the woman is most effective
In accomplishing the task that God has before her.
You may remember that 1 Timothy 2 is NOT a chapter predominantly about the roles of men and women.
The chapter is predominantly about how we can
“lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
That is seen at the beginning of the chapter.
And the main way in which Paul tells the church to be effective in leading such a quiet life is for time to be given when the church comes together for prayer for the lost in leadership positions.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
We are all aware that Christianity
Is not a requirement for being a governmental leader.
You don’t have to be a Christian to be a king.
You don’t have to be a Christian to be a president.
(This wasn’t even true in ancient Israel, let alone in Paul’s world or ours)
Sometimes we have political leaders who do not love the Lord, or His word.
Sometimes those leaders even go so far as to threaten our safety
Or freedoms in regard to the expression and spreading of our faith.
Thus at times political leaders can even make it extremely difficult for us to “lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
AND HOW ARE WE CALLED TO DEAL WITH THAT?
The answer was clear.
PRAYER
We are called to pray for such men.
And the context of the chapter indicates that part of the public worship service is mean to be given to pray for such people in leadership and indeed all who are lost.
That was the point of the first 7 verses of the chapter.
Beginning in verse 8
Paul begins to give the practical application to that truth.
1 Timothy 2:8 “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”
Last week we saw what Paul commanded to take place.
Paul is talking about how we conduct ourselves in the church.
And while the church is together, the men are called to pray.
But we must also understand that men are not the only ones who have a role in this matter.
Women are also included in the responsibility.
Only the roles and responsibilities are different.
And that is what Paul addresses here.
Men are called to be effective in their quest for godliness and tranquility and dignity through prayer.
Tonight we see how women are called to be effective in their quest for godliness and tranquility and dignity.
And there are three things Paul teaches us tonight as he explains to us
What the effective woman looks like.
#1 SPIRITUAL ADORNMENT
1 Timothy 2:9-10
You will notice that the verse begins with the word “Likewise”.
This indicates to us that having addressed the man’s role,
We are now moving on to the woman’s role
Still as it relates to leading a godly life.
“I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”
And so it is clear that we are talking about how a woman can be effective in her “claim to godliness.”
It is understood that all Christians should make such a claim.
It certainly ought to be our desire that however we may be perceived by the world, we ought to be perceived as Godly.
This is how women do that.
And the first area is her adornment.
Very simply, it is what methods she uses to make herself noticed.
“adorn” translates KOSMEO
From where we get our word “cosmetic”
It comes from the root word KOSMOS which is commonly translated “world”.
It really means “order” or “system”
This is why when a woman goes to put on makeup she is said to be “putting her face in order.”
She is trying to pull herself together and make herself presentable
Paul is here explaining how she should do that;
How she should make herself presentable.
And the first area does deal with her outward beauty.
“adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly”
And so there is an element in which a woman
Does take care of her outward appearance.
But at the same time she is called to look modest and discreet.
Proverbs 11:22 “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.”
Paul then goes on to say:
“not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,”
Some have taken that to mean that women should not braid their hair or wear jewelry of any kind or wear nice clothes.
But literally the word for “braided hair” just means “hair styles”
But please understand Paul is not forbidding a woman to have a hairdo.
That would contradict the concept of being neat and in order.
Paul is saying is that a woman’s hairdo, or jewelry, or wardrobe
Must not be the thing that is used to attract attention to her.
Those things must be neat, and modest and discreet, and put in order,
But they must not be your “adornment”.
Isaiah even pronounced judgment on such women:
Isaiah 3:16-26 “Moreover, the LORD said, “Because the daughters of Zion are proud And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes, And go along with mincing steps And tinkle the bangles on their feet, Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs, And the LORD will make their foreheads bare.” In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, finger rings, nose rings, festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, money purses, hand mirrors, undergarments, turbans and veils. Now it will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be putrefaction; Instead of a belt, a rope; Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp; Instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth; And branding instead of beauty. Your men will fall by the sword And your mighty ones in battle. And her gates will lament and mourn, And deserted she will sit on the ground.”
That is not why God made you attractive.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
In the Sermon On The Mount, Jesus condemns a man for looking at a women lustfully; so can a woman be innocent who encourages it?
God created you attractive for the purpose of being pleasing to your husband, not to any and everyone else.
And so while a Godly woman is neat and put in order and modest and discreet and even well dressed, that is not her adornment.
A Godly woman’s adornment is listed in verse 10,
“but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”
It is a woman’s good works, not her dress,
That should cause you to notice her.
1 Peter 3:3-6 “Your adornment must not be merely external — braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands; just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.”
A Godly woman doesn’t display her body, she displays her works.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Men promote godliness through public prayer.
Women promote godliness through public example.
Spiritual Adornment.
#2 SUBMISSIVE DEMEANOR
1 Timothy 2:11-14
I might as well tell you that no verse ever seems to get me into as much trouble as this one does.
That is one of the beauties of pastoring this church. The ladies here are so submissive to the word of God that preaching this verse is quite easy.
But it doesn’t take a reporter to recognize that it flies right in the face of our culture today.
Feminism has certainly infiltrated the church and pushed many conservative Christian leaders to compromise on this clear Biblical mandate.
But as Paul explains an effective woman,
The second attribute she possesses is a Submissive Demeanor.
(11) “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness.”
You may remember the chaos that was brewing at the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 14:26 “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”
Everyone at Corinth wanted the lead role.
It is presumed that even women showed up with sermons to preach.
You may also remember that part of the solution to settling the problem dealt with instruction to women.
1 Corinthians 14:34-36 “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?”
Paul was clear there about godly behavior in the church,
And he is just as clear here.
Women are called to receive instruction, not give it.
And they are called to receive it with “entire submissiveness.”
No element of rebellion, no scoffing, no finger waiving,
None of the subtle nuances that are common of the boisterous woman.
She must receive instruction.
Furthermore:
(12) “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”
I know many people in the world think that we are making it up, but it actually is stated here in the book.
Part of Paul’s command on how a person is to conduct himself or herself in the church addresses that women are forbidden to teach or have authority over men.
And as we have already stated,
We are dealing with the concept of the corporate church.
There are women who are gifted teachers…
There are women who are gifted preachers…
And there are even times when women are called upon to instruct men, evangelize men, encourage men, pray for men, etc.
But never are they called upon or allowed to do it in the assembly of the church.
It is forbidden.
In short a woman does not need to make her voice heard
In order to be effective in promoting the cause of godliness.
Now there have been some who have
Quickly placed an asterisk in front of this verse.
1) BUT WHAT IF THERE ARE NO MEN WILLING?
Then they deduce that it must be ok.
One must wonder what those same women do if there are no men willing to marry them? (Do they find another woman?)
Circumstances do not change the relevance of God’s word.
God issued the command with full understanding of the difficulties we face, but it does not mean His commands can be broken.
2) THIS IS JUST AN EPHESIAN PROBLEM
Paul was dealing with a specific problem here, but it is not relevant for all times and places.
One then might wonder why he gave the same command to Corinth.
One might also wonder why he gave this command to Timothy who would be very likely to minister in other places someday.
One might wonder why Paul told Titus that men were to be overseers.
But furthermore, Paul gives the reasoning
Why women are not to teach or have authority over a man.
And the simple answer is that they were not created to do so.
(13-14) “For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”
Paul gives two reasons why women are not allowed, and both deal with creation and the events immediately following.
1) THE ORDER
“For it was Adam who was first created”
Man was created by God, for God.
He was given headship, he was given seniority.
WHY THE WOMAN?
Genesis 2:18 “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
Woman was created to help man, not lead him.
1 Corinthians 11:8-9 “For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.”
And this fundamental order carries over
Into the order and practice of the church.
2) THE NATURE
“And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”
Now I’m gonna go out on a limb here
And tell you something that just might shock you.
MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT
(You may not think so, but they are)
God created them differently.
They think differently, they react differently, they deal with things differently.
They are different.
Different by Design.
This does not mean that they are not equal.
Galatians 3:28-29 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
As far as salvation and eternal inheritance are concerned, women and men are absolute equals.
But they do play different roles.
If one child is responsible for mowing the yard and another for washing the dishes, does that make them unequal?
No, they just have different jobs as they are suited for.
So it is here.
Men and women are different.
And the fact of the matter is that women were not created
To bear the authoritative position, especially in the church.
1 Peter 3:7 “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”
Now I know, as soon as you say that,
Those who oppose this teaching will start rattling off their list of women leaders and even their list of successful women leaders.
But please understand the flaw in that argument.
Just because a woman led, even in Scripture, that does not make it ideal.
David also had multiple wives.
And just because a woman seems to have been good at leading or effective as a leader that does not mean it is Biblical.
You can open a paint can with your pocket knife but that doesn’t make it ideal.
The point here is that the God who created men and women
Created them with their roles in mind.
And the simple fact is that a woman who desires to be effective in her quest for godliness is a woman who exemplifies entire submissiveness and one who abstains from leadership roles over men.
And so we see two attributes of the effective woman.
Spiritual Adornment Submissive Demeanor
#3 SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY
1 Timothy 2:15
Here Paul lists a very important function that women do have.
And that is the bearing of children.
“But women will be preserved through the bearing of children”
“preserved” translates SOZO
Commonly translated “saved”
Only here it is not speaking of salvation from sin,
But rather salvation from a lack of effectiveness.
It is typical for a woman to read those first few verses that tell her to be obedient, quiet, modest, and submissive and then wonder how she will ever leave her mark on the world.
HOW DOES SUCH A WOMAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
And the answer is clear.
Through her children.
Women make a difference by raising godly children,
And exhibiting godliness to her children.
1 Corinthians 11:8-12 “For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman; and all things originate from God.”
And all of a sudden we see the great balance to the scenario.
One leads, and the other raises and shapes
The next generation of leaders.
It is the call of women.
Titus 2:3-5 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”
This is a foundational concept to the spread of godliness.
• If men want to be effective in the spread of godliness they lead out in prayer and preaching.
• If women want to be effective in the spread of godliness they exemplify it and train their children in it.
No doubt the role of the man has quicker results,
But one could easily argue that the woman has more lasting ones.
A woman makes a difference by training her children.
She must be careful how she does it.
“if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”
In other words, you can’t just teach them however and then someday be considered one who was effective.
Just as Timothy would be called to watch himself closely in his teaching, women are called to watch themselves closely in their behavior.
And this is so huge.
TAKE FOR EXAMPLE OUR WEDNESDAY NIGHTS
We have all these kids come through here.
Very few remember from one week to the next what the Bible verse is, or what the lesson was.
Certainly the instruction is important, but far more than what you say, they watch how you walk.
Women are here called to understand that as they raise their children.
Let them see “faith” and “love” and “sanctity” and “self-restraint”
If you do, you will raise godly children.
Godly boys who will one day lead the church.
Godly girls who will one day train a new generation of church leaders.
And one only has to open their eyes
To see the effectiveness of mothers throughout the ages.
Peggy and I talked about Zipporah this past week.
(The wife of Moses)
My personal favorite was Hannah.
TURN TO: 1 SAMUEL 2:1-10
Where do you think Samuel got his theology?
But to be even more relevant we only have to look at Timothy.
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he was discouraged and wanted to quit.
And what did Paul remind him of?
2 Timothy 1:3-7 “I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
Later in that same letter as Paul instructed him, notice what he said:
2 Timothy 3:10-17 “Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
WHO DO YOU THINK TAUGHT TIMOTHY THOSE SCRIPTURES WHEN HE WAS A CHILD?
And so you get the point.
Women have a solemn responsibility.
If we are to further the cause of godliness, men it’s time to stand up and pray.
But for the effective woman we promote
• Her Spiritual Adornment
• Her Submissive Demeanor
• Her Solemn Responsibility
It may not be quick, but it is promised to be effective.
1 Timothy 3:14-15 “I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”
