RIGHT PLACE

1 Timothy 2:9-15

Introduction:  This passage of scripture is one that causes some people to see red.  This is especially with people who are hooked up with the feminist movement.  Some women’s groups accuse Paul of being a “old bachelor” who was antiwomen.  Those who hold to the inspiration and authority of the Word of God knows that Paul’s teachings came from God and not from himself.  If we have a problem with this passage means we have problem this passage means we are reality having problem with what God says.  This issue is not with Paul or Peter.  Peter speaks of this in 1 Peter 3:1-7. 

      The word “subjection” is the same basic word for “submit”  in Ephesians 5:21 and Colossians 3:18.  It literally means, “to rank under”.  Anyone who has served in the armed forces knows that “rank” has to do with order and authority, not with value or ability.  A colonel is higher in rank than a private but that does not mean that the colonel is a better man than the private is.  It only means that the colonel has a higher rank and therefore, more authority.

      Right place has as much to do with the church as it does in any other part of God’s creation.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14:40 “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Where there is no order, there will be chaos. This is seen the writings of Paul.  Children must submit to their parents because God has given the parents the authority to train their children and discipline them in love.  Employees should submit to employers and obey them.  Even though the reference is made to household slaves, the application of this truth is applicable to today.  I find that many believers have no testimony on their jobs because they are always mouthing off their employers.  Or they are lazy.  And the list could on and on.  Believers should have the best work ethics.  Citizens should submit to government authorities even if the authorities are not Christians.  I remember a preacher who was calling for believers not to pay their taxes because of the programs that the government was using it on.  As long as the government does not try to tell the church how to conduct her, then I believe it is lawful and Biblical to obey the government.  (I am getting off my subject.  This would make a good study later on.)

      Submission is not slavery.  Some men think that their wives should walk two steps behind him.  He does not care for her opinion.  It is like some military thinking, which says “If you need an opinion, I will give it to you.” The Lord placed a wife into a man’s life to enhance his life.  She is to be his helpmeet.  The Lord did not take the woman from his head in order for her to lord over him.  Neither did the Lord take woman from his foot so he could walk over her.  He took her from his side so he would love her.

      Submission is recognizing God’s order in the home and the church.  When a Christian wife joyfully submits to the Lord and to her husband, it should bring out the best in her.  The secret to this is not the wife but the husband.  Paul makes sure this is understood clearly in Ephesians 5:18-33.  Submission is the key to spiritual growth and ministry: Husbands must submit to the Lord, Christians should submit to each other and wives should be submitted to the Lord and to their husbands.  This is God’s order.  This shows right place. 

      When any part of nature that violates God’s order and place will find itself in chaos.  Paul knew this when he penned these words in this place.  The emphasis is on the place of women in the local church.  Paul admonished these believing women to give evidence of their submission in several ways. 

      As we look at these ways, it is my desire that we will see in a greater way how God have placed important principles in place so we can grow to greater heights. 

I.  MODEST DRESS Vs. 9

      The contrast here is between the artificial glamour of the world and the true beauty of a godly life.  Paul was not forbidding the use of jewelry or lovely clothes but rather the excessive use of them as substitutes for the true beauty of  “a meek and quiet spirit.” A woman who has to rely on the externals will soon run out of ammunition!  She may attract attention but she will not win lasting affection.  Paul is trying to remind Timothy to warn the women not to be trapped in this trap of Satan.

      The word translated “modest” is similar to the phrase that Paul used in 1 Corinthians 14:40 “decently and in order”.  It deals with arrangement of clothing. 

      The word shamefacedness literally means modesty.  It shows a woman that avoids the extremes of her day.

      We must remember that Timothy is in Ephesus.  This is the home of the goddess Diana.  She was the goddess of fertility.  Her followers were very loose in their morals and modest was not the word of the day.

      We live in a day where modest are not the word of the day.  If you do not believe this, go to your local shopping center and watch what the women are wearing or rather not wearing.  Many have asked this question:  “Whatever happened to old-fashioned modesty?”

      Young's Concordance defines modest apparel as long robe or long garment.  This is not seen in much of woman’s apparel. 

      I have been accused some of being a legalist.  A legalist is one who tries to add to salvation with some teaching.  Many people call people legalist who does not have any standards. 

      My wife at the age of eighteen decided not to wear woman’s pants.  She felt they were not modest.  At no time has she tried to add to a person’s salvation with her personal belief.  Most women’s pants are form filling and do not portray modest.  This does not make her a legalist or myself. 

      The emphasis of Paul in this passage is modesty.  That should be the goal of every believer. 

II.  GODLY WORKS Vs. 10

      Paul is also emphasizing the true values of godly character and Christian service. “Godliness” is another key word in Paul’s letters.  It is found nine times in this letter alone.  Glamour can be partially applied on the outside but godliness must come from within.

      We must never underestimate the importance of godly ladies play in the ministry of the church.  The Gospel had a tremendous impact on women.  They found the their value before God and their equality in the body of Christ.   Gal. 3:28

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

      Throughout the Gospels, we see numerous devoted women who ministered to the Lord Jesus.

                              Luke 8:1-3

“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”

      We see many godly ladies in the Book of Acts.  Paul mentions eight women in Romans 16.  Many believing women have won their husbands to the Lord and then open their homes for Christian ministry.   

III. QUIET LEARNING Vs. 11

      The word “silence” in this passage gets a bum rap with some folks.  Without know what this means in the Greek, men assume it means the same in the Greek as it does in English.  This word is the same as peaceable in verse 2.  It seems that some of the women were abusing their newfound freedom in Christ to cause disturbances in the services in the church at Ephesus. 

      Paul gives a similar admonishment in 1 Corinthians 14:34- “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” It is the passage speaking on the subject of speaking in tongues.  The word “silence” means here to hold one’s peace.  Tongues were forbidden for the woman to speak.   

IV. RESPECTING AUTHORITY 

                                                Vs. 12-15

      Some try to use this passage to teach that women are not permitted to teach.  This is very far from the truth.  Let’s look at a few passages to show the contrary.

                              Titus 2:3-4

“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children”

                              2 Timothy 1:5

“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”

                              2 Timothy 3:15

“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

      Many godly ladies have taught men many truths from the Bible.  I think of Betty Elliott who lead many men of the Auca Indians to Christ and then taught them the Bible.  But when the church was assembled, she would exercise silence.  It is best for her to exercise “quietness” to those who are in authority.

      Paul gives several arguments to back up this admonition that the Christian men in the church should be the spiritual leaders. 

1. The first is an argument from creation.  Adam was formed first and then Eve.  We must keep in mind that priority does not mean superiority.  Both man and woman were created by God and in God’s image.
2. The second argument has to do with man’s falling into sin.  Satan deceived the woman into sinning.

                              2 Corinthians 11:3

“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

Man sinned willfully.  He did it with his eyes wide open.  Because Adam rejected the God-given order, he listened to his wife, thus plunging all of mankind into sin and death.

      Paul is not suggesting that women are more gullible than men are and thus more easily deceived.  Experience proves that Satan deceives men and women.  On one occasion, Abraham listened to his wife and got into trouble.  On another occasion, she gave him counsel and God told him to obey it.

      I have found the counsel of ladies have come in handy many times throughout the years.  Ladies input into a building program could result in a better building or a more functional building. 

      If a lady is truly godly, she does not to try to run the church.  She will understand the place God has placed her.  As I have named this message: Right Place”, this should be the desire of every lady in a church.

      Ladies can many times see things that men miss.  They understand people better many times.  I have said many times that my wife has enhanced my ministry in the way that she cares for people much greater and deeper than I do. 

      If it were not for woman, we would have not had a Saviour.  Christ was born of a woman.  Keep in mind that even though Christ had an earthly mother; He did not have an earthly father.

Conclusion:  What are some of the practical lessons to be learned in this passage?

1. The ministry that believing women in that day had was not to run the church but to care for the home and bear children to the glory of God.  We would have never had a John or Charles Wesley with Susannah Wesley.  She trained those boys for the glory of God.
2. Godly women do have an important ministry in the local assembly, even though they are not called to be teachers of the Word in the pastoral sense.  If all is done “decently and in order,” then God will bless.

      In the next chapter we will see the purity of the servant as far as pastors and deacons are seen.