In my first post I decided not to post this so as not to throw this thread off track
..since its of track now, I am posting. Due to the length I will separate these by the two verses.
We need to keep both Timothy and Corinthians within the context of which they were written.
I Timothy is a pastoral epistle written to the leadership in the church {note: when I use the word church I am speaking of the ekklesia the called of God, the body of Christ, not a structure.} Therefore when reading this book we must keep in mind who it is addressing, and why. We cannot take a few verses out of their context and make them a general application to all women within the body of Christ; that is just poor workmanship of rightly dividing the Word.
We must also keep in mind cultural times. Here in Timothy, as well as I Corinthians 14:34 {dealing with the wives of the prophets} you have cultural standards that come into play.
Timothy is dealing with the leadership in the church, and specifically these verses in question are dealing with wives of the men of God in the leadership positions responsible for teaching, and moving Gods word. We must read and understand these verses in that light, and not wretch them out of context to degrade women as some groups have done.
The whole context dictates that the men (husbands) were men of God with ministries as seen in 3:1 which is the more immediate context of these verses; ultimately it comes down to respect of the Word.
The following is a break-down of verses 9-15 I will post on I Corinthians separately
I Timothy 2:9-15
I Timothy 2:9 In like manner or likewise. You have to go back to verse 8 to find out what its referring to. Talking about husbands who were men of God praying everyplace lifting up holy hands is a Figure of speech meaning To have done all that can be done speaking of the men of God praying in the previous verses. It now shifts to the women in doing all they can do.
The word also is not in any critical Greek text.
That women (Gr) gunê = wives henceforth, the word woman is translated wives
adorn themselves (Gr) kosmeo it is the word transliterated over into our English as cosmos It means orderly universe. To polish, or to beautifully cut out to carve in all perfection. Orderly like the stars that are set in their coarse, and like the paths of the seas, no collision. Its like all of Gods creation; thats this word adorn.
{Other usages of kosmeo Luke 21:5, Titus 2:10, I Peter 3:3-5}
in modest apparel (Gr) kosmias the same root word as adorn.
Women are to adorn themselves adorningly {thats probably not a real word} meaning well polished beautifully groomed, is the essence of what God is saying. It sets the woman with the man of God in all of its beauty and all of its greatness.
{I Timothy 3: 2 of good behaviour is the same word as kosmios}
With shamefacedness (Gr) aidôs = an inner grace. Manifesting the inner beauty of Christ in you, in your walk, your talk, and your manner of dress. One who recoils at anything unseemly, immoral or impure.
Sobriety ( Gr) sôphrosunê is self-restraint, habitual inner self-governing its the renewed mind dignified walk. Being an example in your walk because that man of God is your man, and you by your actions show the rest of the women in the household of God how they are to act or walk.
not is conditional
.due to culture, the walk of a woman would vary.
broided hair(Gr) plegma hair-doo or gold, or pearls, or costly array
One example of this refers women who would have their hair put in the form of the temple, a horn or a tube that would go around the head made of gold studded with precious jewels. This would tie underneath the chin and over the top of the hair. At the back they would have braided cords of silk that would drop to the back of the knees, and at the bottom of those would be tassels of red silk, loaded with lead so the hair style would be tightened under the chin. ouch!
Verse 10
But Sets in contrast that which was preceding {broided hair, etc}
which becoumeth women wives of the men of God
professing(Gr) epaggellomai To announce ones self
godliness = Wives showing themselves reverently godly, that is how you announce yourself. Wives are attractively dressed, sharp, cultured, but not to the end that youre a knock out, or drawing attention to yourself through your costly array.
with good works This Greek preposition indicates with as all the way through, not just the manner of dress, but the actions in your life. Doing what has just been stated, thats the good works.
Verse 11
Let the woman = wife of the man of God.
learn = to be informed, to understand to learn by study and observation.
in silence (Gr) hesuchia means inner awareness, a quietness, tranquillity. Its just the opposite of vociferous.
There is a time for a person to keep quiet and a time to speak. The context here is talking about wives of the men of God. With that inner awareness you will know when that time and palace is.
with all subjection = submission by loving obedience.
When the woman decided to marry the man she made a decision that the man would be the head of her, like God would be the head of the man. The wife has to become aware of the inner awareness of her man, just as the man is with God.
Verse 12
but is the word and
i suffer (Gr) epitrepo means to direct, or instruct
not a woman = wives
to teach (Gr) didaske to debate. We get our word teacher from this Greek word. Its used in the academic realm of a didactic coarse [a teaching coarse] But here is the beauty of this scripture. In our teaching methods there is no debate, but in the old Hebrew or the synagogue operation, anytime a teacher teaches, anybody who wants to get up and question him can do so. {God says - I instruct the wife not to debate in public with her man of God.} You can obviously see where this would belittle the man, showing great disrespect to the man of God, and the Word of God
nor = and not {emphatic}
to usurp authority over = to exercise power over, domineer.
the man = husband
but to be in silence same word as in verse 11. the inner awareness.
Verse 13
For Adam was first formed then Eve Adam was given authority and Eve was given to Adam as a companion. This doesnt degrade the woman but rather just puts it in the order, which God formed, made, and created us.
Verse 14
And Adam was not deceived
But the woman {wife} being deceived = taken in, literally means baited by false statements which the adversary laid on her in Genesis. Gods just saying, look things havent changed, the adversary is still trying to pull the same stunts. That is why that word hesuchia {that inner awareness} is so vitally important in a womans walk, so that the woman is not trying to usurp authority over the man.
was in the
transgression stepping aside from doing right. Even though Adam wasnt deceived, it was because she was his companion, and when she was baited he went down to her level. This will generally always be true with a man.
Verse 15
Notwithstanding = but
She shall be saved (Gr) sozo = made whole, made complete,
in = through
childbearing On the surface it looks like childbearing is a curse, but actually she {the wife} shall be made complete, whole, through childbearing.
{Guys will not understand that, but women will}
If they - The husband and wife.
Continue in en - governs only the dative case and denotes being or remaining within, with the primary idea of rest and continuance.
Faith = (Gr) pistis - noun = the divinely implanted principle. It is one of the fruits of the spirit. This particular form is not the action of believing, but the firm persuasion or conviction of what we hear from Gods word.
And charity = (Gr) agapê We all know this as being the love of God, but this love goes so much further than that which was known in the OT. Its a spontaneous love irrespective of rights. Its love in its fullest conceivable form, and beyond.
And holiness - as becoming to the husband and wife as devoted to God.
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Both the roll of the Man and the Woman should be kept in the perspective of the Word. {marriage relationship, and leadership relationship}
As for Women teaching in the Church, I find nothing in the Word that specifically disallows that; again kept within the perspective and boundaries of written Word.