Today's text is one of the most controversial passages in the Bible. As a qualifier to this strong statement, it must be said that the message itself is not hard to understand. The language is tricky, but it is far from impossible to read it and know exactly what is being said. The greater challenge is accepting what the message states.
In this sermon, we will look at these verses with our historical glasses so that we can discover if Paul is establishing universal principles that guide women in all cases and in all times. Or, is he addressing historical particulars? That is, is he speaking about issues that were in play in the Ephesus of Paul's day regarding those he discussed in the first chapter, namely, the false teachers and the ones they were influencing in the church there?
If nothing else you will join the process of carefully examining the text verse-by-verse, thought-by-thought. Caution. Let us keep objectivity out in front of all the galvanized views of what we already believe. The goal is not to change minds or get into the kind of tension Paul was trying to clear up in Ephesus. Our aim is to listen to Paul and to try to hear his message to Timothy. If we can truly accomplish this task, then we will begin to hear the inspiration and reliability of the Bible.
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March 4, 2011 | John Bayles | A Word to Women: Godliness and Submission to Learning, Part 2 (1 Timothy 2:9-15)
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