1 Timothy 2-3, Know How To Conduct Yourself In The House Of God
1. Everyone Pray Evangelistically For Everyone (v1-7)
2. Men And Women Focus On Godly Character (v8-10)
3. Reserve Teaching Authority For Qualified Men (2:11-3:7)
1 Timothy 2-3, Know How To Conduct Yourself In The House Of God
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Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:00:00]:
First Timothy chapter 2 is the assigned portion for today in the bible in 3 years. But as Paul's writing to Timothy. He's not breaking for chapters the way that we break them up. And so I wanna pull in a little bit of chapter 3 to help us really grasp hold of what Paul is saying in chapter 2. So we're gonna Start in chapter 3 verse 1415, and then kinda jump back to chapter 2 and walk through what the lord has for us in that. Alright. First Timothy chapter 3 verse 14 and verse 15.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:00:38]:
These things I write to you though I hope to come to you shortly.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:00:43]:
But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the House of God,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:00:51]:
which is the Church of the living God. The pillar and ground of the truth.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:00:58]:
Well, we thank you for your word, the foundation that it provides for us in our lives. I pray this evening that you would teach us. Lord, your truth regarding your church. Lord, that we would gather together as your children, as your followers, in a way that honors you, in a way that represents you in a way that is in faithfulness to the instruction that you have provided.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:01:23]:
We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:01:28]:
Tonight, we'll look at chapter 2 as well as a little bit of chapter 3 here in First Timothy, and I've titled the message know how to conduct yourself in the House of God. Know how to conduct yourself in the House of God. This is important teaching that Paul is providing to Timothy. And we don't have the full context. We don't know exactly all the details that are going on. But based on what Paul is writing to Timothy here, it seems that there is some issues that need to be addressed. The the context of chapter 1 feeds into chapter 2, which then feeds into chapter 3. And it's important that we kind of hold those things together. But as we dig into chapter 2 tonight, boy, is there some sticky issues? It's one of those times where, you know, if I could skip over it, I would prefer to, because there is some controversy about the things taught here in first Timothy chapter 2. as Paul addresses the roles of men and women within the church. And it's controversial because Paul sets limits none of us like limits. And so that's an issue that many times we have. But also, it's controversial because well, different types of groups and different types of people over the years. Well many well meaning believers have developed traditions that are not necessarily the law. We sometimes develop traditions that are looser or stricter than what god actually prescribes. And then also, of course, it's controversial because what Paul says here in this chapter does not mesh well with our culture. and our culture and our society are pretty much against all of scripture, but they don't come out and say it that way necessarily. But these hot topics oftentimes will be the center of those issues that are brought up. And so a lot of things, a lot of tricky things. I'm not going to try to answer every question or, you know, deal with everything, but hopefully give us a good sense of what Paul is saying here to help us know how to conduct ourselves in the House of God. Now, again, here in first Timothy chapter 3, Paul tells Timothy verse 1415,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:03:48]:
I'm writing these things to you, but I'm hoping to come to you.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:03:53]:
But in case I'm delayed, in case I don't get to you as soon as I want to get to you, I'm sending this in advance so that you know how to conduct yourself in the House of God. Timothy, you need to know how the church is to operate. how things are to happen. And and it the context, again, here is so important. The the problem that was happening in ephesus seems to be that there was some bad doctrine that was being taught in a variety of ways by a variety of different people. Paul tells Timothy earlier in the book. First Timothy chapter 1 verse 3, I left you there in ephesus so that you can charge people to not teach another doctrine, to make sure that they don't deviate from what you've been taught in the truth of the scriptures. And so So this is why Paul left Timothy there, and now he's writing this letter to reinforce that and encourage him to hold fast to the doctrine that aligns with the word of God. Now, Paul, I think it's worth considering here in verse 5 of 1st Timothy chapter 1. He says the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart from a good conscience and from sincere faith. From which some have streed turning aside to idle talk. desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. So here we get a little bit of a glimpse of what's happening, the problems happening in ephesus. Paul says, I want you to know, all these commandments, these things that I'm laying out for you, the structure that we're providing for the church, it's from love. It's from a pure heart. It is the things that are good for us. God declares to us these things, sets parameters, assigns, roles, gives us instruction for conduct, because he loves us and because he wants what's best for us. But some within the church at Ephasis were deviating from that. They've strayed from that. And notice what he says in first Timothy 17, desiring to be teachers of the law, but understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. And so you have people in emphasis who are promoting themselves to the role of teacher, but they don't understand what they're talking about. They're promoting themselves to the role of teacher, and and they sound great, and perhaps they're very gifted and talented in it, But the things that they're saying are inaccurate and don't line up with the doctrine, the truth that God has revealed. And so out of love, Paul is leaving Timothy back there to set things back in order to bring things back in line And he's now reinforcing that in this letter to Timothy, so that Timothy will implement these things in the church there at ephesus. In first Timothy 18, Paul goes on to say, we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully. And so he's highlighting here some of the things that they're bringing up, some of the issues. They're misusing the law. They're using the law, but not lawfully. And so they're they're referencing scripture. They're referencing things contained in the word of God, but they're, again, deviating from from the truth that God has revealed in it. Now chapter 1 goes from there to Paul just thanking God for his privilege of serving the Lord. I thank God that he's counted me faithful and put me into the ministry. Right? And as Paul is thinking the lord for the ministry, It comes right after that that idea here, that that, you know, there's other people who are raising themselves up to be teachers, And and Paul is saying, look, I don't deserve to be a minister to be an apostle. I don't deserve any of that, but the Lord showed mercy on me. And he he tells us why in verse 16 of 1st Timothy chapter 1, he says, for this reason, I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus might show all longsuffering as a pattern to those who are going to believe on him for everlasting life. And so Paul says, Look. I didn't bring on this authority. I didn't promote myself and raise myself up to be in this position or this role. This is something that God has done He gave me mercy so that God's longsuffering might be shipped to you all through me. And so he's making it clear here, there is the role of authority. There is the role of apostleship. There is the role of teacher. but it's not for an individual to choose it. It's god who does it for his own reasons. And then verse 17 is so important. Now to the king, eternal, immortal, invisible to god who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:08:54]:
The whole point of all of this,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:08:56]:
Paul's instruction to Timothy, the whole point of this letter to give the conduct for how they're to conduct themselves in the church is so that God is glorified, His wisdom, is recognized to him be all honor and glory forever and ever. And so it's a submission to God that we're talking about as we talk about how to conduct ourselves in the House of God here in First Timothy chapter 2 and then a little bit into chapter 3 as well. So we're gonna look at three point tonight to help us understand how to conduct ourselves in the House of God. Some of the basics, some of the things that God has established for us as a church, that we are to do as men and women as we gather together. And so here's point number 1, looking at verses 137 of chapter 2, Everyone pray evangelistically for everyone. Before he gets into distinctions between men and women, He says, everybody. Everybody is responsible to pray for everybody, and I say evangelistically, because you could see that here in the text. There is a focus on the salvation of those who do not know the lord. read verses 1 through 7 here at First Timothy chapter 2, it says, therefore, I exhort, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men. For kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For 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. For there is one god, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle. I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying. a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth. Paul starts out here in verse 1. I exhort First of all. So first of all is not just in sequence here, but he's really giving it 1st priority. Here's the 1st priority of church conduct. Prare. Supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks. that there is to be, as we gather together, as we conduct ourselves, there is to be an emphasis on gathering together to seek the lord. Supplications, prayers, intercessions, these are various words that describe different kinds of prayers. And, essentially, what Paul is saying here is all kinds of prayer. We are to do all kinds of prayer and to do it with thanksgiving to be thankful as we approach the lord as we gather together. But the emphasis here, I believe, is at the end of verse 1, He says, to be made for all men. Now not men as in the male gender, but all mankind, all humanity. And the idea here is that when we gather together, we are to be praying for others. We're to be praying for the missionary of the month. Were to be praying for authorities, he says in verse super kings and all who are in authority, were to be praying for all those who do not know the lord. All unbelievers. In verse 34, he emphasizes that. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our savior who desires all men to be saved. Why do we gather together and, 1st and foremost, have supplications and prayers and intercessions and giving of things? because God desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And so, there's to be an evangelistic prayer in in our gatherings, in our conduct as a church. There's to be a submission to civic authorities and prayer for them in our gatherings together in our conduct as a church as well. And Paul says there in regard to that, praying for those in authority. He says that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life and all godliness and reverence. So that that our hearts will be for those in authority. Our hearts will be for those who do not know the Lord. That as we gather together, we are to be praying for them. And we often talk about this. I've said it many times. There is no person anywhere on the place on the face of the planet that is ever to be counted as an enemy from our part, that we are always to be for and to be praying for and to desire God's best for Kings, presidents, governors, unbelievers, coworkers, family members, that as we gather together, our hearts would be for people. What is it that God cares about most? people. That's what he cares about. That's why he sent Jesus to die upon the cross for us. That's why Jesus willingly went to the cross. because people are most important to him. And so we are not to be gathered together as a group against people were to be gathered together as a group, praying to god for people, and praying that people would come to know the truth that people would be brought to a a a real fellowship and relationship with the lord. Now he goes on in verses 5 through 7 to outline why. has there's one god and one mediator, the man Jesus Christ. He's the one who ransomed himself, He paid the price for us. Paul says I was appointed to preach for him, and so that's what I do. So there's one god, one mediator, one path to reconciliation with god, one path to fellowship with god, and forgiveness, And so we must be praying as we gather together. For kings, for authorities, for unbelievers, because God desires for them to be saved. Align our hearts with the Lord is the idea here. And pray with prayers, with supplications, with intercessions, and with thanksgiving,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:15:20]:
praying evangelistically for everyone. Peter tells us in 2nd Peter chapter 3 that god is not willing that any should perish. And so
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:15:34]:
One of the things that we do as we gather together is we align our hearts with God, and we remind each other. Yes. You're frustrated with that person. Yes. Your coworkers bugging you. Yes. Your family member is so frustrating and irritating, but we have no enemies. and we join together to pray with all kinds of prayers, with all kinds of supplications, with all kinds of intercessions, for one another, yes, of course, for the things that God wants to do and us, for the things that we wanna see God do in the world? Yes. Absolutely.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:16:04]:
But centrally around this idea.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:16:07]:
of the people around us, the people in our world who need to receive the gospel message. And so that's, first of all, Paul says, Everyone pray evangelistically for everyone. Now, secondly, we're gonna move on to versus 8 through 10. Here's point number 2. men and women focus on godly character. So everybody pray evangelistically for everyone all the time. And now as he begins to kind of identify specific things for the guys and the girls, He says the focus that we're to have is on godly character, but he highlights different things for the guys and the girls to help us focus on the things that we need to focus on to have godly character and develop in that. So let's read verses 8 through 10. It says, I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere. Lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that the women adore themselves in modest apparel with proprietary propriety and moderation Not with braided hair or gold or pearls are costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. As we gather together, how are we to conduct ourselves, Again, Paul told Timothy, I'm writing these things so you know how to conduct yourselves. Alright. So here's what I desire, Paul says. Men are to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. And so, guys, here's some special instruction just for you from the apostle Paul. We are to pray everywhere. And so the idea of praying without ceasing, of course, we know Paul Todd and thessalonians, and so we we get that idea. But this idea of praying everywhere probably is more the not just a reference to, you know, saying prayers to God. But but the idea here is everywhere where we gather, This is to be the focus and the priority of men. We talk about getting together for church. We talk about getting together for bible study. Right? it it was more typical for the new testament church to talk about gathering together to pray. Now they would also do more than pray. They would worship and they would study the doctrine of the apostles and the old testament, you know, they they would conduct services very familiar like like we do, but they would often refer to it as the time of prayer. And so they would gather together to pray. And so as he talks about that men pray everywhere, he's very likely not just saying just everywhere you are, pray. although, yes, do that. But, also, everywhere we gather together, every time that the church is gathering together, as we talk about the conduct of the church, that men are to come with holy hands. Now when he says lifting up holy hands, again, I I would suggest he's not talking about a specific posture. He's not saying men, you need to pray. And when you pray, you need to pray this way. have your body shaped in this fashion, have your hands lifted up in a particular manner, and that is the right way to pray. He's not talking about physical. because he says lifting up holy hands. The whole point here that Paul is saying is when you come that you are to be focused on having holy conduct, a godly character. And as we gather together, this is something that men need to be aware of and focused on that we need to devote ourselves to holy living, so that we have holy hands to lift up to the Lord as we gather together. Sometimes we try to separate things in our lives where, well, I can live this way and then show up for church and be entirely different. And Paul here is saying, that's not what you can do. That's not lifting up holy hands. But to be living a holy life from beginning to end, from morning to evening, that that we would be pursuing holiness unto the Lord. So that when we gather together, we can lift up holy hands in prayer. And so lifting up holy hands. But he also says that we are to to do this without
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:20:36]:
wrath, without anger. Why does he say this? Why do we need to be reminded to not be angry? Well, apparently, we do.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:20:48]:
And I think this is something that guys need to allow the Lord to administer to us about. He brings up wrath for a reason because as we gather together, We need to make sure we need to keep our hearts
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:21:09]:
clean and free from anger against the lord and against one another.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:21:16]:
You remember what Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 5? When you bring your gift to the altar, and you suddenly remember that your brother has something against you. Leave your gift before the altar. Go be reconciled. Go make things right and then
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:21:36]:
come back and offer your gift.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:21:39]:
that it's very important that you don't show up at church and gather together to pray lifting a pole while while there's some outstanding issue between you and somebody else, while you're still harboring wrath or while you've allowed others to be hurt and harmed, and that's unresolved. The Lord says, go resolve that. Then come and offer your gift. Then come and worship. And so there is to be some effort on our part guys to come to church to gather together, to lift up holy hands, so we're pursuing a holy life. But we're also pursuing a life that is in fellowship with those around us. that we're not in a continual state of anger and wrath against others, that we're not walking in, you know, broken relationship after broken relationship after broken relationship where there's all of this wrath against us or from us to others, but but that we are resolving those issues that we are reconciling, that we are making things right. as we seek together together. Again, this is godly character. Holy living without wrath and without doubting.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:22:53]:
without doubting. Now immediately, probably your mind goes to
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:22:58]:
when you come before the Lord, you can't have doubts about his existence. And, of course, we
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:23:05]:
we know that. Hebrews tells us that. Right? Hebrews 11.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:23:10]:
we must believe that he exists. Right? And know that he rewards those who diligently seek him. But this word doubting is not so much I don't know what I believe. I don't know if the Lord's gonna do that. The this word doubt really speaks about disputes and contentions. And it's it's that that issues, again, similar to the wrath, it's that that issues that we can have, the the confusion and disputes that come, from uncertainties and maybe even disputing and contending about uncertainties might be what Paul is alluding to here. And so So as we get together, he says, men, you are to make an effort. Here's how you're to be. Here's what I desire that when you come for prayer, You're able to lift up holy hands, that your relationships are reconciled and resolved, and you're not stirring up disputes and contentions. You're not causing loans, but you're bringing peace into the fellowship and into the Church, the House of God.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:24:09]:
Well,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:24:10]:
Now he moves on to the ladies. We'll just skip that part and move on. Okay? Now verse 910. In like manner also, notice that. in like manner also, Paul is connecting these two things that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation Not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. So here, Paul says, okay, ladies, when you gather when you're part of the group and we gather to seek the Lord together, you also are to be focused on godly character. And how do you do that? Well, Take a look, first of all, at what you're wearing. Modest apparel to have moderation in what you wear. Now there's a 1000 traps that I could run into talking about this. Right? I'm not the one to set the dress code for the ladies or to define what is modest apparel or what is moderation. I'm not trying to, you know, give you a a a a church employee handbook, right, and say, okay. Here's you know, skirts must be this long. Pants must be this long. Actually, no pants. So only wear dresses, you know, That that's not what we're getting into. I'm not gonna try to do that. Here's the idea, though. What are you wearing and why are you wearing it? Is the issue at hand? that there is to be a modesty and a moderation that honors the lord. Notice he says in verse 10, that which is proper for women professing godliness with good works. And so from the outside in and the inside out, there is to be a consistency for you ladies that what you wear represents your desire for godliness, that what you wear and how you conduct yourself and how you dress yourself is consistent with a woman who is professing God and declaring that the need for god, the desire for god, and the the honor towards God that she wants to give. Pastor Warren, we need to be talking about this. gives a little bit of historical context into ethicists where Timothy was. He says this. Ephesus was a wealthy commercial city, and some women there competed against each other for attention and popularity. And that day, expensive hairdos, a raid with costly jewelry, were an accepted way to get to the top socially. And so Paul admonished the Christian women to be major on the inner person, the true beauty that only Christ can give. He did not forbid the use of nice clothing or ornaments. He urged balance and propriety with the emphasis on modesty and holy character. And so as he talks about not with braided hair or gold pearls or costly clothing. This is not an outright purbidding of you should never brush your hair. You should never, you know, wear any kind of jewelry or any kind of makeup or it's not that at all. He is saying everything is with moderation, that it's not to be overdone. And when when it's overdone, There's some heart issues is what Paul is pointing out here. There's some issues where there's a detraction from the profession of godliness and and the focus has changed. And so now there is more attention being given so that more attention can be received on an individual rather than on the lord. And so, ladies, you are to conduct yourselves in a way where your hearts is seeking to profess Godliness, seeking to honor the Lord, and what you wear expresses that. And of course, there is a lot of ways that that can we can deviate from that. as Paul was explaining here in ephesus, there can be, you know, that showing off. And so dressing up to you a great degree to receive the attention, to rise socially, to have a certain status or position.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:28:23]:
I don't know why, but in my head, The the whole thought there makes me think of oh, man. I just forgot the name of the movie. But you know the one with the bow and arrow girl and then hunger games. There you go. Yeah. Yeah. So that, you know, that society sector 1 and, you know, all the over the top
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:28:42]:
dressing up and decoration, you know, so there can be that and that takes away from the -- of godliness. It's a distraction from the expression of faith and the honor to God. But then, of course, there's a completely different way. Also in ephesus, There was temple prostitution. And so there was a need to make sure that you conducted yourself in a way that was not anywhere near the path of that. And ladies in their society were experiencing new found freedom, of course, in Christ, and Paul is saying, need to be careful. Don't go to that extreme. Don't go to that extreme. Find yourself a balance in the middle where you can honor the lord and profess godliness with good works.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:29:28]:
in the way that you dress, in the way that you conduct yourself in what you wear. And so men and women both are to focus on godly character.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:29:38]:
Both of us are to focus on what our hearts are pursuing and the profession of our faith and the honor of God so that as we gather together, we're not saying, look, I can live how I want to and be angry with everybody. and have all kinds of problems just swirling around me. Who is the the penis guy who has the dust cloud all around him all the time? Right? Like like that's sometimes how we are. And then we get to church, and we just, like, try to wash our hands real quick and say, you know, thank you, Jesus. I love you. And we've left this havoc, you know, of,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:30:10]:
you know, disaster
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:30:12]:
from our wrath, from our disputes and contentions, we are to be pursuing holy lives so that as we gather together, we can lift up holy hands, making reconciliation, making things right to honor the lord and to be professing godliness to him and to all the world around us. And ladies in the way that you dress and the way that you put yourself together, you are to do the same. Don't overdo it one way or the other way, but make sure that you are pursuing Godliness, that you are pursuing an honor and a glorifying of God in your life, and let that be expressed in what you wear in how you dress yourself up. And if you need more details than that, you can talk to Jessica after service. Alright. Point number 3. Moving on to verse 11, and then we're gonna extend into chapter 3 verse 7 Reserve teaching authority for qualified
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:31:13]:
men. Alright. That was a good service. Have a good evening, everybody. Alright.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:31:19]:
Contension. You ready? Verse 11. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, than Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. Nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self control. And then let's read 1 of chapter 3. This is a faithful saying. If a man desires the position of a bishop,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:32:01]:
he desires a good work.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:32:07]:
So here we go. We get to verse 11, and now curve ball. Right? There's a lot of challenging parts to this passage, and I was tempted to just focus on these verses tonight and to try to dive in to great depth and work through that. But the Lord redirected me and so spared you from from that. But there is a lot of challenges to these verses. And again, it's it's for a variety of reasons. There are some challenges of interpretation. Just Without any other issues or backgrounds or anything that we might bring to the table, there's there's some challenges to understanding exactly what Paul is saying and and lining that up with what what the scriptures teach us. And so we'll we'll see that a little bit primarily in verse 15. That's a challenging one. But there's a lot of challenges to this, again, from traditions that we develop. And there's a lot of challenges to this from
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:33:09]:
the culture and the society that we live in. But let me remind you, the context here.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:33:17]:
Paul will move on from here to verse 4 1415 of chapter 3, He's saying, I'm writing so that you know how to conduct yourself in the House of God. And so first of all, we need to understand the context of this here is focused on the church. And so Paul is not addressing all society, and he's not addressing all of life. He's addressing the conduct that takes place within the church. As the church gathers together, when we come to the house of god, he says, Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. Now here it seems like Paul is addressing a situation that we don't know about? Perhaps similar to what he's addressing in Korent and 1st Corinthians chapter 14. 1st Corinthians 14, Paul tells the Corinthians verse 3435, let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but they are to be submissive as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, Let them ask their own husbands at home for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:34:33]:
And so there's been a lot of
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:34:36]:
hard lines taken on this concept and these verses over the years. And so the idea that there's not to be a woman's voice heard in church has been held to and taught and is not at all what Paul is talking about here. But you can see, with the context in the Corinthians passage for Corinthians 14, that there was a disruption to the service that was opening between the husband and the wife. And so the issue isn't the silence as much as it is the peace. In fact, that word silence here in First Timothy 211, when it says let a woman learn in silence with all submission, the word silence is not really the best translation of the word according to most scholars who study these things. But that silence really is better understood as peaceable. Pastor Warren Weir's view puts it this way. Silence is an unfortunate translation because it gives the impression that believing women are never to open their mouths in the assembly. and all the men said amen. No. Just kidding. This is the same word that is translated peaceable in First Timothy chapter 2 verse 2.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:35:54]:
Guatch that.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:35:55]:
When we are to pray for kings and authority so that we can have a peaceable life, that's the same word here. And so what he is highlighting here, what he's talking about is not that there is absolute silence but that there is peace. And so, again, we don't understand exactly the situation, but it's possible, like, in corinth, there was disruption happening to the service, and there was not peace. So Paula is saying, look, the the ladies need to be part of the service. And and we don't really appreciate that all that much today. Right? But in their culture, in the Greek culture, in the Roman culture.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:36:38]:
It wasn't normal for women to learn
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:36:42]:
along with men. That that was not typical. It it was more typical in Jewish culture, but not in the rest of the world, not in the rest of society. And so Paul is saying here no. No. Listen. Yeah. The ladies need to be part of the gathering. The ladies are part of the church, but also ladies you need to understand that there's a responsibility you have to keep the peace and to not disrupt what is going on, that that you would learn with peaceableness and all submission, that there is to be a submission to the authority of the church of
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:37:21]:
those that god has placed in the rules of authority within the congregation. Now that doesn't mean that
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:37:27]:
to be in submission to those who got his place in authority. Right? But again, Paul's addressing a situation here in ephesus. So he's highlighting the ladies because Seems like there was a problem that there were some disruptions that were happening as as ladies were sitting in the service, but not peaceably. And so there was contentions, there was disruptions, there was distractions, and Paul here is correcting that. And so let a woman learn in peacefulness with submission to the structure, to the authority to the church that god has established. Now part 2 of that, he goes on into verse 12. And I do not permit, he says, a woman to teach or to have authority over a man but to be in silence. And so there is to be that submission to the authority, the structure that God has established in the church And Paul here is establishing the woman is not to be that authority within the church, that she is not to teach or have authority over a man.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:38:33]:
And there's a 1000 things I wanna talk about here. But
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:38:36]:
Not going to get into all of it. But but as Paul talks about teaching or having authority, don't think about it as, like, 2 separate things. it's teaching authority. And that's why worded the point this way. Reserve teaching authority for qualified men. that it's not teaching comma, new subject authority, but it's that positioned that role of authority that includes the teaching of doctrine to the church. And this is why I think it's so important to see the context as it flows into chapter 3 verse 1.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:39:17]:
So look at verse 1 again, of chapter 3. This is a faithful saying.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:39:21]:
If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. So just read verse 12 and then read verse 1. I do not permit a woman to teacher have authority over a man, but to be in silence, This is a faithful saying if a man desires a position of a bishop, he desires a good work. So here, Paul is clearly defining the roles and saying, okay. There is the role of a bishop. It means overseer. It's one who has oversight, authority, and responsibility within the church. And if a man desires that, it's a good work. It's a good thing to desire. And so it is something that God might call him too. And so it's a good thing. If he desires it, great. That's a good work. But what Paul is saying here is I don't permit a woman to have that position. That position of Bishop or overseer
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:40:16]:
is reserved
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:40:19]:
for men who are qualified. Now not just any men and not every man, you know, fits this. He goes on to list the qualities and qualifications of this kind of man who can fill this role. Let's read verse 2 of chapter 3 to get a little taste of that. He says a bishop then must be blameless. the husband of one wife, temperate, sober minded of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:40:45]:
Why do you think you threw that one in?
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:40:48]:
Because, well, this is the person who is to be the teaching authority
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:40:55]:
within the fellowship.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:40:58]:
This is the one who is to have that responsibility, and so well, if you have the responsibility of teaching the church, providing the direction an instruction and doctrine for the church. Well, this person needs to be able to teach. And so this is what Paul is talking about. This role of Bishop must be blameless. Notice husband of one wife. And so specifying again the male leadership that god has established. We understand this in the home. It's also a contentious thing, and people fight against it. but it is the truth presented in the scriptures. In the home, there is a structure that god has provided an order to the authority that he has established, and the order is not a statement of value. or quality, or capability, or status, or relationship to God, or anything like that. the order is just the order. The order is what God has said. And in submission to God, we are to follow the order that he has prescribed. That's regardless of whether or not we're really excited about it, And regardless of whether or not society is really excited about it, regardless of whether or not our traditions fit with it, but that we submit ourselves to what God has clearly outlined in His Word. And so there is roles within the church. There's limitations to those roles, but they're not as limiting as we might think. And so I wanna just walk through this briefly with you. There's a little chart I put together to try to help highlight some of the things that are available for within the body of Christ. And so throughout the scripture, we can see clearly The opportunity to serve, to serve God, to serve one another, is something that both men and women are instructed to do, and the opportunity is made for us to serve in that way. The responsibility and the call to pray, that is something as well that is available both to men and to women. And so we are all called to pray, and we are called to lift up holy hands. We are called to pray for our kings, and our authorities were called to pray for unbelievers. We're called to present our request before the lord it is something that we all have responsibility for an opportunity to the exercising of spiritual gifts This is an important one. Including gifts like prophecy and tongues and interpretation of tongues, these gifts are gifts that god gives, the Holy Spirit gives, both to men and to women. And so the exercising of those gifts is encouraged and we're instructed to do so. And we have examples of both men and women exercising spiritual gifts in the new testament and then also some in the old testament
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:44:11]:
to disciple, to
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:44:14]:
train up in a more personal fashion in a more personal setting is something that both men and women are charged with and and given opportunity to do there. The example there in acts is the example of Priscilla and Aquila, husband and wife team who helped to disciple Apollo's great man of god who
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:44:37]:
had gifting
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:44:39]:
and was bold in his teaching of the word, but he didn't know that much. And so it tells us that Priscilla and Aquila took him under their wings and taught him the whole council of God. Now it's interesting because the way that it's structured in acts kind of implies that Priscilla is involved in the teaching of Apollo's, and not just that, but she might have even been kind of the primary one helping Apollo understand the truth more fully. Now that's when you're gonna wrestle with and other people will wrestle with and fight against, but you can look at the passage and wrestle with that on your own time. Alright.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:45:16]:
to teach the same gender. So that one's a no brainer. I don't think anybody fights that one. Men, are instructed to and encouraged to teach men and ladies are encouraged and instructed to teach ladies within the church as well.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:45:29]:
The final one here though is the kicker, and this is what Paul is addressing here. The position of teaching and leading the church as a whole? This one is what Paul is addressing. And he's saying, if a man desires this role, it's a good work. There's qualities and qualifications that have to be met, but Paul says, I do not permit ladies to take this role of overseer and the guidance of the church, the
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:45:59]:
oversight of the church. And so Those are some things that you can kinda walk through and and read through and pray through if you want to, if that helps you
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:46:08]:
work through these things a little bit. I would encourage you to do that. But, again, there's some challenges to considering these things. Because I can present a chart like that, and it looks nice and clear. And so it seems like, well, we've got it all figured out. We've got it all together, and there should be no problems. But there's there's more to the story And there's some things that we could discuss beyond those things. k? Hot topic right now, church culture, you know, can women be pastors? Right?
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:46:41]:
You look at the chart, you say, no. Absolutely not. But
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:46:47]:
I would wrestle with that a little bit. Now I'm not suggesting that women can have that lead role. That's from my view, clear, first Timothy chapter 23, that's what Paul is saying. But I wonder sometimes Do we allow women missionaries? What's a missionary? And what's a pastor? How how are those roles defined? Change the picture. sometimes I like just to be silly. And I know it's silly, but, you know, it's like we also don't allow women Jedi. Did you know that? We don't allow ladies to be Jedi in the church. It's a made up thing. The word pastor, it means different things at different times throughout history. It's not used the way that we use it in the scriptures. It's something that we've defined and is part of our tradition. And that's where tradition, I think, sometimes challenges us, but we don't know we're being challenged by it. And so I would encourage you in this. I'm not suggesting that, you know, there is to be complete radical upturning of everything that we've always done. I think within the body of Christ, there is a lot of room for us to choose a style of ministry, a philosophy of ministry, and to walk in that And so we have some tradition that we walk in accordingly, but we need to be careful that those traditions This is our preference, perhaps. We like to approach things this way, and so we walk in this way. but but that our traditions are not to be taught as doctrine. I would say it this way. Women pastors are not something worth dividing over. They're not something to fight about. They're not something to be contentious about. You know, there's many churches who operate differently in the gifts of the spirit. Right? And we would say the same thing about that. It's not our preference, and we don't believe it fits in with the biblical model that we're given. At the same time, we don't have to fight about that. And we can be brothers, and we can be sisters, and we can be brethren. Right? We can love one another. We can fellowship with one another to a certain extent where we're comfortable. Right? We can benefit. We can read their commentaries, and they can read ours, we can receive from one another. There there's all kinds of things that that we can benefit from in maintaining the fellowship And it's not just that that's a hard issue. That's a major. I would suggest there's room for us to disagree. and there's a lot of nuance. You know, pastor Chuck had Corey 10 boom share at Costa Mesa on a Sunday morning, and people some people flipped out. It's just like, you know, quoting for Timothy 23, this should never happen. I wouldn't fight against Pastor Chuck on that, not just because he's Pastor Chuck. But this word here, when Paul says verse 12 of chapter 2, I do not permit a woman to have authority over a man. The there's there's some questions that we can ask about that because the word teach and to have authority, there their verbs in the present tense. And so the idea here kinda literally being expressed is that ongoing persistent continual teaching and authority that is being exercised. And so that's something to consider that there is a difference between a ongoing thing in a position in a role that is kind of a permanent status as opposed to occasions and opportunities. Sometimes in our traditions, people will say things like, well, no. No. It's okay. Women can teach in mixed company but just not on a Sunday. And I wrestle with that a little bit too because I'm like, okay. But where does that so where does it say that? You know? And so So sometimes we we make these hard lines that I would suggest are not always hard lines in the scriptures. and we need to be careful. Again, we could choose that. If that's what we wanna choose, we could walk in those things. We have that freedom and that liberty in Christ. But at the same time, we have to be careful that now we're not trying to force our preference on other people and breaking fellowship and fighting against And, you know, now we're dividing the body of Christ because we see this issue differently. Now some of the pushback that will come is, yeah, but In our culture, there is this rebellion against male authority against the order that God has prescribed. And so we have to fight against that culture by sticking to this more rigid thing. And so they have an agenda. Right? And and Okay. Sure. But at the same time, we have to be careful that we don't try to make something a law
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:51:38]:
that God hasn't made a law. And just because there's an attack on it, doesn't
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:51:43]:
mean that we get to make it a law and defend against it. We can defend against it in our preferences, in our desires, and in our practices, but at the same time, our part is always to be going back to the beginning of chapter 2.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:51:57]:
Prah, there is no enemies.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:52:00]:
prayer for those in authority, prayer for those unbelievers, pray for those who get this passage wrong and practice it in a way that we disagree with that there's still those that we are to love and to care for.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:52:15]:
Did I get myself in enough trouble yet? Should I keep going? Okay.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:52:19]:
verse 13. For Adam was formed first, then Eve, and Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. And so Paul, as he's addressing this, he takes it back to the beginning. He's saying, like, this is the order that God has prescribed. Again, not the statement of value or the statement of capability or quality This is the sequence. Adam was formed first and then Eve. And so that's how God's established it within the home The husband is to be the head of the home, and the wife is to be submitted to the husband. There is that order just as the the lord is submitted to the father just as the church is submitted to the lord. There is to be that order, that sequence. So Adam was 1st and then Eve in sequence chronologically testifying and declaring here's God's order that he has set. And so Paul applies that to the church and says, this is the order. Not again, a statement of value or capability, but it's the order. But then verse 14 troubled some people, his Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression. And so
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:53:30]:
Sometimes this can be taken to say women are more easily deceived, and you can argue that if you would like to.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:53:39]:
But I think Paul's point here is not that. He's not trying to say, women are weaker in this way. They're more susceptible to deception, and that's why they can't have this role. His his point here is the connection to Adam. Adam was not deceived. the woman being deceived fell into transgression. Now walk through the scriptures about the fall and all the things that happened after it. The lord never lays the blame and holds the account to Eve, it's always to Adam. What Paul here is highlighting is, look, from the very beginning, the lord said this was Adam's fault. because it's the order that he created. He put Adam there in authority over Eve. She was tricked. She was deceived. Adam was not. He chose and violated his position that God had given to him. He violated his responsibilities
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:54:50]:
to protect Eve, and he violated his responsibility to obey god. And so Adam is responsible and accountable for what happened there in the garden. And what Paul is saying here is in a similar way gotta appoints a man to lead a congregation, and that person is responsible for the congregation for that gathering of believers that the lord brings together. Verse 15,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:55:20]:
nevertheless, she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self control. Now this one is the most challenging verse of them all because there's a lot of different ideas about what it could mean, and it's not exactly clear, and you don't have a lot of collaborating scriptures to compare it to. So the theories run down basically kind of something like this. She will be saved in childbearing is a reference to that the woman not pursuing that position of leadership within the church will find fulfillment in life and find, you know, her purpose in life in raising children and per pouring herself into the home, into raising up children who love the lord who know the lord. And so that is, you know, her purpose. And so that is one way to take this. Another way which
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:56:17]:
Maybe you can hold on to or might make more sense to you is,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:56:23]:
nevertheless, she she shall be saved in and in the Greek, there is a definite article there in the childbearing, perhaps as a reference to the birth of Jesus, the, you know, the main thing. So connecting it back to the woman was deceived. She fell into transgression, but here's how the Lord orchestrated deliverance for all of mankind it was gonna come through the woman. And so she is saved in the sense of preserved throughout all history because, you know, man can't just get rid of her and say, you know, we're done with you. You were deceived. We never wanna see you again. but but that man needs woman because it was through woman that God brought the savior. And so there was this permanent tying together of the man and the woman, and and that was what brought about the salvation as Mary gave birth to Jesus. And so that's another strong possibility. There's another dozen or so ideas about what this could mean, but again, we don't have a lot of collaborating verses, so I'm not gonna chase that rabbit trail down and just confuse us all. Let's go back to the point Reserve teaching authority for qualified men. This is the thrust of what Paul is saying here. That When it comes to church conduct, there is roles and responsibilities. The role for everyone is to pray. Supplications, prayers, intercessions with Thanksgiving. We are to be a people who pray, who seek the Lord. We don't gather together, to just have good conversations, to just, you know, have some fun. We gather together to seek the Lord to know the Lord and to be seeking his will and his salvation for the lost. As we gather together, men and women were to focus on godly character. It's not a show that we put on for each other. It's not something we're trying to elevate ourselves or focus on ourselves. It's not something where we can live a completely different life outside of the church and come to church and have good fellowship. No. But we are to focus our hearts and our minds on the things of the lord and make sure that we have godly care So that as we gather together, it is in holiness and in honor to the Lord. And then finally, reserve teaching authority for qualified men. It's not that men are more qualified, but it's just the order that God has set. And so for Timothy chapter 23 outlines that. The role being described here is the role of overseer, Bishop authority, Sometimes that fits with the legal pastors. Sometimes it doesn't. There's, you know, some room for discussion about those things. But, again, that position that role of authority of the general church over the gathering of the saints as a whole Paul says that role is reserved for men. Guys, if you want it, it's a good thing.
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:59:23]:
You need to
Pastor Jerry Simmons [00:59:25]:
seek to lift up holy hands in prayer and have a godly life and his qualities to meet, but it's a good work. You need to be able to teach. So Work on that. Work on your character. Ladies, work on your godliness and your character. Work on receiving from those that God has appointed within the church with peacefulness and keeping the peace. And it's our responsibility collectively. to pray and to develop our godliness in our lives. Lord, we thank you for your word even though it's challenging sometimes, and Lori There's lots of things that we can wrestle with and have questions about, but you have all the answers. And you don't mind us wrestling with them or asking questions, and so help us, Lord, to not take these things and walk away frustrated or angry or confused, but Lord, help us to take these things even if we're frustrated or angry or confused and bring them to you. And God, would you bring clarity to our hearts? Lord, that we might see that the command is from love, that you orchestrate these things and that you establish these structures for our good, for our benefit because we need it the most, and it's beneficial for us. And so, lord, may we submit to your authority, help us to be godly men and women,
Pastor Jerry Simmons [01:00:45]:
not just as we gather together, but in our whole lives. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Amen?