How do you interpret 1 Timothy 2:15?

[Abiyah]

Since I cannot answer in Baptist only (although I
forget sometimes), I would like to answer this
question brought up there:

Scripture cannot contradict Scripture; therefore,
there must be an explanation. I interpret this
Scripture as follows:

Believing women who are involved in congrega-
tional duties (faith, love) save themselves from
regrets by continuing in faith and good works
(love), in holiness, and in child-bearing
(submission).

 

[Dr. Bob]

I see the paragraph and context of this controversial statement (all scripture from the New American Standard Bible):

Likewise, 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 befits women making a claim to godliness.

Then here are some of the "good works" exemplified:

Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression.)

After using the example of Eve - who was JUDGED by pain in childbearing AND submission (read Gen 3:16), Paul continues

But women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

GODLY women will still bear the double burden of child-bearing in pain AND submission to the authority of the husband. But GODLY women will find this a blessing.

The "if" is really a third class conditional in the Greek - we would think of it not the a "maybe", but with a "since". So it could be "godly women shall be preserved . . SINCE they continue in faith . . "

 

[Abiyah]

excellent!

 

[BobRyan]

Notice that if you trash the book of Genesis - as those do that are not fundamentalists - the instruction to Timothy becomes "a fairy taile" for it relies on the fact/detail of "a myth".

In Christ,

Bob