Let’s review a little bit of what we know about 1 Timothy. What is Paul’s purpose in writing? He wants you to know how to conduct yourself where?
Read 1 Timothy 2: 8-15. How are women to adorn themselves, and how is she not to adorn herself? Now let’s cross-reference this passage with 1 Peter 3:1-6. What insights do you gain? Now read Song of Solomon 1:9-11 and Genesis 24:10-30, 53. What do these passages say about jewelry, especially gold? Is Paul forbidding a woman to wear jewelry? Or is God’s emphasis on the inward adornment versus the outward appearance? From these references, it seems that God is more concerned about the attitude of the heart than He is about our outward appearance.
Paul’s point for men and women is that earthly relationships affect our heavenly relationship. The two great commandments are to love God and others. We must maintain a righteous relationship with others to have power with God in prayer. The bad behavior of a few in society always affects others. Paul links the false teachers to sinful women in Ephesus. False teachers wormed their way into homes, to “…. gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:6-7
According to 1 Timothy 5, among these ungodly women are younger widows who: live for pleasure(1 Timothy 5:60, have become gossips and busybodies (1 Timothy 5:13). They were giving the gospel a bad reputation (1 Timothy 5: 14) and had some cases – already turned away to follow Satan (1 Timothy 5:15; compare to 1 Timothy 2:14 and 4:2). Paul’s advice for this situation is that the ungodly women should get married, have children, and take care of their homes. We can understand three things Paul writes about women: dressing, teaching, and motherhood with this context in mind.
How does Paul see marriage as a solution to some of the problems at Ephesus?
Women should dress modestly. They shouldn’t bring attention to themselves. Paul stresses that a women’s beauty should be from the inside out. Customs vary from place to place. What looks good to one husband in his culture may offend another husband in a different place.
At Ephesus, the false teachers wanted to instruct others. They didn’t know what they were talking about. Some women didn’t know what they were talking about. Paul was encouraging the older women to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, be busy at home, be kind, and be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your word and your guidance. I pray that we, as women, will live our lives daily to honor you in all aspects of our lives.
In Jesus Names
Amen
