Let us turn to God's words. I
want to return tonight to our consideration of that second
chapter in the first epistle of Paul to Timothy. He did break
off for a couple of weeks with several being away last Thursday
and also the Thursday previously, but I said we would at least
complete a consideration of this particular chapter, 1 Timothy
chapter 2. and I read from verse 8 through
to verse 12 I will therefore that men pray everywhere lifting
up holy hands without wrath and doubting in like manner also
that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness
and sobriety not with broided hair or gold or pearls or costly
array but which becometh women professing godliness with good
works. Let the woman learn in silence
with all subjection. But I suffer not of woman to
teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. The last time we were considering
in particular what he says here in verse 8. subject matter that he is dealing
with in the first part of the chapter very much concerns prayer. There's an exhortation, a desire
on the part of the apostle that supplications, prayers, intercessions
and giving him thanks be made for all men, that is all sorts
of men and he goes on to speak of kings and those in authority
and Here in verse 8 he sets before us a particular duty of the men
with regards to these prayers. I will therefore that men pray
everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. Now there are two particular
words that are rendered in our authorised version as I will. and it is the stronger of these
two words that's used here. The other word that may have
been used and is often translated to will as more the idea of a
wish. But this is a much stronger words
and speaks really of a set purpose, a determined purpose. And it's
not just Paul's will when he says, I will. It's not just a
matter of what Paul determines, but this is really, of course,
a revelation of the Divine Mind. This is the Word of God, the
Apostle is speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And it's God's Word, really,
concerning proper order in the Church. how things are to be
done decently and in order, and it is public prayer that is being
spoken of here. The Revelation, of course, is
a book that is full of imageries, of symbols, and of signs, and
it's interesting there in the opening words of Revelation chapter
11, we read of that reed-like rod that is given to John, as
it were, to measure the temple of God. What is the reed like
rod that measures the temple of God and the worshippers? Well,
it is the word of God. God's word is to measure all
that we do in the churches of Jesus Christ. Some refer to it
as the regulative principle. And what Paul is saying here
is that it is the duty of the men to pray in the Christian
assembly. And I remarked how the word that
we have, again, there are two words, rendered men or rendered
man in the New Testament scriptures, The one is a more general word. It comes to our English language
in the word anthropology, the word anthropos, and it refers
to mankind. And that's the word that we have
at the end of verse 1, where we read of all men, that is all
sorts of men and women, referring in general to mankind. And we have it again in verse
4, who will have all men, all sorts of men, all peoples, men
and women from amongst mankind to be saved. The word that we
have here in the 8th verse, as I said last time, is generic. It actually refers to man as
distinct from woman. And then he goes on, of course,
in verse 9 to speak of the women, and he uses that word several
times. Verses 9, 10, 11, 12, he refers
to the women, and that is the word that we are familiar with
in our English language. In gynecology, the Greek word
for the woman is gunei and the English word gynecology clearly
comes from that particular word but it's interesting what he
says here in verse 8 I will that men and the definite article
is really before that word I will therefore that the men the men
pray everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. And it's not private prayer as
I've said, but it is prayer in the public place. And why is it the duty of the
man? Because when prayer is made in
the church, it is not a matter of personal prayer. The person
who speaks is very much the mouthpiece of the church. and so what does Paul go on to
say in verse 12 I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp
authority over the man but to be in silence it's for the man
then to be the mouthpiece of the congregation in coming before
God in prayer and I think I did say last time also that in Bunyan's
work there is a small a piece in which he deals with what he
calls a case of conscience he tries to resolve it on the matter
of women speaking in prayer and he simply says that the woman
should not be the mouthpiece of the assembly but in heart
desires groans and tears should go along with the men she should
be like Hannah of whom we are told she spake in her heart,
only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Now those
are some of the things that we were seeking to say last time
concerning the men. And now we go on to see what
he says with regards to the women. in like manner also that women
adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety,
not with broided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but
which becometh women professing godliness with good works." And
then he goes on in verses 11 and 12 to speak of the woman learning in silence
with all subjection but I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp
authority over the man but to be in silence. So the theme I
want to try to address tonight is that of the godly women, the
godly women and to consider it with regards to that that is
outward, the external and then also that which is inward. First of all we see quite clearly
that these women, these godly women, are those who are outwardly
sober. What does he mean when he expresses
himself as he does concerning their apparel here in verses
9 and 10? Now, we're not to misunderstand
what he's saying here. He is not saying that the woman
is simply to be plain, or we might say frumpish. What he is
forbidding is an extravagant following of the fashions and
the ways of the world. We read of course of a character
like Jezebel Back in 2nd Kings chapter 9, she painted her face,
it says, and tied her hair and sat at a window. As she makes
a display, imagining that people will be attracted to her as she
thus paints her face, ties her hair, and wants to appear as
someone desirable. Rather, are these godly women
to look to the example of Sarah. That's why I read the similar
passage that we have there in 1 Peter. Those words in chapter 3. At
verse 3 it says, Who's adorning, let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on
of apparel, but let it be the hidden manna of the heart, in
that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manna, in the old time, the holy women also,
who trusted in God, adorned themselves." There is the pattern. Now, again, we have to be measured
with regards to our understanding. Clearly, he's not saying that
all jewelry being worn by women is strictly forbidden. And I
say that because I think of what we read in Scripture, for example,
concerning the servant of Abraham. when he goes to find Isaac, a
wife, and goes to Rebekah, and what do we read concerning what
he brings to this woman, who is to be the wife of his master's
son? He's going on this message strictly
from Abraham, and we're told there in Genesis 24-53 how he
brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold and raiment,
and gave them to Rebekah." And then also, of course, when we
read in the Scriptures, we see how that the Church is set forth as the
bride of the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, in Isaiah 61 and
verse 10, We read of the bridegroom, and
also the bride, as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels, it says. And in the psalm, Psalm 45, which
is clearly a messianic psalm, it speaks to us concerning the
Lord Jesus Christ and concerning his church and how she is to
be presented to him. It's a song of love, Psalm 45.
And what do we read there at verse 9? King's daughters were
also among thy honourable women. Upon thy right hand did stand
the queen in gold of Ophir. Verse 13, The king's daughter
is all glorious within. Her clothing is of wrought gold.
She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needleworks.
The virgins and companions of Palawa shall be brought onto
the..." All this imagery is used and surely these figures that
are being employed are honorable and commendable or they wouldn't
be used in this figurative sense as a description of the beauty
that belongs unto the church. And so here as we come to interpret
just what the apostle is saying with regards to the women. They're
not to follow the fashions of the world. They are to be those
who outwardly appear women who are sober, who don't make a display
of themselves. There's a general principle.
There's a general principle that we can draw from what he is saying
in these verses. that applies not only to the
women but also to the men when he comes to the worship of God
we have to recognize the dress the way we dress as we come to
worship God is not something that is unimportant it's true
that the Lord seeth not as man seeth Samuel says as a Lord looks on
the heart, man looketh on the outward appearance. But the Lord
looketh on the heart. That is true. But that doesn't
mean that our outward appearance is unimportant. Think of the
language of one of the Puritans, Stephen Charnock, he says, to
give worship of body but not soul is hypocrisy. To give worship of soul but not
body is sacrilege. And so the way in which we dress,
even as we come into the house of God, as we come together to
worship God, is not only important, it's important. It's an expression,
or should be, of reverence as we come before Him who is the
Holy One of Israel. But clearly what He is saying
here, rather than being preoccupied with dress, These Christian women
are more concerned about good deeds. Look at the language that
we have in verse 10. He's spoken of outward adornment
in verse 9. And then we have the word buts
and the parentheses. Buts, he says, which becometh
women professing godliness with good works. These godly women
are more concerned not with regard to their appearance. They don't
want to make an impression before the men. Their chief concern
is to do those works that are right in God's sight. They're more concerned about
good deeds. You'll go on in chapter 5 to
speak of the honorable widows. And there in verse 10 of chapter
5 He speaks of them as well, reported of for good works. All the godly women, they have
this great desire to be those who are the doers of those works
that are pleasing to God. They do these works not for themselves,
but they do these things for the glory of God, instead of
spending time on self-debt. They will spend time on ministering
to others who are in need. They want to adorn the doctrine
of God their Saviour. In Titus 2.10 there the apostle
speaks of that duty of those who are servants. to adorn the doctrine of God
their savior. And that must be true also of
these godly women. True, in fact, of all who would
profess godliness. But then, besides that that is
outward and external, outwardly they show sobriety,
what of their inward disposition? Well, he goes on to speak of
that in terms of submissiveness. He speaks of it in terms of submissiveness. Let the woman learn in silence
with all subjection, he says in verse 11, and then, but I
suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man,
but to be in silence. Now, such is the day in which
we live that Many would say that these are harsh words, hard words
even. But we know how that in a previous
generation, to use modern jargon, the godly would speak of a complementarian
view of the roles of the sexes, how the sexes are to complement
one another. But today, of course, things
are very different with the spirit of the age and women's liberation
and all that goes with that. These things are dismissed out
of hand. When we come to God's Word, there's nothing harsh,
nothing hard about the Lord's commandments. His commandments
take into account the manner in which the Lord God himself
has created us. And certainly with regards to
what he is saying here about subjection and submission we
have to be careful because we know that with regards to salvation
the women enjoy an equality with the men. When it comes to salvation,
there's no distinction made between the sexes. The language of Galatians
3.28, Paul says, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, but we are all
one in Christ Jesus. We're all sinners, be we women
or men, and we all stand in need of that great salvation that
is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. But when the woman is
converted, there is no change, of course, in that woman's constitution. Hendrickson simply makes this
comment. He says, let a woman remain a
woman. Let a woman remain a woman. There is a certain order in creation. And, well, Paul goes on to speak
of that, of course, here at verse 13, Adam was first formed, then
Eve. There is a certain order that
God has established in the way in which He made man and then
made the woman. And the woman was not made to
lead, the woman was made for the man. These things are so
obvious when we come to the word of God, and we know that there
is a sad consequence when God's divine order is completely disregarded,
as we see in verse 14. Adam was not deceived, but the
woman being deceived was first in the transgression. Right at
the very beginning then the divine order is discarded, and the consequence
is the fall. the entrance of sin into God's
creation. It is a folly to tamper with
that order that God himself establishes. Let the woman learn in silence
with all subjection. Again, William Hendrickson says,
let not a bird try to dwell on the water. Let not a fish try
to live on dry land. Let not a woman yearn to exercise
authority over a man. Now these, of course, in most
quarters would be much contested and rejected. We know that. But
what we're trying to do is to understand what it is that God
himself, the creator of all things, as established as the right and
the proper order. And as I said, it's a folly to
tamper with that order. Besides, these women adorning
themselves with good works, but which becometh women professing
godliness with good works. They are also to adorn themselves
with that make and that quiet spirit. And that's very much
the emphasis, of course, that we have in that reading that
we had. Verse 3 of 1 Peter 3. It was adorning, let it not be
that outward adorning, of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold,
or putting on of apparel, but let it be the hidden man of the
hearts. In that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of God, great price. And then he goes on, of course,
to speak specifically of Sarah. Even as Sarah obeyed Abram, calling
him, Lord, whose daughters you are, as long as you do well,
and are not afraid with any amazement. Here then we have clear instruction
both by the Apostle Paul, also by the Apostle Peter. These men, they speak with one
voice because in both cases these epistles that they are writers
of are part and parcel of the inspired Word of God. And as I said, it's very different
to the spirit of the day in which we're living. But true liberty
is not that those who contend for women's liberation would
speak of. True liberty surely is found when we seek to walk
in obedience to God's commandments and God's precepts. When we come
to recognize that distinction that the Lord God himself has
made between the sexes. And it's ever, it's ever, of
course, more and more important that we come back again and again
to God's Word with regards to these matters. This is what Paul
is dealing with then in the chapter before us. He speaks of the man's
duty to take a lead and to take the lead especially when it comes
to prayers in the assembly of the Lord's people. But then he
says in like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest
apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broided hair
or gold or pearls or costly array, but which becometh women professing
godliness with good works." Well, I want to go on, the Lord will,
to consider more carefully what he says in verses 11 and 12 and
then in the final three verses as we come to the end of this
particular chapter. May the Lord be pleased to bless
His word to us as we have it set before us here in 1 Timothy
chapter 2. Before we turn to the Lord in
prayer let us sing our second praise which is the hymn 1003 really a paraphrase, what's his
paraphrase of part of the 119th Psalm. Oh that the Lord would
guide my ways to keep his statutes still. Oh that my God would grant
me grace to know and do his will. 1003 the Tunis Southwell 239.