1 Timothy 2:15

“But”: Even after transgression God provides hope and. way of escape.

1 Timothy 2:15 “Women shall be preserved through bearing of children”: The term “preserved” can refer either to temporary deliverance, eternal salvation, or both. The term “through” denotes the attendant circumstances, and “childbearing” involves not only giving birth to children, but raising them as well.

1. Obviously the verse is not teaching that women become Christians by having children (Mark 16:15).

2. Nor is the verse teaching that being. mother is an automatic ticket to heaven, notice the “if” that follows the above statement.

3. Some have argued that the above is teaching that faithful Christian women will never die while delivering children, but this seems to go against the general tenor of Scripture, that is, God never promises that bad things will not happen to His people.

4. Many feel that the verse is teaching that women will experience salvation equally with men through fulfilling their function in the home, just as men function publicly in leadership in the church. “Child bearing denotes the proper sphere in which the woman finds the true fulfillment of her destiny” (Hiebert p. 62). That is, women end up saving themselves in the process of seeing to it that their children are properly taught and saved. Just like men end up saving themselves by seeing that they are teaching the truth (1 Timothy 4:16).

5. Others argue that the child-bearing under consideration is the child-bearing done by Eve, that is, through Eve and the eventual arrival of Jesus (born of. woman: Galatians 4:4), women, as well as men, have access to salvation. “Woman has been given the capacity to save herself and all others because it was through woman that the Savior was born” (DeWelt p. 57).

6. Some feel that the word “saved” could also carry ideas of deliverance in this life, that is, functioning in her role as mother. woman avoids many pitfalls and heartaches and others experience when they abandon that role.

7.

1 Timothy 2:15 “If”: Yet having and raising children is useless without the following qualities, for unbelievers continue to have and raise children and yet end up lost.

1 Timothy 2:15 “They continue in faith”: Salvation is conditional (Colossians 1:23). This means continuing in the faith, and continuing to trust what the apostles taught.

1 Timothy 2:15 “Love”: (1 Corinthians 13:1). Remember love is the goal of our instruction (1 Timothy 1:5).

1 Timothy 2:15 “Sanctity”: That is, moral purity (1 John 2:15; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14). “The daily dying unto sin and being renewed unto holiness” (Reese p. 83).

1 Timothy 2:15 “With self-restraint”: The same word is translated “discreetly” in 1 Timothy 2:9. It means self-control, good judgment, and constantly living by proper and spiritual desires. This is the state of mind necessary for one who is concerned with continuing in faith and love.