A note from our Pastor:

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

1 Timothy 2:14

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

As you approach this week’s bible study, if you have not read the bible studies on the prior three verses I highly encourage you to take the time to go back and read those. The last verses of the 2nd chapter of 1st Timothy are challenging texts which require great understanding of context to reach the depth of understanding.

In our study verse this week, the Apostle reaches back to the first sinful act of mankind. Adam and Eve, the original creation of mankind, were existing in the Garden of Eden and had been instructed care for the Garden, to eat freely of its fruit, with the exception of one tree. However, despite the instruction after Eve was approached by Satan in the form of a serpent both Eve and then Adam ate of the fruit.

To fully understand this verse we must understand the historical context of the Apostle’s teaching and also understand the scriptural context of the verse. As described in previous writings, at the time the Apostle was writing to Timothy the church at Ephesus was plagued with false teachings and in particular women teaching the Gnostic view that Adam was deceived of the devil and Eve was a heroine. Thus, the Apostle is clearly addressing this false teaching when he wrote this verse.

From a scriptural standpoint, the Apostle correcting this false teaching was of vast importance. In Romans 5, the same writer spends significant time on the doctrinal point of what is called total depravity, or mankind is inherently sinful and could not save itself. The foundational point of total depravity is the sin of Adam in the Garden which is passed down to all of the heirs of Adam (Christ not being one). In Romans 5:12 the Apostle says “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” The foundation of total depravity, which is essential teaching of scripture, is understanding Adam willingly rebelled against the instructions of God and, therefore, brought sin into the world and the punishment for sin which is death.

Now back to the situation at Ephesus. Women are teaching the Gnostic untruth that Adam was deceived of Satan rather than Eve. While their point was to elevate Eve and, therefore, other women, the indirect impact is to remove the guilt from Adam. In their teaching Adam goes from willingly rebelling against God to being deceived. If true, all of mankind is guilty of sin because they are gullible not because they by nature would defy God. With this teaching and the ones preceding it, the Apostle was working to remove this false teaching and maintain the core doctrines of Christ at Ephesus.

Our study verse this week has often been misapplied to say women should be ruled over by men because Eve was deceived in the original sin. The reality is, this verse is important because any distortion of the sin which happened in the Garden of Eden undercuts the truth of the salvation of Jesus Christ. We should be careful of making verses fit our social conventions and losing the meaning of what is being taught.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah