But more: this word falls from the Apostle Paul. As Saul of Tarsus he sat at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3); after the strictest, straitest sect of his religion he lived a Pharisee, exceeding zealous of tradition (Acts 23:6; 26:4–5; Gal 1:14). The traditions of the rabbis forbad women to learn the Law; but Paul, in whom God has revealed His Son to preach Him among the Gentiles, says, Let the woman learn (Gal 1:15–16; 1 Tim.2:7). The Savior who saved and sent Paul has given womankind a Word that sets us free. The Bible confirms the created order of man and woman: equal in God’s image; distinctive in glory; consecrated to reflect the unity and diversity of the Triune Godhead (1 Cor 11:1–4; (Gen 1:28).
This word has divine guidelines: let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection. Her subjection, as under the Law, is betokened by her silence (1 Cor 14:33–36). She enters the same silent subjection of faith which moved the blessed virgin Mary to say, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy Word” (Luke 11:38) and then to ponder all things in her heart (Luke 2:19, 51). Her faith made her blessed (Luke 1:45; 11:27–28).
When Paul says, Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection, he calls her into subjection not to man in himself, but to man under the Lord, and so at last to the Lord Himself (1 Cor 11:3,11–12). She expresses in her own unique way the silent subjection of all the Church to Christ, of the Bride to the Lamb. “Be still, and know that I am God” “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” “It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” “But the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (Ps 46:10; Isa 30:15; Lam 3:25–28; Zech 2:13; Hab 2:20).
30. For Me to live is Christ
1 For me to live is Christ,
To die is but my gain:
To live and die to Him
His love my heart constrains.
2 For me to live is Christ,
Who gave Himself for me
In love, that I might live
In Him from sin set free.
3 For me to live is Christ,
Who shed His precious Blood,
And died for the unjust,
To bring me back to God.
4 For me to live is Christ,
Who ever lives to plead
Before the Throne of grace
In every time of need.
5 For me to live is Christ:
My heart with longing burns
To see Him face to face:
Lord Jesus, soon return!
6 My life is hid with God
In Christ, who reigns above:
His Spirit in my heart
Sheds forth the Father’s love.
7 O Father, by Thy Son,
Thy Holy Spirit give,
That to the Triune God
I hence may ever live.
6.6.6.6.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Exodus 6; New Testament: Romans 2 Psalm: 30
1 Timothy 2:11–15
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Learn . . . but . . . not . . . teach: Paul commands the Christian woman to learn, as he forbids her to teach. If she cannot abide subjection with all silence, she will usurp authority over the man. She cannot teach in the Church; it is a shame, Paul says, for her even to speak in the Church (1 Cor 14:34–35). But in Church she must learn—let the woman learn, that she may teach elsewhere. She is to teach younger women (Tit. 2:3–4). She is to teach children in the Holy Scriptures which are able to make them wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 3:14–15) so that faith by grace may dwell in grandmother, mother and child even as it did from Lois to Eunice to Timothy himself (2 Tim. 1:5). She may with all believers “exhort one another daily” against the deceits of sin (Heb. 3:12–13; and she may “speak the Word everywhere” to the lost (Acts 8:3–4). To an unconverted husband, this silent subjection to Christ makes for a witness “without word” (1 Pet. 3:1–2, 5–6). Silence has a potent force which we too freely squander in a welter of words. Our Lord Jesus could say much with silence (Matt 27:12–14). No woman in Christ need desire to usurp authority over the man, if men in Christ will live up to their calling to minister to women—when pastors and elders treat them as mothers and sisters (5:1–3), when husbands attend them with the self-sacrificial love Christ shows His bride (Eph 5:22–33). Woman in Christ is no chattel—she is an intelligent, devout disciple in her own right: let the woman learn. She exercises her life and service in Christ as the divine order of creation designed in subjection to God and to man under God. To be in silence is her privilege and her liberty from the burdens which authority over the man and the exertions to teach in the Church would bring. The roots of this commandment (2:11) are in creation (2:13), and of this sanction (2:12) in sin (2:14). Adam stands prior and principal in the human family; Eve, the helpmeet, stands second and subordinate. Woman is of man, for man; man is by woman, never without woman (1 Cor 11:3, 8–9, 11). Eve once taught and usurped authority over Adam; of this came all conflict of man and woman (Gen 3:6, 17–20). Adam chose Eve over God; he transgressed with open eyes in heeding her over Him. Yet Eve began, and led Adam, and all in Adam to our lost estate. In Christ creation is restored from the chaos of sin; woman is restored to her true glory—saved in childbearing . . . in faith, charity and holiness with sobriety.
31. O Triune God! Assembled Now Before Thee
1 O Triune God! Assembled now before Thee,
Gathered in reverence at the throne of grace,
We heed Thy call for hearts who worship truly,
We seek Thee, who hast said, “Seek ye My face!”
2 No temple made with human hands contains Thee:
Earth is Thy footstool, heaven of heavens Thy throne;
Yet to the contrite heart, at Thy Word trembling,
Hast Thou respect, and dost Thou look alone.
3 No graven image dare we make or offer;
Thou art a Spirit—only by Thy Word,
As it is written , we draw nigh to serve Thee,
Our Shield, and our exceeding great Reward.
4 Praise right and meet, we bring in adoration,
Raising in psalms, in hymns and spiritual songs,
Honor and blessing, for Thy great salvation:
Worthy Thou art—all praise to Thee belongs!
5 Prayer do we offer, fervent and effectual,
Led by Thy Spirit, in the Savior’s Name:
Pleading Thy promise, holy hands extending,
That we should live before Thee without blame.
6 We hear Thy living voice—the Holy Scriptures;
These