TL

Craig, you asked is there any other way of seeing this.

Another way I partially also subscribe to is viewing vs. 13-14 and maybe even 15 to be speaking against some gnostic teachings. Some gnostic teachings taught that is was the woman who was ‘born’ first and the man who was deceived. They also taught that a woman could not be spiritual while performing the very earthly function of having children. Now I’m wondering if Paul isn’t ‘killing two birds with one stone’, in saying what he did. He could be addressing all I just said, while at the same time addressing the false gnostic teachings as well. By pointing out that the man sinned deliberately (not deceived) but it was the woman who was deceived, he can be then admonishing the deceived ‘teacher-wannabe’. She thought she knew so much but she really didn’t know the Scriptures at all and was herself deceived just like Eve. And by admonishing her (or a few women doing the same) to learn and not push their supposed authority around toward either her husband or Timothy or a teacher, Paul can help her to relearn respect toward “husband/leader/teacher” and restore godly relationship, providing she or they or husband/wife life a godly life with self control.

just another thought…..