Cheryl Schatz

Craig @103
You said:

I can see the context of false teaching in ch1 and 2 and clearly relate this to 2:11-15. Your argument from v14,15 concerning a particular woman and man seems conclusive to me.
How would you relate 3:14,15 to 2:11-15?

I would relate 1 Timothy 3:14, 15 first of all back to chapter 1 verse 3. Timothy was left behind to stop the false teaching and the false teachers. The topic of deception is a major topic in 1 Timothy and Paul is concerned that he may be delayed in coming to Timothy’s aid and so he writes his instructions to Timothy so that he has them in case Paul is delayed. So Paul’s instructions are specifically to Timothy regarding situations in Ephesus which Paul had the intention of coming to help Timothy deal with regarding deception.

In 1 Timothy 3:15 Paul says that if he is delayed he has this letter so that “you” (Timothy) may know how to conduct himself (literally “yourself” singular) in the house of God which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

If the church is the pillar and ground of the truth, then this is the “hospital” where the “sick” (deceived) people are to get well. Deceived people need to learn the truth and the mature people in the church need to facilitate healing.

Notice that Paul didn’t say that he is writing so that “you” (plural) will know how to conduct yourselves. He said that he wrote so that Timothy may know how to conduct himself. With the instructions from the letter, Timothy should be able to understand that he is to make sure that the woman of verses 11 & 12 of chapter 2 is to learn and stop her private teaching. Timothy should also be aware that he is to command and teach that the living God is the Savior of all men (1 Tim. 4:10, 11) and thus Timothy is to teach that those who have been deceived are also able to be saved. It doesn’t appear that any of the leadership of Ephesus was doing anything to help the woman of 1 Timothy 2:11, 12 and it is possible that they believed that the deceived are not able to be saved. Timothy is to correct this mindset and Paul has encouraged Timothy to believe that even the one difficult case of the special false teacher who is a woman will result in her salvation with someone walking alongside her in the faith.

Timothy is also encouraged that in the body of Christ, he is not to let anyone look down on his youth. While he will be referring back to Paul’s will in the situation (Paul saying I am not allowing…) Timothy will still be acting in Christian maturity and no one should despise his mature actions in spite of his young age. Thus Timothy is to be an example to the believers in word, in conduct and in love (1 Tim 4:12).

Timothy is to conduct himself in the body of Christ by feeding the body who desperately needs the milk and meat of the Word to combat deception (1 Tim. 4:13) and Timothy is also to give of his special gift and give himself entirely to the body (1 Tim. 4:14, 15). Timothy is also supposed to pay attention to doctrine and to continue on this road for doing so will ensure salvation for himself and for all those who will hear him:

1 Timothy 4:16 (NAS)
16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy regarding Paul’s instructions to him regarding the body of Christ and those who desperately need salvation because of their deception, keeps coming up again and again. It relates to the false deceived teachers of chapter 1 and to the specific problem teacher in chapter 2.

Unfortunately some have seen chapter 3 as a church manual telling all of us how we are to act in the church. Those who hold to this understanding have forgotten who the letter was written to and Paul’s specific inspired words that are in the singular not the plural in 1 Tim. 3:15. While we can learn a whole bunch of good truth in the book of 1 Timothy, we must understand that it was specifically written to Timothy and when people fail to realize this and they make universal applicatiosn out of this letter when Paul is giving specific instructions to Timothy about a specific situation in Ephesus, they open themselves up to confusion and bad doctrine that stifles and holds back God’s women.

Craig, I hope that I have answered this one the way that you need to hear it. If I have miss judged your question, please feel free to poke and prod until you get what you need.

It is important to remember for all here that questions are welcome on this blog and there are no stupid questions. In fact your questions help me to learn and understand where I need to dig deeper myself and say things that way others need to hear answers so that they too can understand.

Well, that was a longer answer than I anticipated. I will have to leave the rest of the comments until tomorrow. My mind is falling asleep fast. Getting older really is a pain.