A couple days ago I had a few free moments in my car before an appointment so I pulled out the Bible I keep in it and flipped to I Timothy. A couple of my friends were raised under the influence of Patriarchy and I don’t like being left in the dark. I wanted to read one of the harped-on passage yet again. Here it is (I Timothy 2:9-15):

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Unfortunately I didn’t make much headway on the Patriarchal issue because of something else in this passage. The last part is rather strange, that woman shall be saved in childbearing. Where does that come from? Some (most?) of you might remember Genesis 3:16-19 which covers the consequences of the fall:

Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

This is where Paul’s statement came from. If part of a woman’s redemption comes from the pain of childbirth, is part of man’s the hard toil he must give for his food? From II Thessalonians 3:8-13, the closing of another of Paul’s letters:

Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

So, guys, ante up. God will watch out for those who seek Him (Matthew 6:24-34), but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to work.