Regardless
of gender, Paul’s instruction is for all to be engaged in meaningful, godly and
significant activities. As the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul said that his
desire was for men in every place to pray. The manner in which they must pray
was prescribed. When praying, they should be “… lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and dissension.” Why pray in such a manner? Paul was primarily concerned
about their attitude toward God and fellow men. Lifting holy hands would indicate their attitude of reverence to
God. Not praying with wrath and dissension would result in
right relationships with fellow believers, for anger and dissension would cause
fractured relationships, and would not promote peace and goodwill. They would
not help to accomplish the righteous work of God.
Having
dealt with the role of men, Paul then turned to the women’s role in public
worship. He was, however, more concerned about their dressing and attitude.
Paul asserted that women should be properly attired. They should dress
modestly, decently, discreetly, judiciously and not ostentatiously.
Furthermore, they should not excessively braid their hair nor overly adorn
themselves with gold and pearls. For such trimmings would draw unnecessary
attention to the person, and emphasized the wrong values. Instead of displaying
the wrong set of values, he laid down the activities which women should engage
in, as well as the attitude and manner which they should cultivate. They should
work on a lifestyle that would be congruent with the claims of godly women. He
urged women to let good works, rather than outward adornment, define them.
In
verses 11-15, Paul expanded his counsel on what ought to be the attitude of a godly
woman. To “… quietly receive instruction with entire submission” would imply
that they should submit to the headship of man and not try to reverse the role.
His instruction on the headship of man is based on the account of Creation and
the fall. Firstly, he said that in chronology, man was created before the
woman. Secondly, when Eve did not abide by that headship of Adam, she fell into
transgression. Here Paul was not shielding Adam from the blame for the fall of
mankind, for in his other epistles he candidly placed the responsibility of the
fall on him.
Verse
15 deserves special attention. It is probably one of the most difficult verses
in the Bible to interpret. The issue is further complicated by the phrase, “if
they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.” The word
“if” makes the preservation of the woman conditional. In other words, she must
keep the four virtues of faith, love, sanctity and self-restraint. What was
Paul’s issue here? Which of the following propositions was on Paul’s mind? (1) That
women would be preserved in the process of childbirth. (2) That women could be
saved through motherhood. (3) That women would be preserved in her satisfaction
and significance by staying at home to raise godly children. (4) That a woman
would be saved by the birth of Christ Jesus, God’s promised Child. From the
context, the third option appears most likely. It is true that women will find
their significance and satisfaction in life, not in their quest for the male
role but in fulfilling their God-designed role. They should stay home and be a
good wife and mother, to raise her children with all “faith, love and sanctity
with self-restraint.”
In
a world where many are trying to be someone else other than himself or herself,
this exhortation of Paul is spot on. Many reckon whatever roles they are called
to play seem to be less significant than that of others. We are exhorted to
recognize who we are in Christ, then live out our God given roles. Whether as a
husband praying, or as a wife taking care of the home and bringing up children,
we need to do as He had prescribed, and do it all for His honor. Let’s get going!
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