“Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing) if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
There has been much discussion and confusion over the meaning of this difficult passage in 1 Timothy 2:15. While there are many possible explanations as to the meaning of these words) a good number of them fail because they contradict other clear passages of Scripture. For instance, this cannot be teaching that women must bear children in order to enter heaven. If such were the case, many women would be damned because of their inability to conceive. Add to this Paul’s own admonition that under certain situations it is better for women to remain unmarried (1 Cor. 7:25-36), and we see that this verse simply cannot be implying that women must physically bear children to be saved.
Neither does the context suggest that women are to be spared physical travail in childbirth if they are faithful in service to God. The pain of the birth process is that which has naturally come upon women ever since Eve (Gen. 3:16). And so, again, this cannot be the intended meaning.
The accurate view of this verse must be gained by first carefully considering the context (verses 9-15). Here Paul has addressed the proper role of godly women. Theirs is not to be in a position of authority over men, but rather they are to be in subjection (vs. 11,12). Nevertheless, Paul concludes the thought by assuring the women that they can be saved in heaven, just as surely as men, if they will properly view their role and fulfill it to the best of their ability. The term “childbearing” here means then, not the physical act, but rather all the many things that go into making a woman a wife, a mother, and a “keeper at home” (Titus 2:5).
While the woman will never be able to preach the gospel, serve as an elder or deacon, or perform many of the other jobs that fall to the man, she can nonetheless rest assured that she may please God by carefully applying herself to the very important task He has given her.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond or free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
– by Greg Gwin
