Saved Through Child-bearing?
Last Sunday the Lord had us pondering I Timothy 2:15, “Yet she will be saved through child-bearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” I summarized my view of its meaning, and offer a fuller statement of that view here. I pray that it steadies your hope in God and strikes a chord of praise in your heart for His manifestly beautiful design of biblical manhood and womanhood.
So What of Saved through Child-bearing?
What does Paul mean in verse 15 by “Yet she will be saved through child-bearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Paul of course, does not mean a woman earns her salvation by the good works of child-bearing. Many texts in his writings and though-out the Scriptures would contradict such an interpretation. So what does he mean?
Three clues suggest a plausible view: first the word self-control in verse 15 reminds of his charge of self-control to women in verse 9. And the command to love in verse 15 reminds us of the very purpose of this letter, “The aim of our charge is love…” in 1 Tim. 1:5. In other words, what’s in view in verse 15 is the kind of godly character that reveals true gospel-rootedness. Her self-control, faith, love and holiness reveal that she is saved. They are the good works that confirm her election as the Apostle Peter says, (2 Peter 1:10).
Another clue is to remember what curse was laid on all women, “I will multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children” (Gen. 3:16). So child-bearing is the normal role for women, yet it will come with great pain as a reminder of the fall. So child-bearing, raising a family, keeping a home, will be the means by which a woman expresses her womanhood though it will include suffering. This suggests that child-bearing (and all that it implies) is the means by which a godly woman expresses saving faith.
Finally, there is a parallel text to this one in 1 Timothy 5:14-15, “So I would have younger widows marry; bearing children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan.” What amazing similarities in this text to 2:15! Satan’s temptation is to be avoided in both. How do women best avoid Satan’s temptation? Get married, bear children, manage their households. Beautify and sanctify God’s gift of life in the home, that’s how Satan is resisted in a woman’s life.
That means the ‘child-bearing’ in 1 Timothy 2:15 is a broad term referring to maternal, feminine expressions of godliness that nurture and treasure all the initiatives of life God supplies. A woman then, is saved by refusing Satan’s allurements, and focussing on her strong, wise, courageous, feminine expressions of her genuine trust in Christ (See 1 Peter 3:6).
Hear this ladies: treasuring, beautifying, and nurturing all forms of life, spiritual and physical, even if it involves suffering, is your highest and best calling before God. Even if you are single, your call to beget spiritual children, nurture and beautify their lives, fully expresses your womanhood before God.
I have found this article by Dr. Andreas Kostenberger on the CBMW website tremendously helpful in understanding this verse. I hope it helps you as well.
Grateful with you for God’s good ordering of gender,
Pastor Brent
