Re: 1 Tim 2:15

From: Stephen C Carlson (scarlso1@osf1.gmu.edu)
Date: Mon Jul 22 1996 - 01:50:55 EDT


KULIKOVSKY, Andrew wrote:
>Therefore, my translation would be:
>
>"but a woman shall be restored (to her rightful place as the mother,
> teacher and caretaker of God's children) by childbearing - if she
>continues in faith, love and holiness with propriety"

Yes, I think the context is very important, too, but the immediate
context for 1Ti2:15a is no such much vv8-15, but the argument from
creation in vv13-14. It seems rather tightly bound to v14b with the
particle DE whose adversative connotation (but) is an apt constrast
to the statement that the woman [Eve] was deceived and in disobedience.

I take issue with SWQHSETAI meaning "restored" as opposed to the more
natural reading "saved." Although my lexica (BAGD, LSJM) show that SWZW
can mean restored, as in restored to health (< saved from death?), the
meaning suggested here is even more removed from that, restored to mother-
hood of God's children. But Eve was childless at the time of the Fall,
and the pain in bearing children (Gn3:16) is a curse of the Fall -- as is
being ruled over by her husband (also Gn3:16).

The role of mother, teacher, and caretaker of God's children is found
nowhere in 1Ti 2 (but older women are to instruct younger women Tt2:4-5),
and the issue of household relations, as the role the mother of God's
children implies, does not belong to the context of 1Ti 2 which is more
about in church relations.

SWQHSETAI, then, is best understood as saved, its most common meaning
through out the NT, and found nearby in v4. This is strengthened by
its appearance right after v13: EN PARABASEI GEGONEN "was in disobedi-
ence." Since it seems to be so closely connected to v13 in sense, it
is natural to understand Eve as the subject, so "she [Eve] was to be
saved through [DIA] childbearing."

What is meant being saved *through* childbearing? I don't think works-
righteousness, that Eve or women in general are saved because they bear
children, is intended (cf. Tt3:5 1Ti1:13-14). However, DIA can express
an efficient cause [BAGD, DIA A III 1 d], which fits here. Eve's giving
birth to children was a necessary step in the eventual birth of the
Savior Jesus Christ.

Therefore, I would understand v15 as: "but she [Eve] was to be saved
[from her disobedience/sin] through childbearing [enabling Jesus Christ
to be born as a man]." For the reasons already given by Theresa, I see
the switch to the plural in MEINWSIN to include both men and women. It
is a fitting way to wrap up the section.

Stephen Carlson

-- 
Stephen C. Carlson, George Mason University School of Law, Patent Track, 4LE
scarlso1@osf1.gmu.edu              : Poetry speaks of aspirations, and songs
http://osf1.gmu.edu/~scarlso1/     : chant the words.  -- Shujing 2.35


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