Patrikin – Kinship through The Father

For Adam was first formed, then Eve … 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. – 1st Timothy 2:13-15

The Bible has passages that are an enigma and people take them to create whole teachings that have no connection to what we know of God’s character. This is one such verse.

Careless people think the Bible, or at least Paul, says women have salvation only by having children. If that was the case, why would Paul recommend Christ’s followers, both men and women, remain single if they morally could (1st Corinthians 7:28)? Either Paul was schizophrenic or we are misunderstanding something. Some things are lost in translation from one language to another.

I think the key to this verse is noticing the “she” and the “they”. In context “she” refers to Eve not to all women. “They” refers to Eve’s offspring, you and me.

The Bible indicates Adam, who just stood there watching to see what would happen, and Eve, who was tricked into transgression because she was not yet created when God’s prohibition was given (for her it was hear-say), brought great hardship to God’s perfect world. But God chose to use Eve to restore that creation through her offspring, Christ, and to bring about that salvation as women,  and men, of faith live holy and redeemed lives.

I think that is closer to what Paul was saying.

– fritz