Can you be a radical woman in the church - Part 4

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. - 1 Timothy 2:13-14 (NIV).

So the previous verse forbid women from teaching and exercising authority over men. But Paul did not stop there. He also gave an explanation in verses 13-14. His arguments were that Adam was formed first and then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; Eve was deceived. In order to fully understand verse 13, it is important to not only make observations about these arguments, but also to consider them in light of Paul's understanding of the first three chapters of Genesis.

Several other places throughout Scripture, Paul references Genesis 1-3 which shed light on his understanding of the passage. Paul's understanding of Genesis was that Adam was formed first (1 Timothy 2:13; Genesis 2:20-22). It is this appeal to Adam's prior formation that is an assertion that Adam's status as the "oldest" carried with it the leadership appropriate to a "first-born" son. This is also seen in Paul's writings in Colossians 1:15-18. Furthermore, Paul's understanding of Genesis is that Eve was taken out of Adam (1 Corinthians 11:8; Genesis 2:21-22), and she was made for Adam's sake (1 Corinthians 11:9; Genesis 2:20).

When looking at verse 14, one cannot help but ask a number of questions:

1. Did Paul mean that Adam new better so he did not sin?
2. Is Paul saying that women are therefore responsible for the fallen state of mankind?
3. So is it because of Eve's sin women now aren't allowed to teach?
4. Is Paul saying that women are gullible and teaching would only further propagate their ignorance?

Romans 5:12-21 makes it clear that Paul did not believe that the cause of the fallen state of mankind lay at the feet of Eve, rather, he specifically placed the responsibility on the shoulders of Adam. Therefore, the argument that Paul is here saying that the fall is Eve's fault is not valid. Instead, verse 14 is trying to say that eve was not at fault because she was deceived; however, Adam was not deceived and deliberately chose to sin making him at fault. Nor is it a valid argument that since Eve was deceived that women cannot teach.

Possibly the best way that I have heard this passage paraphrased to read is by James Hurley, who states that,

The man, upon whom lay responsibility for leadership in the home and in religious matters, was prepared by God to discern the serpents lies. The woman was not appointed religious leader and was not prepared to discern them. She was taken in. Christian worship involves re-establishing the creational pattern with men faithfully teaching God's truth and women receptively listening.