“Paul's First Letter to Timothy — Prisoners of Hope”

We will now enter into a multi-part series on the hope Paul expresses in 1 Tim. 2:15.  He refers to Gen. 3:15-16 but now adds, as an interpretation and application, that women may be “saved in (lit. “through”) childbearing IF they continue in faith …”  There is much discussion among commentators regarding the meaning of this as on the face of it there is a perceived offense against women in general here.  Contemporary views would cast these verses that way, but, as we will attempt to show here today and in the next two studies, the Old Testament and the New Testament including Paul in his various letters are quite clear on the many blessings attending to women even in this fallen world.  Indeed, as we shall see, God’s perspective on the relationship between men and women emphasizes that marriage is ordained for blessing and not for curses.  Today, we introduce this great subject with our introduction to “Prisoners of Hope”, Part 1.