Troublesome Topic: The Great Deception 1 Tim 2

THE GREAT DECEPTION

The way this verse talks about deception leads us to believe that Adam may have had questions and doubts; some of what the serpent said to her or to them made sense. But Adam was not yet ready to take action on what the Serpent said, he was still evaluating the words of the Serpent in light of God’s clear command which carried with it the consequence of death. She however, had believed the Serpent’s lies so thoroughly that she fully trusted the Serpent and fully distrusted God; that is the only way she could be willing to violate God’s clear command. God had done nothing to lose their trust, yet she distrusted Him; Satan had done nothing to gain their trust, yet she trusted him. God had revealed His character and his purpose through his actions; Satan did not reveal his character or his purpose because he did not act, all he did was talk.

Paul used this illustration to show that a woman needs a man. A man can think through something without emotions getting in the way of sound reason; a woman’s emotions are always engaged, never turned off. However, God did not intend for our emotions to guide us; they are simply responses to situations, not guides. Paul did not mention it because it was not his purpose, but we know from the fact that the woman was called man’s “rescuer” that a man also needs a woman. They need each other. Paul’s point is that if Eve had been willing to follow Adam, instead of jumping into the lead, maybe, just maybe they would not have violated God’s command, or at least the fight would have lasted much longer. The reason for this exhortation is not cultural norms, which are constantly changing, nor the fact that in those days men were usually more educated than women; this has to do with unchanging truths about creation and the fall.

The next lesson is: Rescued Through Bearing Children? Are You Kidding Me? 1 Tim 2