1 Timothy 2:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

NIV: And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

NASB: And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a wrongdoer.

CSB: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.

NLT: And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.

KJV: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

NKJV: And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

In verse 13, Paul referenced the order in which Adam and Eve were created (Genesis 1—2) as support for the idea of men taking the primary leadership role in spiritual matters. Continuing his references to Adam and Eve, Paul now refers to the fall of mankind. This catastrophe is charged to Adam: the sin is considered his, though the first to actually disobey was Eve (Romans 5:12). Paul specifies here that "Adam was not deceived." This clarifies that even though Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he did not do so due to the serpent's influence; he did so by taking the fruit from Eve (Genesis 3:17). Instead, "the woman was deceived." In Genesis 3:13, Eve said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

All people in history have done as Eve: they have sinned and are "transgressors" (Galatians 2:18; James 2:9, 11). Paul was not writing to make Eve or women appear as worse sinners than men. Instead, he was grounding his teaching about church leadership in the order of creation: man, then woman. All human beings are sinners in need of the grace of God (Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:8–9). Paul will go on in the next verse to provide an important contrast related to Eve's role as the first transgressor.

First Timothy 2:9–15 is one of the more hotly-debated passages of the New Testament. This section provides instruction on the role of women in the context of Christian worship. Despite some phrases which are unclear, the core message is fairly well-defined. Women are not to focus on dramatic appearance or behavior, but to put their efforts into godliness and good works. Women are also not to override the spiritual leadership of men. Understanding the cultural and scriptural context resolves most objections to the text, but this passage remains a source of contention in the modern church.

In this passage, Paul encourages Timothy to lead his church in prayer, including prayers for government and worldly leaders. This flows naturally from the Christian view of humanity, which sees all men as loved by God and in need of the same salvation from sin. A large portion of the chapter is taken by Paul's comments on the role of women in worship services. Rather than focusing on flashy clothes and dramatic behavior, women are to be modest and godly. In addition, women should not take on specific spiritual leadership roles reserved for men.

In chapter 1, Paul charged Timothy to hold fast against false teaching. In chapter 2, Paul begins to lay out the practical steps a church needs to take in order to prevent false doctrine from taking over. This begins with prayer, including prayers for leaders outside the church, so Christians can be left in peace. Paul also explains the separation between the roles of men and women in worship services, which should be read in the context of his comments in chapter 3.

First Timothy is one of Paul's three ''Pastoral Epistles.'' Paul's other letters, such as Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, are meant for a broader audience. First Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus are written to specific people whom Paul is advising on how to best lead their local churches. These three letters present a close look at the form and function of church leadership. First Timothy, like 2 Timothy and Titus, is less formal and systematic, and more personal. This gives great insight into the way pastors, deacons, and elders ought to prioritize their time and energy.