Spirit give,
That to the Triune God
I hence may ever live.
6.6.6.6.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Exodus 6; New Testament: Romans 2 Psalm: 30
1 Timothy 2:11–15
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Learn . . . but . . . not . . . teach: Paul commands the Christian woman to learn, as he forbids her to teach. If she cannot abide subjection with all silence, she will usurp authority over the man. She cannot teach in the Church; it is a shame, Paul says, for her even to speak in the Church (1 Cor 14:34–35). But in Church she must learn—let the woman learn, that she may teach elsewhere. She is to teach younger women (Tit. 2:3–4). She is to teach children in the Holy Scriptures which are able to make them wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 3:14–15) so that faith by grace may dwell in grandmother, mother and child even as it did from Lois to Eunice to Timothy himself (2 Tim. 1:5). She may with all believers “exhort one another daily” against the deceits of sin (Heb. 3:12–13; and she may “speak the Word everywhere” to the lost (Acts 8:3–4). To an unconverted husband, this silent subjection to Christ makes for a witness “without word” (1 Pet. 3:1–2, 5–6). Silence has a potent force which we too freely squander in a welter of words. Our Lord Jesus could say much with silence (Matt 27:12–14). No woman in Christ need desire to usurp authority over the man, if men in Christ will live up to their calling to minister to women—when pastors and elders treat them as mothers and sisters (5:1–3), when husbands attend them with the self-sacrificial love Christ shows His bride (Eph 5:22–33). Woman in Christ is no chattel—she is an intelligent, devout disciple in her own right: let the woman learn. She exercises her life and service in Christ as the divine order of creation designed in subjection to God and to man under God. To be in silence is her privilege and her liberty from the burdens which authority over the man and the exertions to teach in the Church would bring. The roots of this commandment (2:11) are in creation (2:13), and of this sanction (2:12) in sin (2:14). Adam stands prior and principal in the human family; Eve, the helpmeet, stands second and subordinate. Woman is of man, for man; man is by woman, never without woman (1 Cor 11:3, 8–9, 11). Eve once taught and usurped authority over Adam; of this came all conflict of man and woman (Gen 3:6, 17–20). Adam chose Eve over God; he transgressed with open eyes in heeding her over Him. Yet Eve began, and led Adam, and all in Adam to our lost estate. In Christ creation is restored from the chaos of sin; woman is restored to her true glory—saved in childbearing . . . in faith, charity and holiness with sobriety.
31. O Triune God! Assembled Now Before Thee
1 O Triune God! Assembled now before Thee,
Gathered in reverence at the throne of grace,
We heed Thy call for hearts who worship truly,
We seek Thee, who hast said, “Seek ye My face!”
2 No temple made with human hands contains Thee:
Earth is Thy footstool, heaven of heavens Thy throne;
Yet to the contrite heart, at Thy Word trembling,
Hast Thou respect, and dost Thou look alone.
3 No graven image dare we make or offer;
Thou art a Spirit—only by Thy Word,
As it is written , we draw nigh to serve Thee,
Our Shield, and our exceeding great Reward.
4 Praise right and meet, we bring in adoration,
Raising in psalms, in hymns and spiritual songs,
Honor and blessing, for Thy great salvation:
Worthy Thou art—all praise to Thee belongs!
5 Prayer do we offer, fervent and effectual,
Led by Thy Spirit, in the Savior’s Name:
Pleading Thy promise, holy hands extending,
That we should live before Thee without blame.
6 We hear Thy living voice—the Holy Scriptures;
These make us wise to trust Thee and obey:
Strengthen and bless our Pastors, Elders, Teachers,
That we may know by them what Thou dost say!
7 Keeping Thine ordinance, as the Savior told us,
Baptised in water, have we made our vows;
And as disciples, let Thy grace uphold us,
To do and teach whate’er the Scripture shows.
8 Gathered around the Table we remember,
How Jesus died, to bring us back to God:
Here do we meet, of Bread and Cup partaking,
In pledge and sign, the Savior’s flesh and Blood.
9 Thee would we fear, and keep the Sabbath holy,
Meeting upon the first day of the week;
Resting from all our works, and in Thee solely
Finding our hearts’ delight, Thy ways to seek.
10 And every day, in labor and in leisure,
Our sweet communion with Thee would we keep:
Grant that Thy Word, and prayer may be our pleasure,
Alone, in family, when we wake and sleep.
11 Eternal Father, who in love hast sought us,
Eternal Son, who bought us with Thy Blood:
Eternal Spirit, who in mercy taught us
Worship in truth and spirit , Thou art God!
11.10.11.10.
Preparatory Reading: Old Testament: Exodus 7 New Testament: Romans 3 Psalm: 31
1 Timothy: Reading over Chapter 2
The chapter I have completed has aimed to preserve the purity of worship, both in letter and spirit, both in form and fervor. Let me review and reflect on this chapter, calling on God to embody its precepts and principles in me and my hearers as that true circumcision who worship God in the Spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.
Prayer before Worship in the Congregation
The
