In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
Summary: Paul’s words for women are remarkably similar to the instructions he has for men.
Who writes a book that takes over fifteen hundred years to complete? Someone who lives a long time, that’s who.
And whose lifespan is greater than fifteen centuries? There is only one that we know of … God.
The Creator of all that exists existed before his creation was formed. He has existed throughout the history of the creation. He will exist long after the creation is no more. This is the author of the Bible — someone who has literally seen everything.
God knows us better than we know ourselves. After all, he made us:
“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27).
We like to think of ourselves as individuals who get married, but in reality, we are two halves that come together to become one flesh (Genesis 2:24).
If God treats men and women differently, it is because he made them that way. He doesn’t love one more than the other because they are two parts of a whole.
In this passage, Paul begins with “In the same way…” again. In the same way that overseers are to be worthy of full respect (1 Timothy 3:4), deacons are to be worthy of respect. In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect (1 Timothy 3:8); women are to be worthy of respect.
Do you see the pattern?
God wants us, his creation, to be worthy of respect.
Notice that he doesn’t say we deserve respect simply because we are his creation. To the contrary, we can act in ways that bring shame instead of respect.
As Christians, we have the whole of the Old Testament to read and study so that we can better understand God’s will for us. We also have his Word given through Apostles like Paul.
“In the same way [as men], the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”
As believers, we are all part of God’s family. As our Father, God wants us to be worthy of respect.
Application: Study God’s Word constantly.
Food for Thought: Who does it benefit when men and women disrespect each other?
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