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20
Jun
2022

Does The Bible Really Say A Woman Is Not Permitted To Teach A Man?, Part 1

Teach A Man

11 A woman must learn in quietness and full submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman who was deceived and fell into transgression. (1 Tim. 2:11-14 BEREAN)

This is one of the most misunderstood and abused passages in the entire Bible. It has been misinterpreted and misapplied for centuries leading to absurd, inconsistent, and even cruel practices directed toward women. The way in which this passage has been translated into English has contributed greatly to the problem. 

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Women
13
Jun
2022

Unholy Hands And Braided Hair

Unholy Hands And Braided Hair

Church is messy. How can it be anything else since the church is a bunch of flawed people. A lot of Christians, myself included, advocate for a return to the practices of the church of the first century AD. In recent years I have realized the modern church has achieved this goal. I know this because churches today are just as messy as the ones the apostle Paul was trying to corral. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul has some words for those with unholy hands and braided hair.

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. (1 Tim. 2:8–10 ESV)

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Women, Worship
06
Jun
2022

Did Jesus Die For Everyone?

Did Jesus Die For Everyone

Who can be saved? Did Jesus die for everyone? These are the questions Paul is dealing with at the beginning of 1 Timothy 2. Paul summarized the problems in Ephesus in the first chapter. He now transitions to the correction of these problems. First among them was to correct the notion about which people were eligible for salvation.

At first glance, it seems that vv. 1-7 are about praying. If we aren’t observant, we might think that Paul is simply encouraging people to pray. This is actually not the case. Paul’s concern is that someone was teaching the Ephesians that the gospel is not for everyone. 

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Gospel
30
May
2022

Why The Church Is Repulsive To Unbelievers

Church Is Repulsive

Hypocrisy. Unmitigated, overt, and unrepentant hypocrisy is the reason the modern church is repulsive to unbelievers. In past decades, the church and church leaders were held in high regard even by those who were not Christians. This is no longer the case. The world is justifiably disgusted with what is happening within Christianity. In fact, a lot of Christians are also holding their nose to avoid the stench of sin and hypocrisy within their own circles. 

Church scandals have been in the news this past week. In my weekly blog posts I do not normally comment about current events. It’s not because there is a shortage of news to apply biblical commentary to. It’s just that much of what passes as news is really nothing more than the media elites peddling propaganda and fear. So, I tend to focus my posts each week only on what I’ve learned from the Scriptures. This week is different. 

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Church, Church Leadership
23
May
2022

What Does It Mean To Be “Handed Over To Satan?”

Handed Over To Satan
Image by Monique Stokman from Pixabay

On two different occasions when discussing unrepentant Christians, the apostle Paul said that they had been “handed over to Satan.” 

you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. (1 Cor. 5:5 ESV)

19 By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Tim. 1:19–20 ESV)

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in 1 Timothy, Church