Quote:
Originally Posted by Trapped
What about Paul's reference to Eve being deceived who was not in that time and place and same societal constraints? In other words, what is Paul's point in bringing up Eve? That's the part that makes me cringe.
How do we know when to apply "that time/place/society" versus "for all time" to any given portion of scripture? All the epistles were to certain parameters of people and situations, and yet we follow them today.
These are head-scratcher questions on my part, not belligerent ones.
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Bushnell believes the verses should be punctuated and translated as follows: (She's a Greek and Hebrew scholar so she's probably qualified!)
1 Tim. 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived [when he sinned], but the woman [having] first been thoroughly deceived [became involved] in his transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, [i.e., the bearing of Jesus Christ] if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Adam was older and more mature than Eve. When it's said that Adam was not deceived when he sinned, that means...he sinned willfully. He knew what he was doing.
Eve was deceived...that means she didn't have full realization of what she was doing...unlike Adam who willfully sinned.
Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me (deceived me), and I did eat.
So, Adam blamed God. There is no record that Adam confessed his sin in this passage. Of course, that doesn't mean he didn't repent at some point, but there is no record here, and his behavior doesn't indicate contrition on his part.
God said to Eve:
What have you done? Eve admitted she was deceived and she admitted to eating what God told them not to eat. She confessed. I don’t know for sure, but if you admit you are deceived, it might be that you are no longer deceived and you understand that what you did was wrong, but that’s my thought. It makes sense to me.
Which is worse, being deceived, or willful sin? The woman did confess. She acted on a precursor of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Adam didn't. His behavior was cowardly.
I don't know for sure why Paul brought Eve's name into the record here, but in this context, I don't think he was blaming her for being deceived. Rather, he honored her confession. Maybe Paul wanted to underscore his point that the women of the church needed protection rather than pushing them to the front lines with the men to be assaulted by Nero.
After the woman confessed, God turned to the serpent and cursed him; he turned to the woman and in effect, blessed her. Then God turned to the man and booted him from the garden.
An interesting verse...written by Paul:
Romans 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
...death reigned from Adam (not Adam and Eve, not Eve). ...Adam's transgression...not Eve's. Eve may have sinned first, but Adam was held accountable.
So, maybe we should also discuss whether men are more given to willful sin. Whaddyatink?
Nell