I just finished an exam on 1 Timothy 2:15 15 But women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. There are three main issues with this verse that I had to discuss in my essay:What is the phrase “she shall be preserved” mean? It is the Greek word sozo which has the predominant usage of eternal and spiritual salvation in most of the NT. There are times, however when this does refer to physical deliverance or healing, etc. But, I argue that sozo here refers to spiritual, eternal salvation which the believer receives at the point of salvation.
What does the preposition “through” mean? If we aren’t careful, we could come away with saying that a woman will be spiritually and eternally saved through childbearing. This, of course, is not in sync with the multitude of Scriptures which say that humans are saved by grace alone though faith alone in Christ alone. Surely no woman can be spiritually and eternally saved by merely giving birth to a child.
What does the phrase “the bearing of children” refer to? In Greek, this is one word with the definite article. Thus it is better translated, she shall be saved through “The Childbirth.” Now, I take this to refer to the Ultimate Childbirth, namely, Jesus Christ born from a woman (cf. Gen 3:15).
Regardless of the view that people adhere to, there are problems with each. I recognize this. However, I think that this view does justice to the text, the words and especially to the context (cf. 2:3-5 – speaking of God desiring all humans to be [spiritually] saved and come to the knowledge of truth).
