1 Timothy 2:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What, however, does this have to do with women today? Very much, he says. The male sex has been endowed with a greater advantage: it was created first.

And in another place he sets it still higher when he says: “Nor was man created for woman, but woman for man” (1 Cor 11:9).

Why does he say this? In order to grant primacy to the man on many grounds. The man, he says, must have primacy, first because he was created first, and second because of what happened afterward in time.

Once a woman taught her husband, and she overturned everything and made him guilty of disobedience. For this God subjected her, because she used authority, or rather equality of honor, for evil.

“And to your husband,” it is said, “shall be your desire” (Gen 3:16). Before this event, these words had not been spoken.

How, then, was Adam not deceived? Does it follow that he did not transgress the commandment, if he was not deceived? Listen carefully.

The woman says, “The serpent deceived me” (Gen 3:13). Adam, however, does not say, “The woman deceived me,” but, “She gave me of the tree, and I ate” (Gen 3:12).

It is not the same thing to be deceived by one of the same race and kin as by a beast, a slave, and a subordinate. Therefore the latter is properly deception.

Thus only in comparison with the woman does the Apostle say of him that he was not deceived, because she was deceived by a slave and subordinate, while he was persuaded by a free person.

Again, it is not said of Adam, “And she saw that the tree was good for food” (Gen 3:6), but of the woman, and that she ate and gave to her husband.

Thus he transgressed the commandment not because he was carried away by passion, but only by obeying his wife.

A woman taught once, and overturned everything. Therefore the Apostle says: let her not teach.

But how does this apply to other women, if one woman did this? It applies very much, because this sex is weak and light-minded.

On the other hand, here he is speaking generally about the whole female sex. He did not say that Eve was deceived, but “the woman,” and this name refers rather to the whole sex than to her alone.

Did the whole female sex become guilty because of her? Just as the Apostle said of Adam, “according to the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the One to come” (Rom 5:14), so here he says that the female sex transgressed the commandment, and not the male.

Therefore the Apostle says: a woman taught once, and overturned everything. For this reason let this sex not teach, for it is light, easily receptive, and easily deceived.

See that the Apostle did not say, “Eve was deceived,” but “the woman,” understanding by this name the female nature. Just as through Adam the whole nature became mortal, so through Eve light-mindedness passed to all women.

Because of this light-mindedness, the transgression first took place in Eve herself.

Therefore the woman had to be joined to the man for the birth of offspring, since this very thing is proclaimed by God's words, when He says that it is not good for man to be alone.

And although the woman was to sin first, yet, as one who would give birth to redemption for herself, she was not to be excluded from the accomplishment of the divine action.

And although Adam was not deceived, but the woman, being deceived, fell into transgression, the Apostle nevertheless said that she will be saved through the birth of sons (see 1 Tim 2:15), among whom she also gave birth to Christ.

The Apostle, of course, means not certain individual women, but all women in general, and in comparison with all men in general. He compares the whole female sex with the whole male sex.

Although some women surpass some men in every respect, this does not change the matter in general.

Adam transgressed the commandment not because he was carried away by passion, but only by obeying his wife. Thus a woman taught once, and overturned everything.

For this God subjected her, and the Apostle said, ‘Let her not teach.’ But you, women, do not be crushed because your sex has fallen under condemnation.

God has granted you a certain special means of salvation, namely, the upbringing of children. Thus you can merit salvation not only through yourselves, but also through others.

Childbearing is a work of nature. But the woman has been granted not only this, but also what belongs to the upbringing of children.

It will be no small reward, but a great one, that she has raised warriors for Christ.”

“A virtuous woman also raises children in virtue. The virtue existing in her passes through upbringing into the children.

Having forbidden women above to teach in church, he now, for their consolation, gives them someone to teach. If you wish to teach, teach children.

By holiness the Apostle means purity of body. But since not all are virgins, he adds, ‘and chastity.’ For chastity is not denied to those who lawfully use marriage” (Blessed Theophylact).

“The first mother sinned, and for this fell under God's punishment. But since it was pleasing to the merciful God to arrange a wondrous manner of salvation for the fallen, salvation was also opened to woman.

For women there are no special conditions of salvation, but the same as those appointed for mankind in general: faith and love, ‘if she remains in faith and love.’

This means faith in the Lord and Savior, and love for God and neighbors, the mother and nourisher of all the virtues” (His Grace Theophan).

The Apostle bases this requirement on the fact that God created Adam before Eve and, therefore, placed the man above the woman.

Moreover, woman is always more capable of falling into error and being deceived, as Eve proved by her action. She not only fell into transgression, but was also deceived. This cannot be said of Adam, who took the fruit only at his wife's persuasion.

Yet being more subject than man to temptations, woman will be saved through childbearing. That is, she will find protection from temptations in her motherhood, if she becomes a mother and devotes herself to the upbringing of children.

Care for children so fills a mother's soul that the things that formerly tempted her lose all interest for her. Therefore, such is the Apostle's thought, which may be understood here: it is better for a woman to remain within the sphere of domestic life.

There she should nurture and manifest her Christian virtues, rather than appear as a teacher in the church.

In Eve the whole female race became guilty of this, and not by imputation alone. It also inherited Eve’s very action, namely, deceiving the male race. This is still done by it, not accidentally, but by the constant impulse acting in it to please and to entice. In order to lessen the evil that comes from this inclination, the woman is subjected to the man.

Saint Chrysostom applies this to the preceding word to women, that they should not teach. A woman once undertook to teach, he says, and overthrew everything. By this she clearly showed that she is unfit to be a teacher.

He says, “Why does the Apostle say this, that Adam was not deceived, and the rest? In order, on the basis of many causes, to assign primacy to the man. The man, he says, must have primacy, first because he was created first, and secondly because of what happened afterward. A woman once taught and overturned everything, and made him guilty of disobedience. Therefore God subjected her, because she misused authority, or rather equality of honor. ‘Your turning shall be toward your husband,’ it was said. Before that event this had not been said. Adam transgressed the commandment not because he was carried away by passion, but only because he obeyed his wife. Thus a woman once taught and overturned everything. Therefore the Apostle said, ‘Let her not teach.’”

But how was Adam not deceived? Did he not sin? He sinned, but in a different way than the woman. The woman was deceived by the words of the serpent, or of the devil speaking through the serpent’s tongue, and ate of the forbidden fruit. Adam ate because he obeyed his wife.

If the enemy had turned to him, perhaps Adam would not have been deceived by his words. He might have discerned the lie and ruinous deception hidden beneath them, and the fall would not have occurred. But the enemy easily deceived the woman, and she deceived the man. Thus the fall took place.

In this way she proved easily deceived. “This race is light, easily receptive, easily deceived,” says blessed Theophylact. Therefore the Apostle’s word, “Adam was not deceived,” can be understood as the history of the fall suggests: Adam was not deceived by the devil.

Thus Ambrosiaster says, “The devil did not deceive the man, but the woman. The man was brought to transgression by the woman. For this reason she should not be indulged, but should be kept in a humbling position.”

Saint Chrysostom also holds that Adam is called not deceived in comparison with the woman. To the question, “How then was Adam not deceived?” he answers, “Listen carefully. The woman says, ‘The serpent deceived me,’ cf. Gen 3:13. Adam, however, does not say, ‘The woman deceived me,’ but, ‘She gave me, and I ate,’ cf. Gen 3:12. This is the same as in Ambrosiaster. Moreover, it is not the same thing to be beguiled by one of the same tribe and kindred as oneself, and to be beguiled by a beast, a slave, and one subject to you. The latter is properly deception. Therefore the Apostle says of him only in comparison with the woman that he was not deceived. She was beguiled by a slave and subject creature, but he by one who was free. Again, it is not said of Adam, ‘And he saw that the tree was good for food,’ cf. Gen 3:6, but of the woman, and that she ate and gave to her husband.”

Blessed Theodoret interprets it thus. The Apostle said “he was not deceived” in place of “he was not the first deceived,” and in this he followed Scripture. When the woman was called to account, she said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Adam does not speak so, but says, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate,” Gen 3:12-13.

Eve, having obeyed the serpent, has no excuse. For Adam it serves as a slight excuse that, beguiled by the woman, he did not himself pluck the fruit from the tree. Rather, the woman first ate and then gave it to her husband. For this reason the Apostle said, “Adam was not deceived.”