“Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control” (1 Timothy 2:15).
The closing verse of 1 Timothy chapter two has presented a formidable challenge to students, teachers, and commentators throughout the centuries. While the preceding verses may be challenging to accept and apply, the final verse of this chapter may be more challenging to interpret.
We can begin by noting that there are two consequences associated with the fall of humanity that are unique to each gender. Those consequences are detailed for us in Genesis 3:16-19…
“To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.’
Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: ‘Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”
Three commentators offer the following observations which serve to represent a cross-section of opinion on this passage…
“‘Saved through her childbearing’ (15), probably refers to the birth of Jesus, who was born of a woman without the agency of man. Even if sin did come into the world through woman (14), so did the Saviour.” (1)
“The most acceptable meaning of this passage is that it refers to the incarnation of Christ as promised to Eve (Gen 3:15) and the woman who believes in this One, the Lord Jesus, shall be saved.” (2)
“Eve and her daughters would bring forth children, begotten of the husband’s seed, in sorrow (a word implying labor and suffering), but there would be one particular birth one day, uniquely born of ‘her seed,’ rather than of her husband’s seed, and He (the virgin-born God/man) would finally inflict a mortal wound on the old Serpent. It was by this ‘childbearing’ that ‘she shall be saved.'” (3)
Perhaps the easiest way to understand this somewhat enigmatic verse is offered by the following paraphrase of 1 Timothy 2:15…
“So God sent pain and suffering to women when their children are born, but he will save their souls if they trust in him, living quiet, good, and loving lives” (1 Timothy 2:15 TLB).
(1) Henry H. Halley, Halley’s Bible Handbook, 1 Timothy Chapter 2. Prayer. The Place of Women [pg. 633] Copyright © 2000, 2007 by Halley’s Bible Handbook, Inc.
(2) Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2499). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
(3) Institute for Creation Research, New Defender’s Study Bible Notes 1 Timothy 2:15 https://www.icr.org/bible/1Tim/2/15/