Common misunderstandings

"Only Eve transgressed"

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 1 Timothy 2:14

What is controversial that it if one look at this verse in isolation it seems that only the woman fell into transgression which contradicts Genesis 3:17-19. Paul was not giving a lecture on the origin of sin, but instead highlighting why the woman should submit to their husband and not dominate the order in the church (1 Timothy 2:11-13). Therefore, he only focused on the transgression of Eve. He never said the Adam did not sin.

"Women obtain salvation in childbearing"

Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control. -- 1 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

This is a very controversial scripture that has been hotly debated by scholars. Some possible explanations why Paul could have written this:

• Literal interpretation: Women will be saved by the act of childbearing (which encourages prostitution)
• Metaphorical interpretation: The spiritual growth that comes through raising and nurturing children will save women (which makes Jesus redundant)
• Contextual interpretation: The entire passage must be read to understand what Paul actually meant.

Paul did not have eternal salvation of the soul in mind when he wrote this verse. The Greek word translated as "saved" can also mean "preserved" or "protected".

In the context this passage Paul possibly meant that childbearing, which makes women vulnerable and dependent on their husbands, is "preserved" or "protected", by their husbands who are less subjective to deceptions than women (1 Timothy 2:14). This was the curse that Eve received by falling for a deception:

To the woman He said:

1. “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children;
   
2. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

-- Genesis 3:16 (NKJV)

This is why Paul brought up this point about "childbearing" because it is related to specifically her "transgression" mentioned in the previous verse.

However, this protection comes with conditions: "faith, love, holiness with self-control" which could be understood as:

• women need to have "faith" in their husbands choices,
• women need to love their husbands and
• women need to exercise "holiness with self-control" by not interfering or manipulating their husband's choices or in this case the order of the congregation.