Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

experience teaches wisdom

Although Peter was not a prolific writer or an academic, when he spoke it came straight from the heart. He was not one for mincing his words, or one to try to work out complex theological issues. What he knew he knew and no one could take his experience from him. In the final verses of his second letter, he reminds his readers of the need to contextualise their readings. Presumably because some people had taken his colleague Paul’s letters out of context and used it not for the building up of the church but for its demise. Examples of this are the role of women in the church and how they should dress.  Whilst writing to Timothy, Paul writes that women should be silent in the church and were not permitted to teach, 1 Tim 2:11-12. What Peter is saying in his final exhortation is this: if this is taken out of context then people will apply it in their context to their ruin. In context then, Paul is addressing the wives of rich patrons who were interrupting the meeting at Ephesus by asking questions out of turn. And Timothy like many of us church leaders was very accommodating. So the apostle Paul, as Timothy’s mentor, write to correct this position and instructs him to tell the women who are causing confusion to learn from their husbands at home so that they do not disturb the service when the church met. Sadly, there are people today who still subjugate their women and lose the immense contribution they bring to the ministry. Peter tells us that when people reads and apply Paul’s letters out of context, they do so to their own destruction. Since Paul’s ministry was supported by wealthy women it would be foolish to think that he was sidelining women by promoting male domination. In fact he cited a woman apostle in his list of commendations to the Romans chapter 16:7.

So today, as we ask God for wisdom, let us listen to Peter and put what we read in context. Do some background research before jumping to any conclusions. For as Peter encourages us, let us not lose our own stability but rather grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Read 11 Peter 3:14-18 & 1Timothy 2