A Few Thoughts On the Book of Proverbs Part 3

Part 3: Special topics

B1 Proverbs 30

C1 The writer: Proverbs 30:1 NLT The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message. I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God.

C2 Outline

D1 Statements comparing God’s wisdom and Agur’s.

E1 Agur confesses his ignorance: Proverbs 30:2-3 NLT I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense. I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.

E2 Agur has some questions that he cannot answer, so he asks God: Proverbs 30:2-3 NLT I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense. I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One.

D2 Statements regarding what God says: Proverbs 30:5-6 NLT Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

D3 Statements of Agur’s prayer: Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.

D4 Statements that are foolish and evil: Proverbs 30:7-9 NLT O God, I beg two favors from you; let me have them before I die. First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.

D5 Statements regarding those who have an evil attitude, heart, and actions:

E1 What they say: Proverbs 30:10-14 NLT Never slander a worker to the employer, or the person will curse you, and you will pay for it. Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother. They are pure in their own eyes, but they are filthy and unwashed. They look proudly around, casting disdainful glances. They have teeth like swords and fangs like knives. They devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.

E2 What they crave: Proverbs 30:15-17 NLT The leech has two suckers that cry out, "More, more!" There are three things that are never satisfied--no, four that never say, "Enough!": the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire. The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother's instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.

D6 Statements of things he does not understand: Proverbs 30:18-19 NLT There are three things that amaze me--no, four things that I don't understand: how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.

D7 Statement of a seared conscious: Proverbs 30:20 NLT An adulterous woman consumes a man, then wipes her mouth and says, "What's wrong with that?"

D8 Statements of things hard to endure: Proverbs 30:21-23 NLT There are three things that make the earth tremble--no, four it cannot endure: a slave who becomes a king, an overbearing fool who prospers, a bitter woman who finally gets a husband, a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

D9 Statements regarding illustrations of wise actions: Proverbs 30:24-28 NLT There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: Ants--they aren't strong, but they store up food all summer. Hyraxes--they aren't powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks. Locusts--they have no king, but they march in formation. Lizards--they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings' palaces.

D10 Statements regarding four things that are impressive to watch as they walk: Proverbs 30:24-28 NLT There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise: Ants--they aren't strong, but they store up food all summer. Hyraxes--they aren't powerful, but they make their homes among the rocks. Locusts--they have no king, but they march in formation. Lizards--they are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings' palaces.

D11 Statement regarding a need for repentance: Proverbs 30:32-33 NLT If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame. As the beating of cream yields butter and striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels.

B2 Proverbs 31

C1 The writer: Proverbs 31:1 NLT The sayings of King Lemuel contain this message, which his mother taught him.

C2 The Bridgeway Bible Commentary notes: King Lemuel was probably a non-Israelite from a neighbouring nation, but his mother appears to have been a God-fearing woman who vowed her son to God (31:1-2). The main desire of some kings was to get themselves as much pleasure as possible, chiefly through women and wine. Lemuel is warned that such interests distract a king from his proper duties and result in lawlessness and injustice (3-5). Strong drink deadens pain and dulls the mind. Therefore, among the people who seek after it are those whose distress is so great that life seems to have no more hope for them. The king should not seek after it, for he must have a clear mind at all times, so that he can judge with justice and defend the downtrodden (6-9).

C3 The king is warned to avoid spending his life on women and alcohol. These things ruin kings and in turn ruins nations.

C4 The rest of Proverbs 31 is about this wonderful woman. The point is: Why should the king have many women when he could have one wonderful wife.

C5 Some interpret this passage as patriarchal and amounts to nothing but the wife being a slave who meets all her hellish husband’s needs and wants. This interpretation is very simplistic and wrong.

D1 She is a delegator. She does not do all the work. She is a manager who has the maidservants to do the work. She delegates the works and makes sure it is done.

E1 Proverbs 31:15 NLT She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls.

E2 Another translation: Proverbs 31:15 GNB She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and to tell her servant women what to do.

E3 Another translation: Proverbs 31:15 NRSV She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls.

E4 I understand this verse to teach

F1 She plans the menu and her maidservants prepare the meals.

F2 She plans the day for the maidservants whether working the fields, sewing, making cloth, etc.

D2 She buys, sells, invests and many other tasks. Proverbs 31:16, 18 NLT She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. ... She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

D3 Even though the passage states, “She did this and that,” this means she gets the credit as the manager who delegates.

C6 Having worked with women for most of my career (I’m a nurse), I can testify to the hard work, managing time and family, organizing, etc. I’m simply amazed at all my wife does efficiently, too.

C7 I shouldn’t have to mention that the husband must help with raising the children, cleaning the house, washing dishes, changing diapers, too. I tire of men with 17 inch biceps who are scared to death to get their hands dirty. I shoveled manure in the barn, cleaned old folk, the sick, the children, and whatever else I could do to help. The children worked too. Proverbs 18:9 NLT A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.

Proverbs 31:30-31 NLT Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Ephesians 5:28-29 NLT In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.

1 Timoty 2

1 Timothy 2:1-7

B1 Encourage prayer

C1 1 For everyone

D1 Petitions

E1 A petition, supplication, is a request to an authority.

E2 Proverbs 30:7-8 NIV - Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

D2 Prayers

E1 Prayers is a more formal, respectful talking with God.

E2 Luke 6:12 NIV - One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

E3 1 Timothy 5:5 NIV - The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.

D3 Requests

E1 The word has the idea of coming together to converse.

E2 It is used in our passage and also 1 Timothy 4:5 NIV - because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

D4 Thanksgivings

E1 According to the old Webster’s Dictionary, it means an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received;

E2 1 Timothy 4:4 NIV - For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

D5 We ARE to pray. Prayer is not hard. It is talking with God. It is worship and fellowship.

C2 2 For leaders

D1 One of the many reasons we pray to God concerning our political leaders is so we (all) can live in peace and safety.

D2 For Christians must live a Christian life. This is sometimes hard, because the government is against Christians.

D3 Regardless, we must always pray for our leaders whether we like them or not.

D4 (Jeremiah 29:7 MKJV And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and pray to the LORD for it. For in its peace you shall have peace.

D5 2 Kings 8:3 NIV - At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land.

C3 3-7 For everyone to be saved

D1 The text clearly says all. Don’t let anyone fool you out of the plain, normal sense. Compare:

E1 2 Peter 3:9 NIV - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

E2 (Isaiah 53:6 MKJV All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, each one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

E3 2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV - For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

D2 All whether poor, rich, or in between. All whether employed in medical, legal, government, agriculture, retired, unemployed, education, etc. All means all.

D3 Either people are saved by Jesus Christ and Him alone or they are not.

D4 He is the only mediator.

D5 Works are worthless. Philippians 3:7-8 NIV - But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

1 Timothy 2:8-15

B2 Encourage members

C1 8 Men

D1 What does God want the Christian man to do?

D2 God wants men to pray, not fight and argue.

D3 God wants men to pray, not doubt.

C2 9-15 Women

D1 What does God want from Christian women?

D2 God wants Christian women to dress modestly, not seductively.

D3 Instead of investing in expensive clothes, etc., God wants women to invest in doing good, doing good not for salvation but to honor God.

E1 2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV - For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

E2 There are spiritual works like preaching the Gospel, encouraging other believers, praying for others, etc.

E3 There are practical works, too, like teaching, giving, helping a neighbor, visiting widows, etc.

D4 About teaching (I’ve spoken about this in another article, so to summarize):

E1 Men teach, woman teach, parents teach, pastors teach. We teach each other.

E2 Thus, a dictator, someone with supreme authority who is not to be questioned but obeyed.

E3 That TYPE of woman must not teach.

D5 Saved in childbirth. Please see this video Why Women Must Learn in Quietness and Submission Xenophon of Ephesus and 1 Timothy 2 (Gary Hoag). There is also a book Women in Ephesus.

Applications:

B1 Pray

B2 Pray for leaders and everyone else but especially for our Christian brothers and sisters.

B3 God wants all to be saved.

B4 Jesus is the ransom paid for all humans.

B5 Men are to pray and not argue and fight.

B6 Women are not to dress seductively.

B7 A dictator type woman must not teach.

1 Peter 3:1-7 and Submission

1 Peter 3:1-7 is often cited by those who wish to control wives. These are those men and pastors who feel a woman needs the strong hand of a man to guide her.

In reality, those types tend to be abusive. Abusive people are evil. There is no love, if there is any abuse.

A careful study of the passage in the plain, normal sense and understanding English language will NOT interpret this passage to dominate women.

The plain sense of Scripture in 1 Peter 3:1-7 shows

• The situation of a Christian wife and non-Christian husband. The situation can be either husband or wife. It refers to one spouse being a Christian and the other is not.
• The nonbeliever will not obey God’s command to repent and believe the Gospel.
• The Christian can then, live the Gospel, by living the Christian life required by Messiah Jesus for both men and women, instead of pleading, perhaps nagging the unbeliever.
• Hopefully, the non-Christian will see the superiority of the Christian life, repent, and believe the Gospel.
• The Apostle reminds the Christian, whether wife or husband, to speak respectfully.
• Be respectful and give honor to each other.
• The Christian (this especially refers to the husband) will not have God answer his prayers, if he treats his wife with any hint of abuse.

In summary:

• A controlling spouse cannot lawfully use this Scripture passage to force the other.
• Word meanings in English have changed. Care must be taken to understand its use.
• God is supreme. He is omniscient and omnisapient. His will and lifestyle is the best.
• We must be of the mindset to do God’s will. To know God’s will, we must study the Bible and pray for wisdom.
• Love your spouse as I have written in other articles about love.

A better translation understanding that the Greek word implies no defiance or resistance: 1 Peter 3:1-7 God’s Word Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands' authority. Some husbands may not obey God's word. Their wives could win these men for Christ by the way they live without saying anything. 2 Their husbands would see how pure and reverent their lives are. 3 Wives must not let their beauty be something external. Beauty doesn't come from hairstyles, gold jewelry, or clothes. 4 Rather, beauty is something internal that can't be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious. 5 After all, this is how holy women who had confidence in God expressed their beauty in the past. They placed themselves under their husbands' authority 6 as Sarah did. Sarah obeyed Abraham and spoke to him respectfully. You became Sarah's daughters by not letting anything make you afraid to do good. 7 Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are. Honor your wives as those who share God's life-giving kindness so that nothing will interfere with your prayers.

Answering Critics Series: The Bible & Women

The Bible and Women

Answering Critics Series

A1 The problem

B1 Some quotes from “Christians”

C1 Even as the church must fear Christ Jesus, so must the wives also fear their husbands. And this inward fear must be shewed by an outward meekness and lowliness in her speeches and carriage to her husband. . . . For if there be not fear and reverence in the inferior, there can be no sound nor constant honor yielded to the superior. –John Dod: A Plaine and Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandements, Puritan guidebook first published in 1603 (Source)

C2 The second duty of the wife is constant obedience and subjection. –John Dod: A Plaine and Familiar Exposition of the Ten Commandements, Puritan guidebook first published in 1603 (Source)

C3 Tertullian: Rather to affect meanness of appearance, walking about as Eve mourning and repentant, in order that by every garb of penitence she might the more fully expiate that which she derives from Eve, - the ignominy, I mean, of the first sin, and the odium (attaching to her as the cause) of human perdition. “In pains and in anxieties dost thou bear (children), woman; and toward thine husband (is) thy inclination, and he lords It over thee.” And do you not know that you are (each) an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the devil’s gateway: you are the unsealer of that (forbidden) tree: you are the first deserter of the divine law: you are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God’s image, man. On account of your desert - that is, death - even the Son of God had to die. And do you think about adorning yourself over and above your tunics of skins?" (Source: Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 4, Tertullian, Apparel of Women, Part 4 Apparel of Women.)

B2 Some quotes from non-Christians

C1 Charles Darwin wrote on the subject female inferiority through the lens of human evolution. He noted in his book The Descent of Men: "young of both sexes resembled the adult female in most species" which he extrapolated and further reasoned "males were more evolutionarily advanced than females". Darwin believed all savages, children and women had smaller brains and therefore led more by instinct and less by reason. Such ideas quickly spread to other scientists such as Professor Carl Vogt of natural sciences at the University of Geneva who argued "the child, the female, and the senile white" had the mental traits of a "grown up Negro", that the female is similar in intellectual capacity and personality traits to both infants and the "lower races" such as blacks while drawing conclusion that women are closely related to lower animals than men and "hence we should discover a greater apelike resemblance if we were to take a female as our standard." (Source)

C2 Aristotle: Another example is Cynthia's catalog where Cynthia states "Aristotle says that the courage of a man lies in commanding, a woman's lies in obeying; that 'matter yearns for form, as the female for the male and the ugly for the beautiful'; that women have fewer teeth than men; that a female is an incomplete male or 'as it were, a deformity.' (Source)

A2 The solution

B1 Bible

C1 The Bible is the only source of 100% truth.

D1 When it quotes someone, it is not necessarily inspired but is 100% accurate truth. The Bible has quotes from the devil, who obviously has “...no truth in him…” (John 8:44).

D2 2 Timothy 3:16-17 CSB - All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Inspiration is God overseeing the writer is such a way that every word and thought is approved by God.

C2 The Bible must be interpreted in the plain, normal sense.

D1 God is perfectly and completely wise. He knows how to communicate perfectly. We do not need to redefine words or give a certain interpretation to help God explain. A good example is 1 Timothy 2:4 NKJV - who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Calvinists interpret this to mean not all people but only all kinds of people. The passage, however, states all people; there is no word in Greek for kinds. God is perfectly wise and knows how to communicate clearly.

D2 There is no excuse to state we can safely reject this because it was only written to that generation.

C3 Do not interpret the Bible through the filter of theology or a system of interpretation, for example, Covenant Theology or Dispensationalism.

B2 Women

C1 Created in God’s image.

D1 Genesis 1:27 CSB - So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. The word man is אָדָם 'adam.

D2 Genesis 5:2 CSB - he created them male and female. When they were created, he blessed them and called them mankind. The word mankind (human) is אָדָם 'adam.

C2 The word help meet (KJV) is עֵזֶר`ezer which means a helper. This word is used most often referring to God.

D1 Psalm 33:20 CSB - We wait for the LORD; he is our help and shield.

D2 Psalm 70:5 CSB - I am oppressed and needy; hurry to me, God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.

D3 עֵזֶר`ezer is not a word describing a lesser or lower caste. It is an equal or even greater.

C3 Of Adam it is said: Genesis 2:18 NLT - Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him." [Emphasis mine]. All of creation was judged good by God except for Adam.

C4 Adam had abilities, gifts, and insights, but not everything he needed. He is not God who is perfect in every way. Eve had abilities, gifts, and insights, too. Together they have a more complete understanding.

C5 So today my wife has abilities, gifts, and insights that I do NOT have. WE can make a better decision and understand situations better because of the greater insights both have. Two are better than one. She is very valuable and precious.

C6 Loved equally by the Heavenly Father: 2 Corinthians 6:18 NLT - And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.

B3 Some important women in the Bible

C1 Eve

D1 The mother of all living: Genesis 3:20 CSB - The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.

D2 Sinned, but was deceived (Adam deliberately, premeditatively sinned): Genesis 3:13, 20 CSB - So the LORD God asked the woman, "What is this you have done? " And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." ... The man named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. AND 1 Timothy 2:14 CSB - And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.

E1 Some creepy commentators believe Eve deceived Adam. That is a LIE.

E2 Adam sinned willfully. He knew was he was doing. He did not believe God (lack of faith). He failed the test—a very easy test. All of creation was cursed by God because of Adam’s sin. Romans 5:12 CSB - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. [Emphasis mine]

E3 Eve told the truth: “I was deceived.” Adam blamed the woman, God, and everything else: Genesis 3:12 CSB - The man replied, "The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate." Adam was the first human liar.

D3 When Eve figured out everything that happened, she probably wanted to punch Adam out and leave. God reminded her that she was still to desire Adam.

E1 Really evil commentators believe that Eve wanted to rule the world and boss Adam around. They are very, very wrong.

F1 Desire is used 3 times in the Bible:

G1 Translations

H1 First a correct translation: Genesis 3:16 CSB - He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.

H2 Here is an example of a very evil translation: Genesis 3:16 NET - To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you."

G2 The word desire:

H1 It is the Hebrew word תְּשׁוּקָה tesh-oo-kaw' (Strongs H8669).

H2 It means desire, a longing for (towards). It does NOT mean to rule, conquer, boss around, control, etc.

H3 It’s root is שׁוּק, shook (Strongs H7783), which means to run after, desire, to long for. It has NOT mean rule, conquer, boss around, control, etc.

F2 Genesis 4:7 CSB - "If you do what is right, won't you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it." Sin desires, longs for. James 1:14-15 GW Everyone is tempted by his own desires as they lure him away and trap him. Then desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin. When sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

F3 Song of Solomon 7:10

G1 Song of Solomon 7:10 NKJV I am my beloved's, And his desire is toward me.

G2 Song of Solomon 7:10 GW I am my beloved's, and he longs for me.

G3 Song of Songs 7:10 CSB - I am my love's, and his desire is for me.

E2 It would be better to understand and interpret the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

D4 Eve did receive punishment: pain in childbirth.

D5 Eve received the promise of the coming redeemer. Adam received nothing except punishment. Genesis 3:15 CSB - I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

C2 Deborah

D1 She was a prophetess and judge in Israel. Gideon was only the general in the army.

E1 Judges 4:4-5 CSB - Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to settle disputes.

E2 Deborah being judge and prophetess is NOT because there were no qualified men. God chose HER.

D2 She was also a songwriter and mother. Judges 5:1, 7, 12 CSB - On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang: ... Villages were deserted, they were deserted in Israel, until I, Deborah, arose, a mother in Israel. ... "Awake! Awake, Deborah! Awake! Awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and take your prisoners, son of Abinoam!

D3 She gave the command to Barak to start the battle. Judges 4:14 CSB - Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the LORD has handed Sisera over to you. Hasn't the LORD gone before you? " So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

D4 Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, finished off the battle by punishing Sisera with a hammer and tent peg. Judges 4: 17-21

C3 Mary, the virgin mother of our Lord Jesus

D1 Had a love for God that was rare in her day. Jesus said that if we love Him (God), we will obey Him. Luke 1:38 CSB - "I am the Lord's servant," said Mary. "May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel left her.

D2 Believed God: Luke 1:45 CSB - Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!

D3 Was one of the few who was loyal even to his death: John 19:25 CSB - Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.

D4 Was found in prayer and meeting with the other believers: Acts 1:14 CSB - They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

C4 Mary Magdalene

D1 Was the first at the tomb of Jesus: Matthew 28:1 CSB - After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.

D2 Was the first to see Jesus Christ risen from the dead: Mark 16:9 CSB - Early on the first day of the week, after he had risen, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.

D3 Testified to the Apostles that she had seen the Lord Jesus alive (resurrected). She was not believed, possibly because she was a woman. Luke 24:10-11 CSB - Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

C5 Philip the Evangelist and deacon had 4 daughters who were prophetesses: Acts 21:8-9 CSB - The next day we left and came to Caesarea, where we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the Seven, and stayed with him. This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

C6 Phoebe, the deaconess: Romans 16:1 RSV - I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea.

B4 How men especially husbands are to treat their wives

C1 Love is a choice, not necessarily an emotion. Ephesians 5:25 CSB - Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. How many husbands love their wives that much? Love described in the next point.

C2 Love expresses itself in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds, but it is noted by all people with theses characteristics: 1 Corinthians 13:5-8a WEL Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn't brag about itself, is not haughty, Doesn't behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, Doesn't rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth, Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

C3 Husband and wife are partners in life facing joys and difficulties as one. Each supplies their gifts and abilities equally.

C4 Love shows its fruit as this: Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

B5 If the husband does not treat his wife such, he does not love her.

B6 If the husband abuses his wife in any way, she must leave, divorce, and have no contact. If no contact is impossible (children), then low contact. Divorce already has been addressed in another message.

A3 Applications

B1 God said it was NOT good for Adam to be alone.

B2 Women, in particular wives, are a special creation.

B3 How we treat our wives is noticed by God. He will judge if that treatment is not up to His standards.

B4 Abuse is always wrong and proves the husband does not love his wife.

B5 If there is abuse, the wife must leave.

B6 So how are you and I going to treat our wives?

B7 Love for our wives must be the same in public or in private. Our treatment of them the same in public or private.

B8 Women are to be respected, their opinions sought, and treated as an equal human being.

B9 Confess any sin that you have done wrong towards them. Ask God for forgiveness.

B10 Now go and love your wife, your daughters, your granddaughters, mother, grandmother, etc.

A5 Finishing verses which are good to memorize:

B1 Ephesians 5:28 So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.

B2 Ephesians 5:33 But every husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and wives should respect their husbands.

B3 Colossians 3:18 Wives, place yourselves under your husbands' authority. This is appropriate behavior for the Lord's people.

B4 Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and don't be harsh with them.

Copyright © 2018 by Len Gane All rights reserved.