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Broaden Journal of Undergraduate Reseach
“Saved Through What?!”: The
Noun versus the Gerund in
1 Timothy 2:15
Ginger McFarlan
English Major
The difficulty in interpreting biblical passages is often troubling for Christian women. In 1 Timothy 2:15, the apostle Paul writes, “But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety” (NIV). At first glance, the verse appears to
suggest that women’s only spiritual value stems for their ability to bear children. Analyzing the verse’s grammar helps to resolve its semantic
ambiguity. Focusing on the word for childbearing in the original Greek, teknogonias, reveals that it is a rarely used noun that originated as
a verb. Though interpretations of 1 Timothy 2:15 have suggested that the word childbearing should be childbirth, thus referring to Christ’s
incarnation, Paul’s choice of a word with strong verbal implications suggests that he meant physical safety for Christian women through the
literal act of childbirth. This interpretation promises that God will undo the effects of the Fall itself, choosing to bless men and women alike
regardless of sins in the past.
Christian women have long struggled to understand their place in Christianity. The New Testament, particularly the Pauline epistles, often refers to women’s roles in ways that are confusing or
even upsetting. Long hair, submission, head coverings…where is the line between what is cultural
and what is enduring? One troubling passage is 1 Timothy 2:15. The apostle Paul writes, “But
women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety” (NIV). The first difficulty in understanding the passage lies in the unusual syntax of verse
15, which begins with the coordinating conjunction but. Putting but at the beginning is somewhat
jarring when compared to typical English syntax. Ordinarily, one would expect to find a coordinating conjunction midway through the sentence. However, the but provides immediate contrast to the
previous sentences, in which Paul has noted that Adam was created first and Eve sinned first. Placing but at the beginning of the sentence emphasizes the main point of the passage: women can
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receive blessing despite past failings.
More difficulty lies in the semantic ambiguity of the phrase
saved through childbearing. In English, childbearing is a
conglomeration of two elements. One is the noun child; the
other is the present participle verb bearing functioning nominally—in other words, a gerund. Together, the two function
as the object of the preposition through as a sort of pseudogerund, despite the fact that there is no single verb in English
that means to bear children. Comparatively, in the original
Greek, the word translated as childbearing is teknogonias. In
the sentence, teknogonias functions as a noun and is preceded
by the definite article tes. Therefore, it appears to be a true
noun rather than a gerund. If teknogonias is indeed a noun,
then the verse should read, “But women will be saved through
the childbirth.” This wording suggests a reference to Christ’s
nativity, which culminated in his ultimate death and resurrection—and, of course, spiritual salvation for all mankind. Arguably, teknogonias could be translated as either childbearing or
the childbirth with equal technical accuracy.
However, the spiritual accuracy of the translation is another matter. Like an English gerund, teknogonias functions
nominally, but has inherent verbal connotations. According
to Strong’s Greek Dictionary, teknogonias is derived from
the Greek verb teknogoneo, which means to beget children.
Though Paul could have used a noun explicitly meaning childbirth, he used a noun that, like a gerund, derives from a verb,
thus placing special emphasis on the actual act of childbearing. The word is incredibly rare, as well; according to Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance, 1 Timothy 2:15 is the only instance
of the word teknogonias in the New Testament. In addition,
the word translated as will be saved, sothesetai in the original
Greek, is a passive voice, future tense verb that can refer to
physical healing as well as spiritual salvation. When analyzing
the passage with teknogonias considered a gerund, it seems
likely that Paul was referring to safety for women through
the literal act of childbearing. This interpretation is especially
poignant, given that the verse immediately follows a reference
to Eve’s fall and subsequent curse: pain in childbirth. God is
promising more than just physical safety. He is promising to
undo the devastating effects of the Fall.
The verse concludes with a caveat that begins with the subordinating conjunction if. Preservation through childbearing is
dependent upon the women’s actions, which is a truth illustrated literally through the grammar; the if causes the phrase
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“they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety” to
become a dependent clause. Delving into Paul’s grammar in 1
Timothy 2:15 reveals God as a benevolent savior who offers
redemption and blessing—regardless of our past transgressions.