Women, however, will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
Parallel translations
- WEB but she will be saved through her childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.
- KJV Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
- NKJV Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
- NASB But women will be preserved through childbirth—if they continue in faith, love, and sanctity, with moderation.
- NLT But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Women will be 'saved through childbearing' if they continue in faith, love, and holiness. The exact meaning is debated among faithful interpreters.
Overview
This difficult verse has several faithful readings: that godly women are preserved through the experience of childbearing, that salvation came through 'the childbearing' of the Messiah, or that childbearing represents the sphere of a woman's godly calling. All agree it is not teaching salvation by works, since perseverance 'in faith, love, and sanctification' is in view. Believers should hold this verse humbly given its acknowledged difficulty.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Titus 2:12It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
- 1 Pet 4:7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Gen 3:15–16And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
- 1 Tim 1:5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- 1 Tim 2:9Likewise, I want the women to adorn themselves with respectable apparel, with modesty, and with self-control, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,
- Isa 9:6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Luke 2:10–11But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
- Isa 7:14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
- Matt 1:21–25She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
- Luke 2:7And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
- Jer 31:22How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter a man.”
- Gal 4:4–5But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- 1 Tim 1:14And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
How 1 Timothy 2:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.