betrogen werden – to be deceived
Infinitive: betrügen – to deceive
IPA: [bəˈtʀyːɡn̩]
Meaning: jemandem absichtlich und böswillig die Unwahrheit sagen[1] – to maliciously and intentionally tell someone the untruth
Etymology: Middle High German betriegen, Old High German bitriugan, from trügen (also meaning “to deceive”)[2]
1. Timotheus 2,13.14 denn Adam wurde zuerst gebildet, danach Eva; und Adam wurde nicht betrogen, das Weib aber wurde betrogen und fiel in Übertretung.
1 Timothy 2:13,14 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Now, the first two verses (11 and 12) talked about how women ought to behave.
The next two verses give an explanation as to why.
First, in verse 13, it says:
1. Timotheus 2,13 denn Adam wurde zuerst gebildet, danach Eva;
1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
Basically, it says that is because this is God’s design, as evidenced by the order of creation.
It is what God intended, even before the fall and sin entered into the world.
It’s really not an easy pill to swallow, even for Christians. I think it’s especially so for young people (myself included) who want to believe that they have full control of their lives, and that they can do whatever they wish because it is their life.
However, that’s not true. Even for unbelievers, because God created them. Not believing that doesn’t change the facts. For believers, this is all the more the case, because they have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.
Then, the second reason follows in verse 14:
1. Timotheus 2,14 und Adam wurde nicht betrogen, das Weib aber wurde betrogen und fiel in Übertretung.
1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
I know, when I first read this, especially in the KJV rendering, it sounds like the woman was entirely to blame.
The first part also looks rather damning for women: Adam was not deceived.
But if we read the account of the fall in Genesis 3, we find that it is a statement of what went on in the Garden of Eden.
The serpent spoke to Eve, and the entire exchange about the fruit and all was between the serpent and Eve. Adam did not speak to the serpent.
What the verse is saying is that while Eve was the one who led the exchange with the serpent, Adam did not deal directly with him.
That does not mean that Adam was less to blame, or not to blame. Subsequently, God questions Adam first, and it is said in the Bible that sin entered into the world through Adam.
He held the blame too, for not stepping up and being the leader, and saying no. His role was to be the leader, but he did not fulfill it at the time. Instead, he listened to the voice of his wife, and also fell into sin.
I will talk about the second part of this verse next week.
This is part of series of words taken from 1 Timothy 2:11-15. I recently studied these verses in detail as they were something that I shared during Sunday School just a few weeks ago. I thought I could do something slightly different.
Many of the ideas were taken from the messages by John Piper on these verses: Manhood, Womanhood, and the Freedom to Minister and Affirming the Goodness of Manhood and Womanhood in All of Life, as well as the article How Are Women Saved Through Childbearing?
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