1 Timothy 2 14

1 Timothy 2:14 kjv

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1 Timothy 2:14 nkjv

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.

1 Timothy 2:14 niv

And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

1 Timothy 2:14 esv

and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

1 Timothy 2:14 nlt

And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.

1 Timothy 2 verses

1 Timothy 2 14 Meaning

(paragraph)1 Timothy 2:14 explains that Adam, though a participant in the first sin, was not intellectually deceived in the way Eve was. He chose to disobey God's clear command fully aware of the consequences. In contrast, the woman (Eve) was thoroughly misled by the serpent's cunning, leading her to violate God's directive, thus "falling into transgression." This distinction between their entry into sin underpins Paul's preceding instructions regarding order and roles in the church.

1 Timothy 2 14 Context

(paragraph)This verse is situated within Paul's instructions to Timothy regarding proper conduct and order within the church at Ephesus. Specifically, 1 Timothy 2 focuses on public prayer, modesty, and the roles of men and women in worship and teaching. Verses 11-14 lay the foundation for Paul's controversial statement in verse 12 that "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." Verse 14, by referring to the historical event of the Fall in Genesis, provides the theological and historical rationale for Paul's instructions, connecting them not merely to cultural norms but to the divinely established order of creation and the nature of the first sin. This historical context also potentially addresses specific false teachings circulating in Ephesus that might have undermined traditional family structures or misapplied spiritual equality in Christ.

1 Timothy 2 14 Word analysis

(ul)

• And Adam (καὶ Ἀδὰμ / kai Adam): The conjunction "and" links directly to the preceding verse (1 Tim 2:13), reinforcing the sequence and significance of Adam's formation being "first." Adam's name points to humanity in general but here specifically to the first man.
• was not deceived (οὐκ ἠπατήθη / ouk ēpatēthē): "Was not" (οὐκ) provides an absolute negation. "Deceived" (ἠπατήθη) is from apatāō, meaning to mislead or trick. The passive voice ("was deceived") highlights the action done to him. The negation indicates Adam did not have his judgment skewed; he was not tricked by the serpent or even by Eve. His sin was a conscious act of rebellion against known divine command, not ignorance or manipulation.
• but the woman (ἡ δὲ γυνὴ / hē de gynē): The strong adversative conjunction "but" (δὲ) marks a significant contrast between Adam and Eve regarding the nature of their sin. "The woman" refers specifically to Eve.
• being deceived (ἐξαπατηθεῖσα / exapatētheisa): This participle is derived from exapataō, a more intense form of apatāō, signifying a thorough or complete deception, beguiled to the uttermost. It emphasizes that Eve was genuinely and profoundly misled by the serpent's lies. Her judgment was genuinely corrupted, leading her to believe a lie about God and His word. This highlights her vulnerability to deception, not necessarily intellectual inferiority, but rather the effect of the cunning temptation.
• fell into transgression (ἐν παραβάσει γέγονεν / en parabasei gegenen): "Fell into" translates "came to be in" (γέγονεν), a perfect tense of ginomai, indicating a resulting state. "Transgression" (παραβάσει / parabasei) refers to a deliberate "stepping across" or violating a clear, specific command or boundary. It denotes an infringement of a divine law, rather than merely a general sin. Eve's deception led directly to this concrete act of breaking God's clear instruction.

(ul)

• "Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived": This critical contrast sets apart Adam's and Eve's responsibility in the Fall. Adam's sin was an act of deliberate disobedience with full knowledge, whereas Eve's was facilitated by cunning deception. This distinction suggests different spiritual vulnerabilities or ways sin manifests, relevant to discussions of authority and leadership. It highlights the serpent's strategic targeting and Eve's susceptibility to being misled.
• "fell into transgression": This phrase underlines the nature of Eve's sin not merely as a mistake, but as a specific, willful breach of a divine command (not to eat from the tree). While deceived, her action still resulted in breaking God's explicit instruction, signifying culpability and bringing about the fall of humanity.

1 Timothy 2 14 Bonus section

(paragraph)It is crucial to note that Paul's reasoning here does not imply that women are inherently more prone to deception or less intelligent than men today. Such an interpretation would contradict the holistic teaching of Scripture which affirms women's spiritual capabilities, wisdom, and leadership in various contexts outside of the direct teaching authority in the gathered church assembly (e.g., teaching younger women, ministering, prophesying outside a didactic role, leadership in their homes). Rather, the verse focuses on a singular, foundational event in redemptive history to draw a specific conclusion about the proper order of authority within the church. The Fall narrative details not only Eve's deception but also Adam's un-deceived and therefore arguably more culpable act of disobedience. Thus, the emphasis lies on the nature of the first transgression as it relates to creation order and the consequences for headship and authority.

1 Timothy 2 14 Commentary

(paragraph)1 Timothy 2:14 serves as a crucial theological anchor for Paul's practical directives on church order, specifically regarding the roles of men and women. By meticulously distinguishing between Adam's undeceived, willful sin and Eve's complete deception by the serpent, Paul establishes a historical precedent that informs his instruction. Adam's direct defiance, knowing God's explicit command (given before Eve was formed), highlights his headship and primary accountability for the Fall (Rom 5:12-19). Eve, though thoroughly misled, nonetheless initiated the specific act of transgression by eating the fruit and then gave it to Adam. This sequence and the differing nature of their sins — one an act of direct, knowing rebellion, the other an act resulting from sophisticated deception — are not presented to denigrate women's intellect but to underscore a foundational spiritual vulnerability or distinct manner in which sin manifested at humanity's inception. It supports the principle of male headship and teaching authority in the church, as established by the created order and reinforced by the nature of the Fall. It emphasizes that while salvation in Christ renders male and female equal spiritually (Gal 3:28), distinct roles in leadership and authority within the church may derive from creation order and the circumstances of humanity's initial transgression. This verse prompts a profound understanding of the deep spiritual ramifications of even subtle deception.