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"A bishop then must be . . . . . one that ruleth well his own house, having his children
in subjection with all gravity" (I Tim. 3: 2, 4, see also verse 5).
"I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children . . . . ." (I Tim. 5: 14
R.V.).
Paul's admonition in the last passage is even a corrective so that no occasion should
be given to the adversary (Satan, verse 15?) to revile.
It is necessary to take balanced view of childbearing within the calling of the Body of
Christ, not reading into it terms which belong only to the Earthly Calling of God, vested
largely in Israel, but on the other hand not confusing the spiritual nature of the present
calling as though it mitigated against children. Whether or not members of the Body of
Christ ought to have children (assuming the possibility) and how many, is one of those
personal matters between the individual and the Lord. It introduces aspects of this
subject which the writer does not consider are part of public exposition, since the
Scriptures do not directly refer to them (the rightness or otherwise of contraception, for
example). Such aspects as these must be left to Christian couples, as before the Lord, to
decide.
However, there are a number of points that such couples might well keep in mind
before reaching any decision as to what part motherhood is to play in the present calling
of woman. They refer to differences between the situation in Israel when the Earthly
Calling of God was in progress, and the present situation.
Firstly, there are not wanting indications that since the bearing of children formed a
large part of the calling of woman in Israel, then she was given special strength to
perform this function.
". . . . . the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and
are delivered before the midwife comes to them" (Exod. 1: 19, R.S.V.).
The word "vigorous" (A.V. "lively") here is the Hebrew chayeh, cognate with chavah,
"Eve", a name given to her in view of her special calling, "mother of all living"
(Gen.iii.20). Whilst it cannot be ruled out that the midwives, who made the above
statement, may have been lying to protect their own skins, it is probable that they did in
fact speak the truth. The rapidity and ease of delivery of Arabian women in even modern
times is remarked upon in the Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on Exodus 1:19 (referring
to the writings of Burkhardt and Tischendorf).
This is not to say of course, that such strength and vigour were universal among Israel
(or any other nomadic people not enfeebled by the luxuries of civilization). Nor is it right
to assume that every birth was perfect; untimely births were not apparently unknown
amongst the Israelites:
"Wicked men . . . . . may they wither . . . . . like an abortive birth which melts away or
a still-born child which never sees the sun" (Psa. 58: 3, 7, 8, N.E.B.).
There was however the promise of Psa. 128: 1-3: