Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Be saved in child-bearing, х dia (G1223) tees (G3588) teknogonias (G5042)] - 'in (literally, through) her (literally, the) child-bearing.' Through expresses not the means of her salvation, but the circumstances AMIDST which it has place. Thus 1 Corinthians 3:15, "he himself shall be saved; yet so as by (literally, through) fire:" in spite of the fiery ordeal which he has to pass through. So here, 'In spite of the child-bearing which she passes through (as her portion of the curse, Genesis 3:16), she shall be saved.' Moreover, it is implied that the very curse will be a condition favourable to her salvation, by her faithfully performing her part in doing and suffering what God has assigned to her-namely, child-bearing and home duties, her sphere, as distinguished from public teaching, not her's, but man's (1 Timothy 2:11-12). In this home sphere, not ordinarily in public service for the kingdom of God, she will be saved on the same terms as all others-namely, by living faith. Ellicott, 'through THE child-bearing' (Greek), the bearing of the child Jesus. Doubtless this is the ground of women's child-bearing becoming to them a blessing instead of a curse; as in the original prophecy (Genesis 3:15-16) the promise of "the seed of the woman" (the Saviour), about to bruise the serpent's head, stands in closest connection with the woman's doom to "sorrow" in 'bringing forth children.' Her child-bearing, though in sorrow, being the function of her sex whereby the Saviour was born, shall be the mean of her salvation. This may be an ulterior reference of the Holy Spirit; but the primary one seems, 'She shall be saved ([though] with child-bearing)' - i:e., though suffering her part of the primeval curse in child-bearing; just as a man shall be saved, though having to bear his part-namely, the sweat of the brow.
If they - `if the women (taken out of "the woman," 1 Timothy 2:14; put for the whole sex) continue' [meinosin]; literally, shall (be found at the judgment to) have continued.
Faith and charity - the essential way to salvation (1 Timothy 1:5). Faith, in relation to God; charity, to our fellow-man; sobriety, to one's self.
Holiness - the normal state of believing (Romans 6:22; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).
Sobriety - `sobermindedhess' (note, 1 Timothy 2:9, contrasted with the unseemly forwardness reproved, 1 Timothy 2:11). Mental receptivity, and activity in family life, are the destiny of woman. One reason alleged here is the greater danger of self-deception in the weaker sex, and the errors arising from it, especially in addresses in which sober reflectiveness is least in exercise. The case, Acts 21:9, was doubtless in private, not in public.