This noun refers to the process or function of bearing children. In 1 Timothy 2:15, Paul makes the difficult statement that 'she will be saved through childbearing.' The term emphasizes the maternal role and function. Whether this refers to salvation through the birth of the Messiah, preservation through the childbirth process, or faithfulness in maternal calling remains debated. Classical usage simply meant the act of bearing children. Cross-linguistic evidence preserves the basic sense: Spanish 'maternidad' (motherhood), German 'Kindergebären' (child-bearing).