ABC Women's Institute, September 19, 1997
God commands all Christian women to be silent and not to teach men - or does he?
1Tim. 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Why this couldn't be a command for all Christian people through all time!
Questions to ask when confronted by difficult texts:
1. To whom was this epistle written?
2. What was the purpose of this epistle?
3. How does what Paul says in the verse relative to a woman teaching comport with what is said elsewhere in the New Testament?
4. What is said about women teaching, preaching or prophesying in other places in scripture?
1. Adam and Eve, in the beginning, were given equal responsibility. Genesis
Gen. 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
2. Jesus used the ideal conditions that existed in the beginning to give a new testament command. Matt. 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Matt. 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Matt. 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
3. There is no time in scripture when women were forbidden to teach, preach or prophecy. God used women in all ages including but not limited to New Testament times. Old Testament Women who prophesied - Miriam -
Numbers 26:59, 1Chron 5:29 ; Sarah -
Genesis 21:10 cf
Galatians 4:30 ; Deborah -
Judges 4:4-6,
Judges 5:1,7, 12, 13, 31 ; Huldah -
2Kings 22:14-20 ; Noadiah
Neh 6:14 Etc. In addition to this the Old Testament forsees the Christian time when daughters would prophecy -
Joel 2:28,29. And this in spite of the fact that the world was fallen and that the prediction of
Genesis 3:16 had come to pass. Still, God used women. Why, then, should Christian women put interdicted?
1 Tim 2:1-15
Women forbidden to teach men? Women to keep silence?
1Tim. 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (why would Paul want to limit God's messengers to men only when he wants all the world to be saved?) 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (Paul is opposing the most radical feminism the world has ever seen. In Ephesus, many women believed that only a woman, because of her position as child-bearer<= could communicate ultimate truth. A woman was the sole interpreter. Many also believed that the woman was the originator of man, that she was the authentic one [authentein]) 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not
a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.
8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting (wrathful passion and dialogismos, dispute) .
9 In like manner also, that women (pray with uplifted hands) adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety (modesty and good sense); not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (women retained one slave to arrange their hair while a second stood by with a whip to lash the unfortunate beautician - Juvenal, p. 75 of Kroeger - Apuleius considered braids seductive. Ostentation in dress was considered a sign of promiscuity in the ancient world)
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness (professing means witnessing) with good works.
11 Let the woman learn (Rabbi's forbid women to learn) in silence (The Rabbinic scholar was required to learn in silence - based upon
Zech 2:13,
Hab 2:20,
Isa. 41:1,, were required to “be still”
Ps 46:10. Rabbi Isaac said, “What should be a man's pursuit in this world? He should be silent. Silence was the duty of the learner. Silence and submission is a Near Eastern formula implying willingness to heed and obey instruction. The original appliication is one of attentiveness and receptivity to God. The command that women should learn is marked contrast to the foolish women, 1 tim 3:6,7, who are ever learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Paul would arm women with truth so that they might stand against error. Why would any true proclaimer of the gospel ever restrict who may learn or who might teach. Paul's concerns are for peace, propriety and a knowledge of the truth.) with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. (Paul attacks a highly unorthodox myth involving Adam, Eve, and the serpent) 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in (Paul defends feminine functions. dia, - during, throughout, within an attendant circumstance, while still possessing that function that most sets her apart from man) childbearing, if they (they, women and all Christians) continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Did Paul believe that no woman should teach? May this scripture be used to teach a doctrine which is contradicted elsewhere?
Women prophesied. It was predicted that they would.
Joel 2:28; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, They did!
Acts 2:17 your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,...
Paul allowed prophecy from women
1Cor 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
Prophecy is speaking to “edification [teaching or building up], exhortation and comfort.”
1Cor. 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Old Testament women prophesied, Deborah, Esther, Jael, Sarah (
Genesis 21:The New Testament would not reduce the abilities of women to participate. The New Testament in which women as well as men were filled with the Spirit would not reduce women's opportunitites to participate.
Women taught under Paul's ministry,
Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
1Cor. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
Even the Old Testament allowed women to learn,
Deut. 31:12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:
Both Paul and Jesus allowed women to learn,
Luke 10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Conclusion: If Paul does not want some women to teach, it is not because they are women, but rather because they are unlearned, incompetent, or are teaching error. If the church should bar all incompetent teachers, it would have to bar men who teach that women should not teach.
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