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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Biblical - women preachers/teachers??? | 1 Tim 2:12 | Zsuzsi | 123548 | ||
Of course, Steve. But no Scripture should be taken out of biblical and historical context and so be used for teaching, reproof, correction or training in righteousness. (2Tim 2:14) If we read 1Tim 2 from the beginning, we see that Paul is calling EVERYONE to a modest and quiet life, not only the women... Women are LIKEWISE (1Tim 2:9) to be quiet and receive instruction from the men of the congregation who are not deceived by Satan as Eve was in the garden of Eden. Women were quicker to fall when it came to accepting false teachings. (2Tim 3:6) 1Tim 1 tells about existing misleadings in doctrine and living. In his epistles, Paul was trying to sort out this chaotic state of the early churches and he needed to clarify whom people should listen to and whose teachings they were to reject. Also see, for example, that in Rev 2:20 Jesus convicts the church of Thyatira of allowing the woman Jezebel to lead His people into sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols. The Lord is not saying the problem is that she is a woman - the problem is with her teaching. I think we should also look at the historical context in which these epistles were written: in the ancient societies, women by tradition remained at home as housewives, most often uneducated, while their husbands were responsible for supporting the family financially. By now the status of women has increased to the extent that men in many places are equally responsible for the household tasks and women also have professional jobs. It comes without saying that no woman should teach God's Word without first learning about it but I think it would be just wrong to apply rules which were mentioned in reference to the traditions of the ancient cultures and not ours. It is much more important to look at the intentions of God and the writer of the actual passages and apply the rules appropriately in our societies. There are several passages in the Bible which are, even though truly God's inspired Word (I agree- everything in the Bible is what He wants us to know), impossible to keep word-by-word today. They wonderfully prove the Father's meticulous care to teach us how to live a healthy and peaceful life - He designed us, He knows the best what is good for us. But we know He is a God of the living, not the dead. See for example Leviticus 15, where we are instructed to wash ourselves completely when we have even touched a chair or bed which a menstruating woman has touched, and till evening we are to be considered "unclean". Can we keep that today? No. We don't even know when a woman has her period. But in contrast, God told Paul not to consider "unclean" what He has made "clean". (Acts 10:15, 11:9.) God should be allowed to choose women into His service if He wishes so... God does not want us to live under the law but to be free in Christ to serve Him according to His will (Galatians 5:18). Similarly, in contrast to the seemingly anti-feminist 2Tim 2 and 1Cor 14, we are also taught that it does not make a difference in Christ whether we are women or men (Galatians 3:28). In fact, if we take all of Paul's teachings literally, we should think women are to pray and prophesy with their heads covered, and assume that it is shame for a woman to have short hair or her long hair uncovered at all. (1Cor 11:13-15, in the context of 1Cor 11:2-16) But obviously in our modern culture it is not disgraceful at all any more... And God did actually leave marks in the Bible that tell us that He does choose women into His service: female servants of God, including prophetesses and teachers, are mentioned several times (eg. Deborah, Hannah, Esther, Anna, Priscilla, the 4 daughters of Philip etc) and Jesus also chose women into His service just as well as men (eg. the Samaritanian woman who spread His coming, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha the sisters of Lazarus, His mother was also with the apostles when the Holy Spirit ascended on them, etc). Looking at the biblical and social setting of 1Tim 2:4, I, genuinely and with the intention of changing my mind if it is proven that I am wrong, believe that Paul instructs women against two things in both 1Tim 2 and 1Cor 14: 1) They should not teach false doctrines (learn in humbleness and submission instead of teaching something they themselves do not know) 2) They should not engage in gossip in church (keep quiet in church, ask their husbands if there is something they are interested in etc) "But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner" 1Cor 14:40 But being a (very) young woman myself, and feeling called to God's service, if what I have written offends you in any way, please forgive me and I promise not to provoke you with this any further. I just pray that God shows me if I am wrong before I do anything that would displease Him. God bless you, your little sister in Christ, Zsuzsi |
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2 | Biblical - women preachers/teachers??? | 1 Tim 2:12 | Emmaus | 123602 | ||
Hi Zsuzsi, I never cease to be amazed at your facility in English. You write better than many whose mother tongue is English. You may find this letter on the topic in question of interest. It was written by a well known Eastern European preacher of whom you may have heard. http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP2MULIE.HTM God bless! Emmaus |
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3 | Biblical - women preachers/teachers??? | 1 Tim 2:12 | kalos | 123605 | ||
Emmaus: Thanks for another good link -- www.ewtn.com/library. Grace to you, kalos |
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4 | Biblical - women preachers/teachers??? | 1 Tim 2:12 | Emmaus | 123606 | ||
Kalos, Always a pleasure. More good stuff there than one could read in a lifetime. Lots of good historical primary sources too. Emmaus |
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