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NASB | 1 Timothy 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 2:12 I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet [in the congregation]. |
Subject: Biblical - women preachers/teachers??? |
Bible Note: Hi, Zsuzsi! I am not suggesting that females are to be treated as second class Christians. Neither did Paul suggest such thing, after all, who was charged with instructing the children?: If a widow has children or grandchildren, they are to learn first of all to do their duty to their own families... (1 Timothy 5:4) True the widowed was no longer bonded to her husband, but her responsibility to the family--which would extend to the Church--was not dissolved with the death of her husband! And that responsibility included instructing the children, both male and female! "I do not see why He should not be allowed to call women to His service when times have obviously changed." This would imply that God consciously selected only "male" servants to appease man. It would also suggest that God approved of man's chauvinism, and that now, since society has deemed females to be equal to males, God has seen the way and welcomes female priestesses and preachers to serve the Church. This reasoning would make God as changeable and as incompetent as society, which celebrates homosexuality, upholds racial discrimination, exalts wealth, discards human life... "Taking this verse by itself would simply tell us that the true Christian lifestyle is against gender-equality, we are to be anti-feminists and discriminating." Here's Paul take on that: Husbands should love their wives, just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her. (Ephesians 5:25) Are Christians commanded to love only their wives and to discriminate against all other females? That is not the preaching of the Bible! Christians are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the Church! How can there be love without respect? How can one Christian love his wife and consider himself above all other females just because they are not his wife? Seemingly society has bested Christianity… then should we emulate society?: So this I say to you and attest to you in the Lord, do not go on living the empty-headed life that the gentiles live. Intellectually they are in the dark, and they are estranged from the life of God, because of the ignorance which is the consequence of closed minds. Their sense of right and wrong once dulled, they have abandoned all self-control and pursue to excess every kind of uncleanness. (Ephesians 4:17-19) We can witness this abandonment more pronouncedly in the entertainment industry: Females are demoralizing themselves just as badly as when they were demoralized by men just a decade or so ago (this includes even the top “talents“)! How does achieving “actor” status raises the female value when actresses gleefully sink to the same depths that they were forced to inhabit when it was an all “male” controlled environment? And how does sexually provocative acts, on stage or on video, demonstrates a superior singing talent or voice quality in today‘s female performer? Equality in human terms means the freedom to debase ourselves at equal levels. Equality in God’s terms means that we are all loved equally, regardless of our gender, ethnicity, and status! In Christianity, there’s a built-in equality that the world could never achieve: so Jesus called them to him and said to them, ‘You know that among the gentiles those they call their rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of man himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ (Mark 10:42-45) I do not presume to have all the answers… But I know that, in Christ, you are just as important as the wisest of all human alive! Your age matters not to God, nor does your gender. But we are called to serve in God’s terms. I cannot determine your calling, nor am I attempting to dissuade you from what you understand your calling to be… who knows, perhaps God will use you to provoke jealousy in the minds and hearts of all who are serving in mediocrity--that they may wake up from their stupor and preach and live Jesus and unite His Church! My prayers are with you! God Bless! Angel |