Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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]. |
Bible Question:
Biblicalman, There is a woman who preaches at the church i attend.. Are they wrong for doing that? For allowing her to preach? Thanks Julia |
Bible Answer: Julia, As stated earlier in the thread, 1 tim 2:11-15 is the most crucial passage. 1Ti 2:11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 1Ti 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. 1Ti 2:13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 1Ti 2:14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 1Ti 2:15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. We must be very careful not to come up with reasons to explain away scriptures. Specifically this instruction is not grounded in anything but the creation and the fall. See verses 13 and 14. So the reason is not cultural, but something applicable today. Everybody is so eager to explain why Paul said this and therefore why it isn't applying to us. However, they overlook that Paul told us clearly why in those two verses. However, let me give you why I think this passage does have some limitation to its scope. Paul forbids "teaching and excercising authority over a man." However it breaks down like this. Paul's command verse 12 Grounding and clarification verses 13-15 (chapt end.) Approval of men seeking the role of overseer (2:1) Qualifications for a man wanting to be overseer (2:2 and following.) So, first, this command comes in the context of Paul leading into a discussion of the overseer role, which are the elders. Second, Paul forbids the two things that are specifically the role of the elders, teaching and excercising authority. This makes me think that what Paul has in mind is forbidding women from the role of elders. The elders, to my understanding, had the official teaching ministry of the church. But while they had the official teaching ministry, all members were ministers of the word to each other on a more informal basis and I'm sure some where more spiritually gifted for it than others and sometimes that was women. So while people may give many examples to you of women prophesying, I doubt they can give any examples of women elders. Now, here is how I put these observations together. The instructions in 1 Tim 2 do apply to us. However, they are primarily a statement that the role of elders in the church is limited to men. However, within the church, women are free to excercise their spiritual gifts to the edification of all believers. Though, they must not be placed in an authoritative teaching position over men. Unfortunately part of the confusion is the lack of biblical structure in our churches. For example, what if your church is not elder led and elder taught? This makes the question much much more complex. In Christ, Beja |