“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” (1 Timothy 2:11-12 (ESV)
Whenever we approach Scripture, there are three fundamental questions that must be asked. They are (1) What does the biblical text say; (2) What does the biblical text mean by what it says; and (3) How may the meaning of the biblical text be applied in our lives. The vision and mission at His Word Today always must answer these three questions regarding any biblical text. This vision and mission certainly apply to today’s biblical text.
The words by the Apostle Paul, by the inspirations of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21) are simple to read in I Timothy 2:12. However, what these words mean remains the controversial question in the church. What women are biblically allowed to do is counter balanced by what women are not biblically allowed to do. As with every verse of Scripture, the exegete must be careful to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). This perspective is especially appropriate with respect to I Tim. 2:12.
The Apostle Paul begins vs. 12 with the phase “I do not permit a woman” (ἐπιτρέπω; epitrepo). This is a present, active, indicative verb. It means to not allow something to do be done by a woman. In other words, to not give permission for a woman to do something. Rather than displaying male chauvinism, Paul was exercising apostolic authority by the Holy Spirit in writing inerrant and inspired Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Since the canon of Scripture is complete, no one can currently claim to possess this same apostolic authority.
Paul was invoking his God-give apostolic an authority to herald a universal truth from the Lord. This biblical truth was women are not permitted to teach or to exercise authority over a man. The immediate context refers to the local church’s worship services and the governing of the church
To teach (διδάσκειν; didaskein) means to provide instruction in an informal or formal setting. In this context, the setting was the formal gathering of the church for worship (I Tim. 2 :8). The individual who does provide such formal instruction is the pastor/teacher. The pastor/teacher, and church elders, is to be a man. Why would the Apostle Paul, and the Holy Spirit, restrict women from teaching in this context?
“Given women’s lack of training in the Scriptures (2:11), the heresy spreading in the Ephesian churches through ignorant teachers (1:4–7), and the false teachers’ exploitation of these women’s lack of knowledge to spread their errors (5:13; 2 Tim 3:6), Paul’s prohibition here makes good sense. His short-range solution is that these women should not teach; his long-range solution is “let them learn” (2:11). The situation might be different after the women had been instructed (2:11; cf. Rom 16:1–4, 7; Phil 4:2–3).[1]
However, the apostle continued by also writing “or to exercise authority over a man.” The phrase “to exercise authority over” (αὐθεντεῖν; authentein) means to give orders and to domineer. The phrase literally means “to shout at or to bark orders.” This is the only place in the New Testament where this word is used.
“Permit means to allow someone to do what they want. By his word choice, Paul implied that some women at Ephesus had the desire to lead the church. Some people have reinterpreted authentein in I Timothy 2:12 to mean ‘abusive authority.’ They believe it is acceptable for women to teach and exercise authority over men as long as their authority does not become abusive. Teaching and usurping authority contrast with silence and subjection. Paul is forbidding women from filling the office and role of the pastor or teacher. He is not prohibiting them from teaching in other appropriate conditions and circumstances,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
Rather, women are to remain quiet (εἶναι ἡσυχίᾳ; einai hesychia). Women are to remain still in the worship services by not serving as the pastor/teacher. This biblical text does not mean women cannot pray in public. This does not mean women can never teach (Acts 18:26; Titus 2:1-3). This does not mean women do not have spiritual gifts (I Peter 4:10-11). This does not mean women cannot serve as missionaries (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1-2). This does not mean women are inferior to men. It does mean that in the exercise of pastoral leadership, especially in the worship services of the church, women are not permitted to teach or to exercise authority.
“What Paul says in today’s passage is that women are barred from preaching and teaching in worship, not every kind of speaking. Paul assumes women will prophesy in Corinth (1 Cor. 11:4–5) and throughout Scripture women engage in speech acts in the worship service (like singing, see Ex. 15:20–21; Col. 3:16). First Timothy 2:11–12, then, is calling women to be attentive and not interruptive, prohibiting their ordination to the office of elder,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“In emphasizing godly conduct for women, Paul stressed, with Peter, “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:4). The females in the congregation should receive instruction from the male leadership with quietness and full submission. They should not attempt to turn the tables by clamoring for the office of congregational teacher or by grasping for authority over men. Rather they should, literally, “be in quietness.” The word, hēsychia, translated “quietness” in 1 Timothy 2:11 and silent in verse 12, does not mean complete silence or no talking. It is clearly used elsewhere (Acts 22:2; 2 Thes. 3:12) to mean “settled down, undisturbed, not unruly.” A different word (sigaō) means “to be silent, to say nothing” (cf. Luke 18:39; 1 Cor. 14:34)”.[2]
“Our look at 1 Timothy 2:11–12 cannot ignore this setting, but we must not assume that the passage’s cultural context means that its teaching is invalid today. Many people disagree, saying that Paul forbade women to hold authority over men in the church only temporarily and that women may now serve as elders. To answer this position, we must look at what else the Bible says on the subject. Paul also addresses women in public worship in 1 Corinthians 14:33b–35, calling for their silence in a different context. This application of a similar principle in separate settings (Ephesus and Corinth) points to its universality. The universality of 1 Timothy 2:11–12 is also grounded in principles inherent in creation, which we will investigate further tomorrow. None of these principles, however, supports male superiority, for the Bible knows no such thing,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
It is this inherent creation orderthe Apostle Paul cites in I Tim. 2:13-15. We will examine this text next time. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 1 Ti 2:12.
[2] A. Duane Litfin, “1 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 735.
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