Women and Men Roles in the Church…Is there True Equality?
I want to start off by saying, this topic is not here to offend anyone. But its something that needs to be addressed considering where our society has taken us. I’m not by any means sexist, just want to align the Word of God with everyday living.
I have been in the midst of many quarrels on this subject, women getting directly offended by men because men claim women have no importance in the church- or battles over who has the overall authority. I have heard very rude and obnoxious opinions (specifically from the Slavic background) about how men have absolute authority over women (in a very degrading manner).
Even when secular movements have arisen claiming to be concerned with women’s rights, their efforts have generally been detrimental to the status of women. The feminist movement of our generation, for example, is a case in point. Feminism has devalued and defamed femininity. Natural gender distinctions are usually downplayed, dismissed, despised, or denied. As a result, women are now being sent into combat situations, subjected to grueling physical labor once reserved for men, exposed to all kinds of indignities in the workplace, and otherwise encouraged to act and talk like men. Meanwhile, modern feminists heap scorn on women who want family and household to be their first priorities; in so doing they disparage the role of motherhood, the one calling that is most uniquely and exclusively feminine. The whole message of feminist egalitarianism is that there is really nothing extraordinary about women. That is certainly not the message of Scripture. Scripture honors women as women, and it encourages them to seek honor in a uniquely feminine way (Proverbs 31:10-30).
I want to first address the issue of women roles within the church. I have recently witnessed several examples of women practicing un-biblical principles within the church. This has even infiltrated our Slavic community and the pastors are taking a blind eye to what is truly happening.
Are women to teach or preach within the church? I recently attended a service at a local church where I was presented with an interesting perspective. The preacher suggested that Mary was commanded by the angel to go out and preach the word to all- to go out and teach everyone about Jesus. Could this be true? Was she truly told to become a teacher?
We can see Paul advising Timothy on what to do about women in the church.
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety (1 Timothy 2:8-15).
Some have went as far as suggesting that the context is only understandable if you knew the era and the exact situation in which this was said. I have heard the rendition that even suggests this:
Most importantly, however, it is critical to understand what Paul means by the terms “silence and submission” and “teach or to have authority.” To understand this, we not only need to study the words in their contexts, but we also need to understand that cultural and historical background for what was going on among this group of believers in Ephesus where Timothy lived.
-Anonymous-
If you even for a moment have to give an entire history lesson about what was going on in the church, or have to find decipher what Paul is trying to say, then you are trying to justify your perspective. Which is almost always solely based on opinion and not scripture.
Furthermore, this source even goes as far as saying this-
We have a lot of similar issues with 1 Corinthians 14:34 as we have with 1 Timothy 2:12. There are numerous cultural, historical, grammatical, and contextual issues that must be researched if we are going to understand what Paul is saying and why.
One of the main differences here is that Paul does seem to be giving instructions to the church about what to do rather than just stating what he himself does (as with 1 Timothy 2:12 above). Yet even this does not mean we have a hard and fast rule for every church around the world and throughout time. After all, the Corinthians church was full of problems, and so not everything Paul writes to them can be applied to every church.
Furthermore, few churches who use 1 Corinthians 14:34 to defend the idea that it is wrong for women to preach in church also apply Paul’s instructions that women should wear head coverings (1 Corinthians 11:2-10).
-Anonymous-
I made the last part in bold because I want to note the heresy that has infiltrated the church. What many preachers are starting to suggest is that- Paul in his letters is not in fact giving us commands, and it isn’t a universal teaching but a pick and choose sort of situation- depending on what your opinion is.
Many teachers have gone as far to say, Paul is just expressing his personal opinion in the given context and that’s not applicable to our generation.
So what is Paul telling the church and what are we commanded to do? Lets not fall into this delusion that we need to have some kind of secret formula to decipher what Paul is trying to say!
Lets start with 1 Timothy 2:8-
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
The Greek word for “men” as opposed for women. God intends for the men to be leaders when the church meets for corporate worship. When prayer for the lost is offered during those times, men are to lead it.
9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
This verse is pretty straight forward- many people dismiss this verse also. What Paul is saying is he doesn’t want (God doesn’t want) Christian women to be some fashionistas that live self-centered lives- where women are a huge distraction to the entire church. It is very likely that during this time women were chasing fashion and distracting men with their provocative attire, so Paul is addressing the issue. He also says with modesty and decency- which also points out that women dressed very inappropriately.
A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Women are not to be public teachers when the church assembles (clear as it is day). This however, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t learn. I have heard a perspective that suggests that women didn’t learn past the age of 12 therefore what the key element of this passage is- women are actually allowed to learn. So the quietness and submission doesn’t mean what we think it means, Paul is saying Women are now able to learn so let them exercise that any way possible.
I agree that this verse is indeed suggesting women have the same ability and equality to learn the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, that doesn’t dismiss what the actual context is implying. What probably happen in Ephesus is women were finally valued within the congregation, so in turn they took advantage of their opportunity in the church to seek dominant roles in leadership. Therefore Paul is addressing this issue and is saying, you are allowed to learn just like anyone else- However, your role to be teachers is not allowed.
Quietly and full submission: (“to line up under”) to characterize the role of a woman as a learner in the context of the church assembly. Paul explains his meaning in verse 12, women are to be silent by not teaching, and they are to demonstrate submission by not usurping the authority of the pastors and elders.
I do not permit: Some have suggested that Paul not permitting is not God saying a commandment. This isn’t true- if you skip up a few verses into 1 timothy 2:5-7
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.
Paul is speaking through the Holy Spirit on behalf of God. He has the anointing to speak what God has compelled him to speak.
So when Paul says; “I do not Permit” it in fact means, God does not permit. Paul is forbidding women from filling the office and role of the pastor and teacher. He doesn’t forbid women from teaching ever, but from practicing it in the church. There are exclusions that allow women to teach- Their children, help other women, etc.
assume authority over a man; she must be quiet: Paul forbids women from exercising any type of authority over men in the church assembly. Since elders are the ones that rule, and they are to be men.
A woman’s Subordinate role did not result after the fall as a cultural, chauvinistic corruption of God’s perfect design; rather, God established her role as a part of the original creation- God made woman after man to be his suitable helper (Gen. 2:18, 1 Cor. 11:8-9). By nature Eve was not suited to assume the position of ultimate responsibility. By leaving Adam’s protection and usurping his headship, she was vulnerable and fell, thus thus confirming how important it was for her to stay under the protection and the leadership of her husband.
This is not to say, Adam did violate his leadership role, followed Eve into her sin and plunged the human race into sinfulness- all connected with violating God’s planned roles for the sexes. Ultimately, the responsibility for the fall still rests with Adam, since he chose to disobey God apart from being deceived (Rom. 5:12-21).
15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
This verse is addressing the issue at hand, although woman was the initial instrument to the fall of man kind. Women will have an opportunity to use their childbearing to raise godly children. Mothers have a unique bond and intimacy with their children, and spend far more time with them than the fathers, they have far greater influence int heir lives and thus a unique responsibility for raising godly children.
So in conclusion, the purpose of this chapter was to instruct Timothy regarding the church of primary importance to any church is that its leaders be qualified to teach and set the example for the rest.
-Amen-
