Day 315: 1 Timothy 2:8–15

A woman should learn in silence with full submission. I do not allow a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; instead, she is to be silent (vv. 11–12).

Glancing through the book of 1 Timothy, you’ll notice a continuing exhortation for order in the churches. In stressing this, Paul made some statements about women that raise controversy. Although he used far more ink to address deacons and overseers, I don’t want to be charged with cowardice by omitting any mention of his instructions to women.

When he said, “A woman should learn in silence,” (hcsb) he did not use a Greek word that meant “complete silence or no talking. [He used a word] used elsewhere to mean settled down, undisturbed, not unruly.”63 Paul’s primary ministry was geared toward Gentiles who had never been trained to have respect and reverence in worship. Paul encouraged women to observe traditional customs lest the young churches suffer a bad reputation.

The Christian movement was new and fragile. Any taint of adverse publicity could greatly hinder the mission of the church and mean persecution for believers. Women had to restrain their new freedom in Christ (Gal. 3:28) so as not to impede the progress of the gospel. Paul’s “weaker brother” principle (1 Cor. 8:9) applies, where he said, “Be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block to the weak” (hcsb). Thus, women were to learn quietly, without calling attention to themselves.

In regard to instructing women not to teach men, you must understand that most women in Paul’s day were illiterate. They were not taught in synagogue schools or trained by a rabbi. Paul goes on to say in verse 12 that women should not usurp authority over men. The Greek word authenteo, “one who claims authority,” is used only this one time in the Greek translation of the Bible. This word refers to an autocrat or dictator. Paul says women were not to come in and take over!

We cannot regard verses 11 and 12 as a prohibition against women opening their mouths in church or men learning anything biblical from women. For instance, Paul gave instructions for how women are to pray and prophesy (1 Cor. 11:5). He was fully aware of Priscilla’s role in teaching Apollos in Ephesus (Acts 18:26). Paul issued differing instructions for churches based on their cultural settings and his desire for order in the church.