WOMEN IN CHURCH (1)

0. Introduction

a) What role, if any, should women play in the church? Does the Bible allow women to teach in church, especially to men? Are there female ministers in the Bible? Is it permissible for a married woman to pray publicly? Some believe that ALL women, married or not, should not speak at all during services. Others feel that women should be able to ask questions but not allowed to make statements or comments. They view this type of active participation by women as "teaching men."

1. A Most Difficult Scripture

a) Perhaps the most important verses used to argue against the active participation of women in spiritual fellowship are found in 1Timothy. 

i) "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence." (1Timothy 2:11-12) 

b) This passage is usually interpreted to mean that during church services, women are to remain silent in the presence of men, thus showing their complete spiritual subjection to God and Jesus. Women, therefore, are not to teach during Sabbath school, nor are they to teach in any manner during the preaching service, for to do so would be usurping authority over the men that are present.

c) 1 Timothy 2:11 and 12 are also invoked to prohibit women from having any authority over men in any and all activities, whether during Sabbath services or otherwise. Thus prayer or speech of any fashion in the presence of men is said to be prohibited by Scripture. Teaching men through the medium of writing is prohibited. Actively participating in the planning, organizing, staffing and directing of activities over men is also prohibited, the reasoning goes. There are four major assumptions made when interpreting 1Timothy 2:11-12.

i) That the singular "woman" means "all women," whether married or not

ii) That the singular "man" means "all men, "whether married or not

iii) That the term "silence" means "absolutely mute"

iv) That the command specifically applies to church services and activities of any kind

d) Is this understanding of the verses listed above in 1Timothy consistent with the meaning of other Scriptures? Is it possible that we are applying cultural customs and bias to the Scriptures? Can we prove what is the true meaning of these verses? What is the setting of the verses? Is it Sabbath fellowship only, or is it family fellowship as well? Is the command here applicable to all women and all men? What does the term "teach" mean? What does it mean for a woman to "usurp authority over the man" ? What does it mean to be silent "with all subjection" ? To whom is the woman to be in subjection, to her husband, or to all men? What is the real topic under discussion here? 

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