I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man…
Summary: Paul’s instruction here seems both pointed and insensitive. However, viewed through the larger lens of the whole of Scripture, the problem may be more with how Paul says what he says than why he says it.
This is a difficult passage.
To put this into context, Paul’s letter to Timothy is essentially a “How To” manual for managing a church. In the verses that follow, Paul outlines his reasoning for giving this instruction, making it difficult to tackle this passage without considering the larger context.
Our last meditation, “1 Timothy 2:11 – Did Paul Really Say That?”, touches on Paul’s reasoning, and we will dive into his logic in more detail as we proceed. For now, I think it might be helpful to examine the question of authority in an abstract sense.
First, let’s consider the question of what kind of authority the Bible does allow for a woman.
Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the world of a married woman this way:
- 1. She manages a large household, including staff (vs 10-15).
- 2. She transacts business, buys and sells property, manages production, “sees that her trading is profitable” (vs 16-18).
- 3. She works hard, manages donations for the needy, and provides for the family (vs 19-23).
- 4. She creates products for the market (v 24)
- 5. She is respected, able to speak with wisdom, and “faithful instruction is on her tongue” (vs 25-26).
- 6. She is diligent in all she does, she is respected, and her children and husband bless and praise her (vs 27-31).
That doesn’t sound like someone who is told to sit in the corner and be quiet. So what is going on?
When Moses and the Israelites finally escaped Egypt, Moses took on the burden of leading and managing a nation of people who probably numbered between one and two million. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all the work he was doing, he gave him some advice about dividing the workload:
“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves.” (Exodus 18: 21-22a)
It seems clear from our study of Genesis, Chapter three,* that the reasoning for this instruction is introduced by Adam and Eve’s sin (Genesis 3:16). The larger picture, however, may be God’s preference for organizing people.
Application: Ultimately, we all submit to the same God.
Food for Thought: What are the benefits of having a chain of command rather than an open structure where it is every man or woman for themselves?
*(See “1 Timothy 2:11 – Did Paul Really Say That?”)
I think everyone should be accountable to someone. Of course, we are all accountable to God. But God has established institutions (such as Government, family, church) with authority structures. Without accountability we can drift into bad teaching, bad methodology, etc. We tend not to like authority over us. Yet it is often what we need. In fact, we tend to want to be our own Lord, but we definitely need The Lord to be Lord.
Thank you, Rich!
What are the benefits of having a chain of command rather than an open structure where it is every man or woman for themselves?
Two benefits of having a chain of command rather than an open structure that I can think of are accountability and stability. Each person is accountable to God, but also accountable to each other in the Body of Christ. This is more to help us help each other to live holy lives, and not fall back into the old self and ways of the world. The person at the top of the chain of command has a better grasp on the collective spiritual and material needs of the members of the body and the resources available to help others. Also the people at the top should serve as a living example of the body’s core values and mission, so that members of “less faith” can seek spiritual guidance from those of “greater faith.” In that the chain of command helps people bear each other’s burdens so they can then bear their own load.
Romans 14:12
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
James 5:16
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Galatians 6:1-5
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Thank you, Chris!
Well said!