But, Does God Permit It? Pt. 4

"A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet." - I Timothy 2:11-12

Many people, both scholars and  lay students of the Bible, have read, divided, debated, and disagreed over, this passage of scripture for centuries, but probably no more so than in the last 50-60 years. When taken literally, and at face value, it seems to indicate that women are scripturally banned from this ministry in this particular situation. However, when read and kept strictly within its first century context, many  in our twenty-first century churches think this passage does not require the contemporary church to limit the ministry of women. So, who's right? Well, let's again examine some facts:

Paul teaches that everyone receives specific gifts from the Holy Spirit. He outlines many of those in I Corinthians and Ephesians. But he doesn't speak of any as being gender specific. We have already seen where Paul speaks of certain women and their help to him and his ministry, with high regard. (And let's be honest, Paul probably didn't spend a lot of time setting up, and training women for, nursery schools and quilting circles). But, at the same time, we cannot just toss aside the above verse as being invalid or irrelevant to our churches today. Paul is pretty clear about how women should act in worship, learning in quietness and full submission, and their positions of authority regarding teaching. And then there is that whole child-bearing thing...

Still confused? Yeah, me too. But let me offer this, as a possible explanation:

In these verses, we are reading Paul's words to a confused group of people who are new to the whole "freedom in Christ" idea. And, to add to that confusion, we have a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles worshipping together for the first time, like, ever! The Jewish women would be used to the whole silence in worship, and male authority rule from their worship practices in the temple. But the Gentile women were a bit more free in their style of learning and teaching. They did not have the same practices, nor the same restrictions. So when coming into this new organization called the "church", they all, of course, would carry their traditions and beliefs about this along with them. Is it possible that the more free worshipping Gentile women were influencing the "enslaved" Jewish women to express their new found freedom and cut loose a little (think 1960s and 70s feminist movement)? Obviously, this would create problems and questions. And obviously, those questions came to Paul, their source of scriptural authority. But, having no true scripture to defer to for guidance, as this was new to him as well,  Paul responded the best way he knew how- guided by the wisdom of the Spirit, he demanded that they first, and foremost, maintain order, and do what would be most beneficial and edifying for the Body. To cut to the chase, submit to the authority of the male leadership. Men have always been the authority chosen by God, so let's keep it that way!

But, does this then nullify a woman's ability to teach a class with men in it? My opinion? No. Because in authority over those women, and the other men as well, are the God chosen male leaders, who are charged with guarding the flock, maintaining unity, and protecting the integrity of both the scripture, and Christ's church.
So, who's right? Maybe everybody. Maybe nobody. Maybe the better question is, who knows for sure?