Pastor to the Stars : Women in Ministry : Suffer Not a Woman?

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Suffer Not a Woman?

"But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."

-1 Timothy 2:12

Although 1 Timothy 2:12 appears to be prohibiting all women from teaching, a careful examination of this verse, in its context and compared to other Scriptures, reveals that it does not prohibit godly, gifted women from preaching and teaching.

In his instruction to Timothy, Paul is speaking with regard to a specific area of disorder and misconduct. His concern is with the unlearned, disruptive women in the congregation, and not godly, gifted women in the pulpit.

The instruction is made with reference to the unlearned and/or disruptive wives who were to learn quietly and peaceably under the headship of their husbands. In Ephesians 5:22, wives are instructed to be submissive to their own husbands. They are not to dominate or rule over them, but rather, with a peaceful and submissive spirit, a wife is to cooperate with her husband and follow his leading. Therefore, Paul is reinforcing this instruction, with his goal being to guard the integrity of the Christian church, reject the dominant beliefs within a pagan society, and instruct on the proper and acceptable conduct in the house of God.

Next, Paul made numerous references to his fellow workers throughout his epistles, and pointed out their abilities as effective ambassadors of the Gospel.

Priscilla was a fellowlabourer whom Paul gave "thanks" to (see Romans 16:3). Priscilla, along with her husband, Aquila, "expounded the way of God more perfectly" (Acts 18:26) to Apollos. To expound means to give a detailed statement, explain, declare. Pastors, preachers, and teachers "expound" the Scriptures. The passage says that Apollos was a Jew who was "mighty in the Scriptures" and "fervent in the spirit" (verses 24,25).

Priscilla and Aquila recognized Apollos' gift
and were themselves ministering under the influence,
guidance, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

How dow we know this? Because Apollos would go on to "help the disciples much which had believed through grace" (v. 27).

God used Aquila and Priscilla to equip Apollos for ministry.

Another vital example is found in Philippians 4:3:

"And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life."

Who, then, is Paul restricting in 1 Timothy 2:12? In light of Philippians 4:3, and other references to women in ministry (Priscilla - Acts 18:26; Phebe - Romans 16:1; Junia - Romans 16:7) we conclude then that Paul was restricting women who were causing disturbances in the church, or who were influenced by or advocating false, heretic teachings.

Finally, compare the following Scriptures:

"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection."

-1 Timothy 2:11

"And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home..."

-1 Corinthians 14:35

Notice who Paul is specifically speaking about -- not just women, but women who were there to learn.

Paul is speaking of women who were supposed to be there to learn.

If they had questions, then they were obviously not there to teach, nor were they qualified, gifted, or ordained to teach. Wives with questions were not to cause a disturbance, but rather to ask their husbands questions at home, because it is "a shame for women to speak in the church" (1 Cor. 14:35b). In other words, women should not be "chattering" in church, even if it's only to ask a question. They are there to learn and they can speak with their husbands at home. According to Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary* :

speak - [Greek: laleo] to say, speak: the command prohibiting women from speaking in a church gathering, v v. 34,35 is regarded by some as an injunction against chattering, a meaning which is absent from the use of the verb everywhere else in the NT.

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