! Timothy 2:12

1Ti 2:12  I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.

The Life Application does  a great job of explaining and these types of verses need study by scholars that have more at their disposal than I do.

Life Application New Testament Commentary 2:12 This statement, I do not let, is part of a series of present tense commands in this chapter (“I urge,”; “I want,” 1Ti_2:8 and 1Ti_2:9). Unfortunately, the translation reads as if Paul wrote, “I never permit a woman to teach.” Also, the grammatical order in Greek for this phrase carries less force than the English one (“To teach, a woman I am not allowing”) and completes the thought about attentive learning in verse 11. The women in the Ephesian church were allowed to learn, but not to teach men. Given the tension between the influx and recognition of women as fellow heirs of Christ within the church on the one hand, and the serious problems being caused by the false teachers on the other, Paul was affirming one right (to learn and listen quietly) while withholding another right (to teach) because of the condition of the church at the time. They did not need more teachers; rather, they all needed to return to the foundational truths of the gospel (1Ti_2:3-7).

Some interpret this passage to mean that women should never teach in the assembled church; however, other passages point out that Paul allowed women to teach. Paul’s commended coworker, Priscilla, taught Apollos, the great preacher (Act_18:24-26). In addition, Paul frequently mentioned other women who held positions of responsibility in the church. Phoebe worked in the church (Rom_16:1). Mary, Tryphena, and Tryphosa were the Lord’s workers (Rom_16:6; Rom_16:12), as were Euodia and Syntyche (Php_4:2 ).

More likely, Paul restrained the Ephesian women from teaching because they didn’t yet have enough knowledge or experience. The Ephesian church had a particular problem with false teachers. Both Timothy’s presence and Paul’s letters were efforts to correct the problem. Evidently, the women were especially susceptible to the false teachings (2Ti_3:1-9) because they did not yet have enough biblical knowledge to discern the truth. Paul may have been countering the false teachers’ urging that women should claim a place of equality for prominence in the church. Because these women were new converts, they did not yet have the necessary experience, knowledge, or Christian maturity to teach those who already had extensive scriptural education. Paul was telling Timothy not to put anyone (in this case, women) into a position of leadership who was not yet mature in the faith (see 1Ti_5:22). This deeper principle applies to churches today (1Ti_3:6).

The expression, have authority, found only here in the New Testament, implies a domineering, forceful attitude—an abuse of authority. Of course, no one should exercise abusive authority over anyone. The danger Paul was counteracting included a competitive struggle for power within the church as women took their rightful place. But conversely, Paul nowhere teaches male authority over women expressed in harsh domination.

Paul’s instruction to the women of Ephesus displayed his missionary strategy. Because his desire was to reach the people of Ephesus with the gospel, he called for moderation and restraint against the potential misuse of freedom. Both Jews and Greeks in Ephesus would be scandalized by women usurping authority over men. This would have created confusion and resentment among the pagans whom the Ephesian Christians were trying to reach. So Paul was giving a local strategy of restraint, not issuing unchanging rules of organization. Remember that equality of worth between the sexes was a completely foreign concept in both Hebrew and Roman cultures. It was not expected nor was it offered. The equality given by Christ was radical (see Gal_3:26-28).

I only did one verse on purpose. The next three will also be as long. so I thought it would be important to be able to understand each verse. They are so often taken out of context that it is important to understand why Paul said what he said and who it was directed at. This was a new church, new believers, etc. Would you convert a person one day and make him your pastor on the next. I doubt it.

Dave