1 Timothy 2:8-15
8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Today, we are going to be in one of the most controversial passage in the New Testament Books, as it divides many Bible Scholars, Theologians, Bible Teachers and Preachers, and even within same congregations on this topic raised by Apostle Paul as he gave his apostolic instructions to Timothy.
In order for us to be found faithful in handling the word of God, which we are about to study, we need to apply some biblical principles of interpretations pertaining to this passage in 1 Timothy 2:8-15. But I also want to preempt, that in explaining this passage, I will also have my bias on my own understanding which I will try to keep my limits under the philosophical tools such as laws of reasons to help me to explain it further.
What is the primary or obvious concern that the Apostle Paul have raised and have answered in this passage of the whole 1 Timothy chapter 2?
He started in the beginning of Chapter 2, by urging every believer to pray for all people for the purpose of living a peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (verse 1-2), which was pronounced by Apostle Paul as good and is pleasing before our God (verse 3).
Then, here comes from verses 8, giving specific instructions to both men and women of God who profess to worship God (verse 10) which are equivalent of a professing Christians. And if you are a professing Christians, then these instruction is equally applicable to you in your conduct of worship or acts of godliness.
For men, Paul wants them to exercise praying, lifting up holy hands, without anger or dispute to one another in every place. It means that everywhere they go, this act of worship should not be neglected nor descrated by keeping angers and dispute to one another. Remember Jesus Christ himself teaches us about this discipline, that for anyone who offer their gifts to God but have dispute to their brother, must first leave their gifts and reconcile to him. In the same way, Paul reiterates this kind of discipline is necessary in our acts of worship not only in corporate settings, but more importantly in our personal time with God.
In the same way for women, Paul have instructed them of their display of godliness be done in modesty and self-control. Woman should not concern too much on physical aspects of themselves, but more importantly, the manifesting acts of godliness such as good works.
To add in that is how Paul gave these women an instruction to learn quietly with all submissiveness to men. In other translation, a footnote is given by saying women refers to wives with husbands, and that in making interpretation of this part of the passage refers to submission of wives to their respective husbands. Which is a more appropriate meaning as it also relates to other apostolic instructions given to different churches such as in Ephesians 5:22 (Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord) and Colossians 3:18 (Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord). Now, this instructions is the same way similar as to instruct woman (wife) to submit to their own man (husband) as they profess reverence to God or in conformance to their acts of godliness.
Now, the dispute comes not on such issue, though it helped to backup the claim of what verse 12 instructions is telling the church when the Apostle Paul told them, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over man; rather, she is to remain quiet." The dogmatic conservative will apply this to all kinds of authoritive settings leaving no room for women to hold authority over men. Others were saying that this is an old fashion culture and is not applicable in our current generation anymore. And some will also say that this instruction is to set a discipline to any dominant woman who are authoritative in a pagan culture of such time.
We have to find the kind of relationship that is sometimes not obvious to our first reading of the passage, which we also have missed even in reading it many times.
First, the submissiveness of woman to a man is brought up by Paul which clearly illustrates from previous epistles of Apostle Paul in Galatia and Collosae pertains to relationship of husband and wife (as man and woman). And again, if you will observe the singularity of the person used as woman or man and not (some or all of) women or men that it really pertains to specific relationship to a particular individual.
Second, Paul gave the example of Adam and Eve which is the God ordained husband and wife (called man and woman) as revealed in Genesis 1-2. He gave the example of Eve being the first to deceive and impacted Adam as he listen to his wife, which is a clear example of a failure of Adam to take the responsibility to teach Eve in that moment of temptation, which is the point of instruction he gave explicitly for men (in verse 8) that they are to lead in all places.
Therefore, with this specific examples and parallels in verses 11 to 14, Paul is pertaining to the acts of godliness of both man and woman in a loving and mutual relationship as redeemed people of God. Technically, the instruction is not a clear indication of all kinds of authority and systems which some have claimed to prohibit woman to be in a position of authority, even when appropriate or possible, which will bring contradiction to all other commands and mandate of God to His people.
In church ministry, for instance, there are denominations or believers who does not permit or agree for women to hold a position of leadership because of this passage (including 1 Cor 14:34-35). They believe that this strong word of Apostle Paul is more than enough to be against and such divine calling. To worsen it, it is backed by the reason for such instruction as to avoid the same mistake by Eve in her giving in to temptation as Paul told to Timothy and to the Corinthians. Both have similarities which pertains to the a true godliness and spiritual form of worship and not of mere outward profession only.
Is this truly the desire of Apostle Paul? What was the Bible said in general of all believers pertaining to holding a position of leadership? Is the Bible claims that "speaking" particularly refers to "position of leadership" only?
The Bible did clearly mentioned that spiritual gifts or gifting are applicable to all believers (1 Cor 12:4:11, Eph 4:11-16). In the command of the Lord in Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), He clearly addresses that all disciples have to teach everything he has commanded to all nations. Generally, this activity of speaking is applicable to all believers for all kinds of people for all nations (in all places). Therefore, speaking activity is not just for those who are in the position of authority but for all disciples regarldess of all kinds of categories as a believer.
The passages in 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 which uses the word "speaking" or "teaching over man" is addressing specifically to wives who are teaching over husbands. Why did I say that? Because of the next statements that follows it when Paul said, "If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home." (in 1 Cor 14:35) and the superiority of Adam to Eve (in 1 Tim 2:13). This instruction was given, and primarily remains to be enforced, that there may be order in our acts of worship especially in our public gathering in all places, that the submission of wives to husbands be displayed as the adorning modesty and decency in respect to Christ's representative to their lives, the husbands.
Teaching and Shepherding are one clear spiritual gifts that do not limits only to men alone. Though we no longer operates in specific offices of these five-fold ministries (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherd and Teachers), its functions remains active to all Christian churches. As to the position of leadership, this will be studied further as we touch base on succeeding chapters of this first epistle of Apostle Paul to Timothy. For now, let us be mindful of the very command of the Lord whether men or women, to teach everything that our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us with the help of the Holy Spirit who distributes His spiritual gifts to each one as He determines.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
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