Women in Ministry: 1 Timothy 2:8-15

As we look at this controversial passage of Scripture, there is no way in one article that I can address all of the interpretations, arguments, opinions, beliefs, historical/cultural context regarding this passage. There are multitudes of articles, even books, written about this subject. Instead, I will address some extreme interpretations, will cover some of the historical/cultural context, compare the passage with other Bible passages, and look at biblical principles.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 KJV
⁸ I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; ⁹ in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, ¹⁰ but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. ¹¹ Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. ¹² And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. ¹³ For Adam was formed first, then Eve. ¹⁴ And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. ¹⁵ Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

1 Timothy 2 8-12 Amplified
⁸ I desire therefore that in every place men should pray, without anger or quarreling or resentment or doubt [in their minds], lifting up holy hands.

⁹ Also [I desire] that women should adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with [elaborate] hair arrangement or gold or pearls or expensive clothing,

¹⁰ But by doing good deeds (deeds in themselves good and for the good and advantage of those contacted by them), as befits women who profess reverential fear for and devotion to God.

¹¹ Let a woman learn in quietness, in entire submissiveness.

¹² I allow no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to remain in quietness and keep silence [in religious assemblies].

Extremes
A. Extreme Complementarian-Women must not wear jewelry. Women should not speak in church if men are present. Women, cannot teach and preach, no matter what the audience. Women cannot lead worship. Women are seen less than, even though they would never say it. Extremism can lead to misogynist mindest.
B. Extreme Egalitarian-1 Timothy 2:9-12 is to be totally ignored. Paul’s writings regarding women are reflective of his misogynist mindset. There is no difference between men and women. Male headship, submission to husbands, the role of men in women found in Genesis, Ephesians, throughout Scripture are no longer applicable. Their key text is Galatians 3:28. But they are taking this verse totally out of context. Galatians 3 as a chapter and specifically vs 28 is about salvation being available to ALL, not the roles of men and women. It certainly is not just coincidence that in 1 Timothy 2:13-15 that Paul addresses Eve’s deception and not being under submission issue.
Egalitarian Extremism can lead to the ordaining of lesbians as elders and pastors.

Complementarian Confusion
There are those who say vs 11-12 should be taken literally, no exceptions, no consideration of what was taking place in Ephesus (where Timothy was ministering) at the time. They do not take into consideration obvious gifting and anointing, which then denies there could be a calling to teach and preach.

However, these same individuals do not believe it should be taken literally in regards to women wearing braided hair, pearls, or costly clothing. These individuals also do not require men to lift up holy hands when praying. These individuals see vs 8-9 as principles and vs 10-11 as commands because Eve was deceived. But what about Adam in blatant rebellion by not being a covering for his Eve and joining with Eve in sin. If 10-11 are commands, why isn’t vs 8 a command, men must pray lifting up holy hands.

Women are not to teach preach, or lead men, but they can teach and preach to young men (young men in their teens full of testosterone), they can run an entire VBS program, they can teach women, they can share the Gospel (preach) and teach men as a missionary if no men are available to preach or teach. Thus, they do not truly believe vs 11-12 is literal, because women are told to be silent. So in reality they believe there are principles, except when it comes to teaching men, then it is a command. Why the command to be silent is not literal, but the command to not teach men is literal?

1 Timothy 2:8-15 does not give exceptions, so Complementarian are coming up with their own exceptions rather than taking into consideration what was taking place in Ephesus.

Ephesus and Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism believes that when a person understands the historical/cultural circumstances taking place in Ephesus, which is where Timothy was ministering, there is a reason why Paul wrote what he did to Timothy, and the guidelines are not applicable to all women in all circumstances. So what was taking place in Ephesus?

It should be noted that 1 Timothy begins and ends with warnings about false teachers. (1 Timothy 1:3, 6:20-21). There was the temple of Artemis which was dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis (Roman goddess of Diana), who was the goddess of chastity but also fertility and childbirth. Aretmis/Diana symbolized strength, independence, and female empowerment. Artemis was actually praised as the divine tomboy who could save (“Artemis the Savior” was a common regional epithet) and protect people without any man’s help—a strength celebrated in her great hunting exploits. Pliny the Elder, a Roman official and historian, noted the priests of the temple of Artemis were all women who “ruled the show and kept the men in their place.” Within Ephesus there was an ascetic heresy which teaches that true spirituality is found in denial—especially of marriage, sex, and food. Woman were falling prey and could be teaching this heresy and other false doctrine, which would of course, cause quarrelling between men and women, possibly why the command in 1 Timothy 2:8.

Paul would certainly require women promoting this heresy to not speak, should not be teaching, but to learn in quietness. Twice Paul instructs women to learn in quietness. The Greek word hesuchia (“quiet” or “humbly”, peacefulness, not total silence) is the typical posture of a wise person who is ready to learn rather than a fool who espouses a mix of truth and error. 

In 1 Timothy 2:12 Paul states women are not to teach, have authority over men, or to speak. Regarding the speaking, it cannot be taken literal because women were certainly being used in the gifts of the spirit, operating in the prophetic, even prophetesses, and teaching (Priscilla, Phoebe, Junia) during New Testament times. We have already addressed the potential issue of women teaching ascetic heresy, plus there was the false teaching that women had some sacred connection to divine knowledge that made them superior to men and more fit to teach about spiritual things. A mindset of domineering and having authority. There certainly were at least some issues with women in Ephesus usurping authority over men. There certainly would have been a mindset and behavior in conflict with the biblical principles of headship. Paul mentions in 1 Timtohy 2:13-15 the Genesis account of the fall. Interestingly, the topic of headship, submission is addressed in the Book of Ephesus.

Braided Hair, Pearls, or Costly Clothing
This was how prostitutes were dressed. That did not mean if women dressed like this they were prostitutes. Once again Paul most likely was addressing a culture issue, most do not believe he is making a demand on how women should dress. The demand he does make is women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation. Interestingly Complementarians do not take the command to not wear braided hair, pearls, or costly clothing, literal but do take no speaking or teaching as literal.

Authority Over Men
Is teaching and preaching in itself, having authority over men, or usurping authority over men? To usurp is to take power unlawfully or by force. Is a young man who is preaching or teaching taking authority over the men in the congregation? Is a man or a woman who operates in the gifts of the spirit taking authority over men? Is anyone sharing the gospel, preaching, taking authority over the listeners? Priscilla (and her husband Aquila) were teaching Apollos. Were they taking authority of Apollos? Bottom line, is the preaching and teaching of the Word of God the taking control over, having authority over anyone? Only if it is abused, which clearly men or women are capable of using the Word to abuse.

Is a woman who is clearly gifted and anointed in teaching or preaching taking authority over children, women, or men? Or is she operating in the calling that God has given her. Are the words she speak only anointed if the hearers or women and children, but when the hearers are mean the words spoken are in vain. The Word of God becomes null and void? When anyone else witnesses (proclaim the Gospel) and disciples (teach) are they having authority over the listener?

Take note at this point we are not talking about leadership roles, such as pastor, elder, deacon.

Submission and Headship

Ephesians 5:18-21
¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ²¹ Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Some group Ephesians 5:21 with Ephesians 5:22-33 but it makes more sense that it is connected with all of us as believers submitting one to another. Respecting and honoring one another. That certainly could be interpreted to respect and honor whoever is teaching and preaching the Word of Lord. Especially if it is clear that they are gifted and anointed. (Which leads to the assumption if they are gifted and anointed by God they certainly are called by God.)

Some Egalitarians want to toss out any concept of wives submitting to husbands, the subject of headship. I have addressed this false mindset in a past article. (Yes there have been many abuses regarding the topics of submission and headship, but false doctrine is not how to compensate for abuses.)

Clearly in the Ephesus culture and in the Church of Ephesus there was women who were challenging the concept of submission and headship. There were women who were not walking in Christian submission. There are women today who are clearly walking in a spirit of rebellion, a spirit of superiority. They are in error, in sin. They should not be teaching or preaching. BUT there are in men who are also walking in a spirit of rebellion, a spirit of superiority. They should not be teaching or preaching.

A man or woman who has no covering, who has no authority over them, no overseer, are outside the will of God.

Summary
There clearly are women AND men today who should not teach or preach. They are not walking in submission. Based upon the cultural context of Ephesus there were certainly women who were not in submission. There were women who were being influenced by and teaching false doctrine. There were men who were prone to quarreling and resentment. Some of which may have been because of the false teachings of the women. Paul was addressing these issues in 1 Timothey 2: 8-12. It can be debated that Paul was not giving commands for all churches for all time.

There is nothing specifically in 1 Timothy 2:8-12 that states when, where, how women are to teach, yet there are those who say women cannot teach men but can teach… Why is it if women are in the midst of false doctrine it would not be okay for them to teach men but okay if they teach women or children?

Based upon the cultural context a legitimate argument can be made that Paul is specifically addressing women who are teaching false doctrine and not walking in submission. They certainly should not be teaching anyone regardless of sex or age. BUT what about women who know the Word of God, have biblically sound doctrine, are gifted and anointed, thus called by God, who are walking in submission? Can they operate in the gifts of the spirit, be a prophetess, but cannot teach and preach if men are present? I say women can teach and preach with CONDITIONS when we look at all of Scripture. What are those conditions? That will be in my next article.

Women in Ministry Series
Women in Ministry, Introduction-Why the Topic?
Part One-Women in Ministry-Complementarianism, Egalitarianism, And?
Part Two-Women in Ministry-Isorropiaism-HUH??? Balance
Part Three-Women in Ministry-Bible Passages
Part Four-Women in Ministry, Extremism
Part Five-Women in Ministry-No Speak
Part Six-Women in Ministry, Prophecy
Part Seven-Women in Ministry-Spiritual Gifts
Part Eight-Women in Ministry-Examples
Part Nine-Women in Ministry-Headship
Part Ten-Women in Ministry-Calling, Gifting, and Anointing
Part Eleven-Women in Ministry, My Position