Women in Ministry: 1 Timothy 2:8-15 Conclusion

In a previous article I covered this passage in detail. Here is a summary of that article and previous articles on Women in Ministry. Note: This article is not in regard to women being pastors, elders, deacons, that will be another article.
Summaries
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.

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 when we look at all of Scripture women can teach and preach to both women and men with CONDITIONS. What are those conditions? I will address that in my conclusions.

Women in Ministry-Examples
There are many examples of women being used in ministry. They were being used in church settings at times. Even partnering with their spouses in having home churches. Men, women, children were certainly present. Article

Women in Ministry-Spiritual Gifts
Women clearly can be used in gifts of the spirit, one of which is prophecy, which certainly is used within the church setting (men, women, children present) and certainly prophetic messages can have at times a teaching/preaching/leadership presentation. Article.

There are over 22 spiritual gifts listed in the Bible. There may be some debate if women can be used in certain gifts, but they certainly can be used in many of them and clearly there are gifts that are used within a church setting (men, women, children present) and it would appear there are times there is a teaching/preaching presentation. Article

Women in Ministry-Calling, Gifting, and Anointing-Article
If a person has any kind of open mind to the reality around them, rather they like it or not, there are obviously women who are extremely gifted AND anointed in teaching and preaching. Why would God gift and anoint them and yet not call them to teach and preach? Some will say yes, but they should not teach or preach to men, even though the words they speak are sound doctrinally, anointed, and applicable to whoever is listening. Even though in a mixed audience the Holy Spirit is bringing conviction and repentance. Even though the end result is changed lives-fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit, not women or men. Even though some are clearly more gifted, anointed, and effective than many male teachers and preachers. Even though they have strong conviction, confirmations, fruit that they are called to teach and preach within a mixed audience. Some will go as far as to acknowledge all of the above but say all of it is true as long as not inside the church walls, regardless of the fruit, because of how they interpret 1 Timothy 2:8-15.

Women in Ministry-Headship-Article
I am very aware that there are those who because of abuses are very defensive whenever headship and submission are spoken of, especially if the word covering is used. But abuses are that, abuses. Because of error one cannot just toss out every Bible verse regarding this subject. Especially in regard to this passage. It should be clear that one of the problems in the Ephesus Church based upon historical context and the context of this passage was the fact that there were women that felt that they were superior to men, had some form of stubbornness to the point Paul told women to be silent (literal meaning is be peaceable, humbly quiet). It should be noted Paul has tells the men to not be wrathful and disputing. Many believe the men were doing this with the rebellious women.

Let;s be blatantly honest, who wants to be taught or hear preaching, or be enabling, any woman who is not biblically sound, boastful, argumentative, rebellious, and not submitted to her husband or men in authority in the church? One certainly would not ungodly behavior from a man who is teaching or preaching. (Sadly, there are those who are outspoken against women teaching and preaching with men in the church, but overall silent in regard to the abuses of men teaches, preachers. Look at all the scandals and coverups over the last few decades.

My Conclusion-1 Timothy 2:8-15
My conclusion after much digging into the Word, all of the above, and more, is that Apostle Paul was giving a guideline to Timothy specifically regarding the issues in Ephesus, or any situation where there is false doctrine being taught that would lead women into deception. When looking at the writings of Paul it is clear he supported women in a variety of roles, and at least a few examples of women teaching men and most likely preaching based upon the gifts of the spirit, other spiritual gifts, house churches with couples, even going as far as having a woman (Phoebe), not a man, to present a letter to the Roman Church. The way he spoke of her he was not just having her be a ‘mailman’. BTW, he calls her a deacon.

There are women who are clearly blessed with, gifted, anointed, (whatever terms you want to use) to teach and preach. The Holy Spirit is clearly using them. Some may say experience means nothing when it comes to doctrine. That is true, but experience can confirm doctrine. Experience can confirm biblical principles. To totally deny experience would mean we live in a vacuum. My positive experience is I have known, and I have heard women, who in my mind have the calling of God to teach and preach. There are multitudes upon multitudes that have had the same experienced and the fruit is I and them have seen the hand of God in the teaching, preaching, and the operating in other spiritual gifts. I also have more than enough experience of men who should have never been teaching or preaching. So for me, experience and Scripture tells me that sex is not the determining factor, regarding teaching and preaching, it is if the person is gifted anointed, thus called to teach and preach sound doctrine. Limiting women to only teaching women and children is to say that God has determined that men will be harmed by the sound teaching and peaching of women.

Conditions/Guidelines
Saying all that I have said I believe scripturally there are some conditions/guidelines that must be met by women who teach and preach. I will also say based upon my experience, women who do not follow these conditions/guidelines have caused much damage in churches and in the lives of individuals, both men and women.

I believe based upon Scripture and biblical principles, women who are not in submission to their husband in regard to headship should never teach or preach to women. I would go as far as to say they should not teach, preach to men, women, and children. I believe that if a woman is single that she should be under the ‘covering’ of godly male leaders. I believe this is the overall structure in the Old and New Testament. I lean towards the belief that is why Apostle Paul speaks on the Fall in 1 Timothy 2:13-15. It cannot be denied that Satan went to Eve, not Adam. It cannot be denied that Eve was not under the ‘covering’ of Adam. Some will say after the cross, or according to Galatians 3:28, there is no ‘hierarchy’ (word being used loosely). However, Ephesians 5:22-33 counters that argument and Galatians 3:28 is being taken out of context. There clearly is a difference between men and women.

Bottom Line-Balanced Approach
As I said in the article Women in Ministry-Isorropiaism-Huh??? Balance, I believe the two common perspectives, Complementarianism, and Egalitarianism are out of balance when looking at all of Scripture and Historical/Cultural context. I believe the balanced approach is not deny that there are women, full of faith and sound doctrine who are gifted, anointed, called to teach and preach whomsoever as long as they are not ‘lone rangers’ doing their own thing. Women who are operating out of some form of ‘covering’ can be used mightily by God and should not be prevented from doing the will of God. Some will say that women who teach or preach to men are in sin, I say any person that denies a women (who is following the conditions/guidelines) to teach and preach to any person is outside the will of God and violating principles found in Scripture.

Final Comments
Before I close this article, I want to share what I have shared in a past article. At one time 1 Timothy 2:8-15 was not a struggle for me. My Christian background is from the Complementarian perspective. It came from the churches I attended early in my Christian Walk and from the first Bible College I first attended. It was reinforced by some very negative experiences with women teachers and preachers who were clearly living an ungodly, or at a minimum, rebellious, stubborn life. I see them cause much damage in various churches. However, over time I also experienced the teaching and preaching of some amazing women. I could not deny the Holy Spirit was working in their life and that they were clearly not in rebellion to God’s will but following it. That is what got me for the next several years to dig more into this topic. Truth was more important to me than my early teachings and experiences.

If you believe I have become a full-blown Egalitarian, I say you need to read the next few articles on women being pastors/elders/deacons. Hint, if you have not figured it out yet, I lean towards Isorropiaism. What in the world does that mean in regard to women pastors?

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
Part Twelve-Women in Ministry, 1 Timothy 2:8-15
Part Thirteen-Women in Ministry, 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Conclusion