Female Christians: how do you deal with quotes like this?

Question

"I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent..."

(Timothy 12)

(I am a progressive Christian. I am not trying to rip The Bible. I do, though, think there are many verses from The Bible that we need to come to terms with...I don't personally agree with what Paul is saying here)

Answer 1

Paul was also a man, a very strict Jewish man, and they were very anti-female. Jewish women weren't allowed to learn Hebrew, and the torah was written in Hebrew, so it would have been very hard for a woman to teach what she coudn't read anyway, not to mention their daily lifes were governed by the torah. How could a woman who couldn't read the torah, lead the man since he could read it? If you read the old testament, you'll see quite a few women in power, or leadership positions. For example, Isaiah's wife was a prophetess. The pastor of my church is a woman, and she's every bit as good at it as any man. So basically, the bible was written by men, and I really think a lot of the "man" was writing what should have been God's words only, not mens.

Answer 2

This was their custom back then. People always misread the bible! It is not telling everyone today that women are supposed to be silent, it is merely stating in a quote that this was the custom back then. Besides, was the writer sitting with Paul when he spoke those words so he could write them down exactly as he said them? There were no tape recorders back then, so the only way was to either be there, or try to remember exactly what he said later so you could write it down. Ever played the game Telephone? By the time the word or phrase gets to the last person, its totally different. People remember general ideas, its quite rare for them to remember exact words.

Answer 3

Paul's writing is reflecting the creation order. This verse by itself looks ugly...but if you take the Bible as a whole, women were created to be life-givers and helpers. This sounds inferior to us because we have been so conditioned by the feminist agenda (whether we realize it or not!) but in reality it is a beautiful thing when men do what they were created to do (preach, protect, provide) and women do what they were created to do (nuture, give life..spiritual and physical, support). It all fits together and makes life run smoother and makes life alot happier!

As to disagreeing with Paul, he was under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and therefore his writings are Scripture and not to be taken lightly. We may not understand everything but we are to trust God and live His way even if it hurts.

Answer 4

Paul is speaking this as his opinion to Timothy not necessarily in the inspired word of God, Paul does this often like when he talks about married people and unmarried people.

Paul also says this in 1 Timothy 2 (not 12) verse 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

The following is from the Explanation of the Office of the Keys in Luther's Small Catechism. I am a Lutheran, Missouri-Synod.

Who should be considered for the office of pastor?

Congregations are to call men who are well qualified personally and spiritually to be their pastors.

"Our churches teach that nobody should preach publicly in the church or administer the sacraments unless he is regularly called" (Augsburg Confession XIV).

1 Tim. 3:1-2 If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer [pastor], he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.

2 Tim. 2:2 The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

2 Tim. 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

1 Cor. 14:33-34 As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.

Women can teach, but Paul was writing this in regard to his contemporary society and specifically to teaching about the Word (i.e. giving sermons), where women were typically not schooled and therefore not good candidates for such a role. Also until the last 100 or so years women were never teachers, men were and this was customary. Also, remember that women rarely worked prior to the 1800s outside of being a housewife/homemaker so his reasoning makes sense, but since it is an opinion it is less credible today.

But the pastoral office should probably be upheld by men, as men are the ones to whom this was commanded, and men were the priests in the days of the Temple. This doesn't mean women can't have roles in the church, women should be encouraged to be a deaconness, prophetess(if this even applies anymore, reference to Deborah), treasurers, etc. They are simply instructed to stay away from the role of pastor and his duties, I am sure that God has his reasons for calling men for this role and not women (probably because were too emotional).

Answer 5

In the Bible, it says "Wives respect your husbands..." do you agree with that? As Christians, we ALL do things that are out of our comfort zone. Such as abstaining from worldly pleasures & just being set apart completely.... As for women, it shows respect towards men to be "silent"... Paul's not saying we have to take the back seat & we have NO say in anything, but as a woman we have to consult the man first. It's a respect thing.

Answer 6

I'm a Christian it doesn't offend me. The Christians I know in my church do not follow this verse. Many woman teach & preach in our church even to other men. The fact that the verse is in the bible is not offensive or threatening. I don' tknow what bible translation you got that from.

Answer 7

If the world Truly operated by God's will as revealed in the bible, this verse would not have to be "dealt with". The fact that "we have to deal with this quote" is more the result of our falleness than the integrity of the bible.

Answer 8

Paul was an apostle and speaking for God, so if you don't agree with what Paul is saying you aren't agreeing with what God was telling him to share.

my husband and I have studied ALL the passages that deal with women and their role in the christian community. you also have to study the social and cultural context of what was going on. there were women causing problems in the church -- the gossips and the "dictators." if a woman is in submission to her husband and the male leadership of the church, I don't feel there is anything she isn't allowed to do -- from teach men to preach behind the pulpit, as long as she is doing it with the blessing of her leadership and under their watch care.

Answer 9

The world has changed a lot since that was written. It doesn't offend me because it is in the past and we have to get over things that we may not agree with now, but that was the way of life at that time.

Answer 10

Paul was an a$$. Follow CHrist NOT Paul.

There problem solved. Christ taught one command "Love" paul did not.

Indeed dezmortes