womens role in the church?

Question

1 Timothy 2:12 - I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.

I don't understand if its so clear and blunt in the Bible that a women is not to lead or teach, how do denominations justify ordaining women to be pastors? I actually go to a church that allows women to be pastors, but I'm beginning to question my denomination.

Please state your DENOMINATION and opinion on this issue.

Answer 1

Okay, I've been in a lot of denominations so I feel I can answer this from seeing several different viewpoints.
I'm the daughter of a hellfire and brimstone preacher, and I've attended churches ranging from totally liberal to very conservative. I've also, actually PREACHED a sermon one time.

Let's take into acount that the verse was written in a time when women and men were segregated in the church. This was a time period when women were not allowed to attend school. So, could you imagine how shocking it would be if a woman were to try to tell a man what to do? Also, when you look at the "let the women keep silence in the church" could you imagine what would happen if the wife hollered over to her husband, "hey, Hubert, what did the preacher mean by that comment." It sure would be disruptive.

I firmly believe that God gives each of us gifts and talents, and if God gives a woman the gift of ministry, and preaching, it's God's choice.

Answer 2

Women in this text are not to teach or have authority over MEN. That does not mean that they can not teach a Sunday school class or hold a bible study, or even be in a speaking ministry like Joyce Meyer. As far as being a pastor over a church I do not believe that they should be. But that is my opinion. If I were you I would ask the people at the head of your church the question if you have a problem of being taught by a woman. I am a non denominational Christian that currently attends a Nazarene Church.

Answer 3

I have no firm denomination, but history records many women were leaders in the early church. The Acts of Paul speak of this as well. Please remember the history..........Christianity started out as a Jewish faith, and was spread to the outside world mainly after the Romans sacked Jerusalem. So sometimes we have conflicting ideas on the role of women in the church, and don't forget also that there are many writings and accounts that were not included in the Bible so some of the ideas and outlooks we know are not the entire body of religious thought on many issues. One last thought: any religion or religious idea that excludes over 50% of the population is neither fair or I believe part of what the Eternal has to teach us. If religion is going to be used as a tool for oppression, then maybe it's an institution that has outlived it's usefulness.

Answer 4

In the Catholic Church women cannot be ordained. This is not a "rule". Rules can be changed. It is a defined article of the faith that the church does not have the authority to ordain women. This cannot be changed, since it is doctrinal truth. However, Catholic lay women can do EVERYTHING that Catholic lay men can do, no exceptions. Preach, teach, counsel, administrate, preside over assemblies, lead prayer, run bible studies, hold positions of authority, serve on the altar, read the scriptures during Mass, etc. And we make no rules about who can or cannot benefit from the wisdom of their teaching or from their other ministries - men, women or children, it's all the same.

Answer 5

Non Denominational Charismatic.

Paul was talking to a new church in Corinth, when this writing took place.
If you read the works of Josephus, you will see that the women were not allowed to be taught and were not allowed to be in the main service area with the men. They were yelling from the balconies to their husbands, asking what was going on...

Basically they were being very rude.
IF someone male or female was doing some serious yelling at church, don't you think it would be rude?

If women were to be silent all the time, they couldn't teach or sing or pray at all, to any age group. It would be an absolute.

There are several women in the Old and the New Testaments that are preachers and teachers equal to men. Priscilla, Lydia, the 4 prophetess in Acts, Mary to name a few. Why would they be there if Paul thought they shouldn't preach..

two verses I leave with you.

for we are all equal in Christ Jesus, no male no female, No Greek, no Jew, no slave no free
in Gal.

also, that we are all called to the ministry of reconciliation.


be blessed, from a preaching teaching God fearing woman.

Answer 6

Timothy wasn't written by Paul, and every good Biblical scholar will agree with that. The quote about that there are no men or women, that everyone is one through Christ was written by Paul, so the egalitarianism came first. (Timothy was written in the spirit of Paul, which was an acceptable form of scholarship at the time.) Do some study on how the NT came into existence; see what years the books came to be and the context in which they were written and it will help you along. Find a copy of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene on line to read even though it was not put into the cannon it still provides some insight.

The first Christian groups met in private homes, that were owned by women. Women used to play a very big role in the early church.

It depends on what lens you choose to read the Bible through that will give you your interpretation. If you read through the lens of Paul that men and women are equal, then it’s okay for women to be pastors. If you read the lens through the guy who wrote Timothy, that women are less than men, then you’re not going to want women in leadership positions.

Answer 7

I am an Episcopalian. You may know that we recently elected a woman to be our Presiding Bishop, which is our highest pastoral office.

The text that you cite was written by Paul to Timothy, I believe. He was, in this verse, instructing Timothy (who was several years his junior) on how to construct his new church. By saying that women should not teach or have authority over women, he was not oppressing women, but actually enabling them! You see, before this time, women were not even able to be present at scholarly discussions. Many people use this as a way to hold women down. Paul intended it to give them new opportunities.

Personally, I don't believe that the arrangement of one's sexual organs have any bearing on his or her ability to pastor a church. In fact, I think that in many cases, women are more prepared to handle the intensely personal, emotional, and stressful situations that arise to pastors.

Answer 8

Paul said if you have wisdom, you will understand what he was saying. Okay,
maybe he was just a male chauvanist pig! But for the sake of argument...
They say that men and women take turns being in power on our world. Last
time women had the power, there were a few that were noble, and treated men
with respect. The majority probably couldn't have cared less about men like today.
And the worst was the Amazon society. They killed the males and only kept enough
for breeders and slaves.
Suppose at the time of Paul, there was some Karma thing, where women had to stay under the thumb?
Whatever the case. That was then, and this is NOW! And we men love you women
with all our hearts! Don't let the enemy, Satan, get in between us!

COSMIC LOVE!

Answer 9

That was when the church was being set in order.
This was a business meeting, and everyone was so filled with the spirit that they all would speak and talk in tongues at the same time. Paul said to be silent, because there was too much confusion.
Then one scripture says , in the last days I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, your young men will dream dreams, the old men will see
visions, and the handmaiden{women} would prophesy

Answer 10

As a Missouri Synod Luthern I believe that women can and should play a key role in the Church as organizers, teachers of children, and advisors to their men. I believe women should be free to do as they wish in occupations and such but when married should yield to their husbands after advising them. I believe if a woman chooses a good husband she shouldn't have to worry about being taken advantage of, while at the same time she has every right to leave a position that puts her at harm. Women are valuable to God and show the relationship between Jesus and the Church.
Note that note all text are to be taken compeletly literally, like the passage about women covering their hair is also a reference to the place of women in the Church as quite leaders.