DISCLAIMER: Don’t read this blog post for conclusions on biblical principles, but my “thinking out loud” on a few topics that I’m working resolve in my own mind. If you have any insights or comments I welcome them as comments to this blog and I post all comments that aren’t offensive, advertising, or irrelevant to the blog post’s topic.
As I think upon Peter’s admonition to “believe not every Spirit” and his warning that there would be false teachers among us in 2 Peter 2, I embark on a better understanding of women’s role in the church and outside the church as a means to better understand my role as a man/husband/father. I don’t think of myself as in any way superior to women, but I know that the bible has established rules and separate roles for men and women and we should all endeavor to understand and follow the Lord's teaching.
The first place I turn is the most restrictive verses I know from 1Corinthians and 1Timothy:
[34] The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. [35] If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. [36] Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? [37] If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. [38] But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
- 1Corinthains 14:34-38 NASB
[11] A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. [12] But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. [13] For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. [14] And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. [15] But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.
- 1Timothy 2:11-15 NASB
We see in 1Corinthians that the context is among the use of spiritual gifts in the assembly of the church. The spiritual gifts were a special talent that none of us possess today, but were given by the laying on of the apostle’s hands or through the baptism of the Holy Spirit (different than our baptism today, and only recorded twice in Acts 2:3-4 and Acts 10:44-46). With 1Cor. 14:34-38 following the rules concerning speaking in tongues of prophecy and preceding the conclusion of the matter that “all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner” (1Cor. 14:40), I would conclude that this passage is concerning teaching (prophesying) to others when the church is assembled. This doesn’t mean that women couldn’t pray or prophesy, we are taught in 1Cor. 11:5 that women shouldn’t pray or prophesy without her head covered for it is disgraceful which infers that women
can prophecy and pray. But we can conclude they weren’t to practice this gift in the assembly of the church.
Continuing, we look at 1Timothy and see the manner in which a woman is to receive instruction “quietly” “with entire submissiveness”. We also see that a woman is not allowed to “teach or exercise authority over a man.” We can see the pattern of the husband as the head of the wife as the Lord is the head of the man in several passages (1Cor. 11:3, 7-10; Eph. 5:22-24, 33; Col. 3:18, Tit. 2:5; 1Pet. 3:1-6; Gen. 3:16). But we have in 1Timothy an extension of that principal in that any woman is not to have authority over any man; this is different than just the husband to wife relationship. This doesn’t mean that women don’t have the ability teach with their husband as we see Priscilla and Aquila in teaching Apollos in Acts 18:26, working with Paul in Rom. 16:3, and having the church meet in their house in 1Cor. 16:19. We also see that if a wife has an unbelieving husband, she shouldn’t divorce him because she may save her husband, which to me would indicate some form of instruction to her husband in what is required to be saved, though he could just be saved through observing her conduct and then pursuing what is required for salvation (1Cor. 7:10-16).
Now here is where my pondering begins, how do so many followers of the Bible place women in positions of authority, as preachers, teachers, elders, and many other leadership positions invented by worldly denominations? I feel confident that women should not be in these positions of authority over a man in the church, but where do we draw the line outside the church? What if I become incapacitated and cannot make decisions for myself, is it lawful for my wife to make decisions on my behalf? What about in the workplace as a boss to worker relationship, this is clearly an authority position, but outside the church and not connected with the kingdom of God, so is that an extension to far? As I began this post, I repeat here that I don’t have answers here, at least not yet, but am "thinking out loud" and would welcome any commentary. I’ll share my future thoughts as I continue to meditate on these things. Let’s all continue to be diligent to present ourselves approved to God, a worker rightly dividing the word of truth (2Tim 2:15). Thanks for reading.
