Women in the church 1 timothy 2:9-15

Let me first state this is one of those passages in scripture that is often misinterpreted and over the years has caused conflict between both men and women. In this blog I'm going to express my view on what this passage is trying to communicate to us.

I've heard it said that the apostle Paul was sexist towards women. Those of us who hold to the inspiration and authority of the Word of God know that Paul's teaching came from God and not from himself. If we have an issue on what the Bible says about women in the church, the issue is not with Paul or Peter, (1Peter 3:1-7), but with the Lord who gave the word (2 Tim 3:16-17). The word of God is either true or it isn't we can't pick and choose what we want to believe from it.

In verse eleven we see this word submission being used and what it literally means is "to rank under." Anyone who has served in the military knows that rank has to do with order and authority, not with value or ability. For example a Major is higher in rank then a private, but that does not necessarily mean the Major is a better man than the private. It only means that the Major has a higher rank and, therefore, more authority. "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40) is a principle that God follows in His creation. Just as an army would be in confusion if there were no levels of authority, so society would be in chaos without submission. For example children should submit to their parents because God has given the authority to train and discipline them in love. Submission is not subjugation. Submission is recognizing God's order in the home, and the church and joyfully obeying it. Submission is the key to spiritual growth and ministry. Husbands should be submitted to the Lord, Christians Should submit to each other (Eph 5:21), and wives should be submitted to the Lord and their husbands. The emphasis in this section (1 Tim 2:9-15) is on the place of a women in the local church. Paul admonished these believing women to give evidence of their submission in several ways.

Modest Dress 2:9: Paul did not forbid the use of jewelry or lovely clothes, but rather the excessive use of them as substitutes for the true beauty of "a meek and quite spirit" (see 1 Peter 3:1-6. The word translated "modest" simply means "decent and orderly." Ephesus was a wealthy commercial city, and some women there competed against each other for attention and popularity (its hard to believe women would do this lol) . In that day expensive hairdos arrayed with costly jewelry were an accepted way to get to the top socially. Paul admonished the Christian women to major on the "inner person" the true beauty that only Christ can give. He did not forbid the use of nice clothing or ornaments. He cautioned balance and propriety, with the emphasis on modesty and holy character.

Godly Works 2:10: Paul did not suggest that good works are a substitute for clothing. Rather he was contrasting the "cheapness" of expensive clothes and jewelry with the true value of godly character and Christian service. Godliness must come from within. Women played an important role in the ministry of the church. The gospel message had a tremendous impact o them because it affirmed their value before God and their equality in the body of Christ (Gal. 3:28). Women had a low place in the Roman world, but the gospel changed that. The New Testament is filled with women who put their faith into action. For example

Luke 8:1-3: Devoted women who ministered to Jesus in the days of His earthly ministry. They were present at his crucifixion and burial, and it was a women who first heralded the new of the resurrection.

Acts 9:36 We meet Dorcas

Acts 16:14, Lydia

Acts 18:1-3 Priscilla

Romans 16: Paul greeted at least eight women in Romans 16 and Phoebe, who carried the Roman epistle to its destination, was a deaconess in a local church.

Learning 2:11; "Silence" is an unfortunate translation because it gives the impression that believing women were never to open their mouths in the assembly. This is the same word that is translated "peaceable" in verse 2. The point here is not that women as a group should not speak - it’s that there were several types of women who needed to learn before they spoke. It included Jewish and Greek women who had been under the hand of a harsh culture towards women. They sometimes flaunted their new found freedom in Christ and disrupted services (1 Cor 14:34). Paul was saying that women should "learn" was actually a good thing. In that culture women were not allowed to study or discuss issues with men.

Authority 2:12-15: The meaning and application of Paul's statement, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent” (1 Timothy 2:12), have puzzled interpreters and resulted in a variety of positions on the role of women in ministry to this day. A reading of the entire passage of 1 Timothy 2:9–15 I feel suggests that Paul was giving Timothy advice about dealing with some heretical teachings and practices specifically involving women in the church at Ephesus. The heresy may have been so serious that he had to say about the Ephesian women, “I am not allowing women to teach or have authority over a man.” I feel if all is done decently and in order then God will bless. Well, these again our my thoughts let me know what you think.