”A woman in silence let her be learning in all subjection... But to be teaching a woman I am not allowing nor to be domineering men, but rather to being in silence.”
-This here is one of the thorniest, most controversial passages and subjects in all of Scripture, increasingly so in a culture and world which increasingly rejects not only gender distinctives but Biblical authority. The role of women in the church. There is the question of silence, and was this an issue which only Timothy faced in Ephesus (as it turns out it was an issue as well in Corinth - 1Corinthians 14.34)? There is a question of role, with Paul’s prohibition here of women teaching men. There is also a question of subjection and of women being in a position of authority over men. We need to understand whether Paul here is talking about the ROLE of women, or is he addressing their STATUS in Christ? And ultimately, in light of the questions our culture is asking, we need to determine whether or not this was an isolated cultural issue unique to the context of this time and place in ancient Ephesus, AND more broadly whether or not Scripture in fact says anything about the unique expressions of manhood and womanhood in the body of Christ as well as in the family.
-Our 21st century western culture, for its part, along with growing segments of the evangelical church as well as with the rest of the so-called “progressive” world, increasingly blurs the distinction of gender-specific roles - in the family and in the church as well as in society at-large. Notwithstanding admitted abuses and mistaken positions in both church and culture, the noteworthy efforts at helping women achieve more equal status in all levels of society have in some respects been sweeping up with them what have been healthy Biblically-based distinctives in the roles of men and women in the family and in the church. At stake are the core understandings and expressions of what make men and women both unique and equal in the eyes of their Creator. Are they wired differently? Are men and women in fact uniquely designed to serve on the same team alongside each other in uniquely complementary roles? Or is everything interchangeable, right down to the body parts? The world wants the church to fall in line with the party line that there are really no differences between men and women. So they insist that it is and will be perfectly fine - just how God designed it - to send mothers to the front lines of military combat. It is and will be perfectly fine - just how God designed it - for two men or two women to endeavor together to fulfill the command to be fruitful and multiply. It is and will be perfectly fine - just how God designed it - for a person to surgically alter their body and appearance in an attempt to express the opposite gender. The plain truth is that there is in the world little to no regard for the original intent or design of a Creator whatsoever. He is cast out of mind, out of the equation. Which means it’s all up for grabs. Anything goes - there are no absolutes - that is what the world claims, and is desperate for it to be true so that they can be free to do whatever feels good. Certainly not restraints on what a person can or cannot at least be allowed to do, regardless of their gender, as long as they’re not hurting anyone. Sadly this mindset is slowly infiltrating even the ranks of those who profess to believe in a Creator God. And increasingly, if you don’t like it or are even inclined to disagree with it in the public square, you will be cast out as well, mocked and maligned as an intolerant hatemonger.
-But differences in roles do not need to translate to differences in status. Every member of the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia Eagles organizations received championship rings in 2018, regardless of whether they were the MVP or played a lesser role. Clearly, lesser roles do not necessarily equate to lesser status. And therein lies the trick, of course - to roll with the kind of integrity and humilty and genuine love and respect to be able to treat everyone in the family or church as having equal status as members even though they have different roles.
-There is surely no question of equal status of men and women in the family of God. There shouldn’t be. Joint heirs, we are (1Peter 3.7). Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 3.6). Rich and poor (James 2.5). Slave and free (1Corinthians 7.22, Galatians 4.7) - in Christ all distinctions of status in God’s eyes have been removed (Galatians 3.28). Equality. Liberty. Justice. And we see that in many cases God’s people have historically been at the forefront of pursuing liberty and justice for all, things like democracy and emancipation and suffrage and civil-rights and lifting up the ultra-poor. The passage before us is not about status. The question we must ask is, is there a distinct divinely-designed and instituted role for men and women in the family and in the church which transcends boundaries of time and context?
-These verses are about role. The role of women in the church. And more specifically, their suitability for the role of overseer, a ruling/teaching elder in a local assembly. Rather than filling this specific role of teaching and exercising governing authority and oversight in their assembly, they are to submit to and learn from those who are in that role. All subjection, Paul says. This is not about ability - it is about role. It is about who is to take care of the church of God. Paul goes into the qualifications for this role in chapter 3, but at this point he is saying that he does not allow a woman to serve in this role. They were allowed to teach and disciple - we see women doing this with women (Titus 2.3-4), Priscilla doing this alongside her husband with Apollos - IN Ephesus (Acts 18.24-26). What we don’t see are women overseers. Elders. These were men (Titus 1.5-6, 1Timothy 3.1-2).
-There is this matter of silence. Paul says it twice - “in silence”. We know that women were allowed to pray and prophesy in churches (Acts 2.17, 21.9; 1Corinthians 11.5; cf Lk 2.36-37) - albeit in the assembly there was supposed to be a peaceful order to that (1Corinthians 14.29-33). So it must be that Paul is emphasizing silence in relation to this role of authoritative teaching. Women didn’t do that.
-But the question for us then is, ok, that was how Paul did it in the early church. But are we allowed to do things differently now? Maybe that was a cultural thing. Maybe that was a patriarchal thing, some antiquated position on what women should and should not do. Maybe today we have progressed beyond those days of shackled minds and bodies. Would it be appropriate for a woman to serve as a teaching elder in a church today? Next verse...
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