Perversions of 1 Timothy 2:11-15
11 Let the woman learn in silence with
all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to
usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam
was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but
the woman being deceived was in the transgression. 15
Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they
continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.
Like many other passages 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is under attack.
There are those who do not like what it teaches. They want to
expand the leadership role of women in the church beyond what
God has allowed. So like those described by Peter (2 Peter 3:16)
they wrest or twist this passage to try to deny its obvious
meaning. In fact, there are several ways this passage is
presently being perverted.
DOES 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15 STILL APPLY TODAY?
There are those who say that 1 Timothy 2:11-15 was a temporary
solution to a cultural problem. These people argue that where
Timothy was preaching and working women were overstepping their
roles, and refusing to listen to anyone or let anyone have
authority over them. People who accept this argument claim that
Paul, in an effort to calm this temporary problem, gave a
temporary injunction that the women not take a leadership role
over men. There are two obvious problems with this idea. 1)
There is no indication in the text that what Paul was saying was
temporary, nor that it was limited to the place where Timothy
was working. Paul makes it plain in verse12 that it was his
practice not to let a woman exercise authority over men in the
spiritual realm. 2) Even if it was true that it was a temporary
problem due to the aggressiveness of those women, we also live
in a day when many women will not accept restraint or authority
over them. Why would not this answer have an equal application
in our day?
DOES 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15 ONLY APPLY TO THE WORSHIP SERVICE?
Some recognize that this passage does not allow women to teach
over men or to lead in prayer, but they argue that this
restriction is limited to the worship service. People who make
this argument allow women to teach Bible classes where men are
present, and some even allow women to lead in prayer in informal
devotional and class settings when men are present. Verse 8
clearly shows the error of this reasoning. The guidelines Paul
is laying down are for ‘everywhere.’ Women can speak up in a
Bible class, but they cannot be the teachers and have authority
over a Bible class where men are present, because that is
teaching over a man.
DOES 1 TIMOTHY 2:11-15 ONLY FORBID WOMEN TO TAKE AUTHORITY ON
THEMSELVES TO LEAD IN PRAYER OR TEACH?
Some argue that since the KJV uses the phrase ‘usurp authority,’
if the men give that authority to a woman, she is not ‘usurping’
it, so she is not sinning. This is a misunderstanding or
misapplication of the word ‘usurp.’ This can be easily seen by
comparing other translations. The ASV and the NKJV and even the
more liberal and unreliable translations such as the NASV and
the NIV all translate that Paul does not allow a woman to ‘have’
or ‘exercise’ authority over a man. Paul didn’t give authority
to women to lead over men in spiritual things, so we cannot do
so either.
THE NEWEST DODGE
Just this morning I read a new one. A man was actually arguing
that the passage should read that Paul does not allow a woman to
teach that women should have authority over a man. In other
words, this man believes there is not problem with a woman
teaching and leading in spiritual things, as long as she doesn’t
teach that a woman has authority over men. I have 10 different
translations/paraphrases of the New Testament on my computer.
Some of the translations were done by groups of scholars. Not
one translation, not even one paraphrase, translates this verse
as this man suggests. Why? The word ‘nor.’ There are two things
Paul does not allow:
1) He does not allow a woman to teach over a man.
2) ‘Nor’ does he allow a woman to exercise authority over a man.
This verse is not about what a woman teaches, it is about where
and over whom she does her teaching.
This idea is just one more dodge, one more perversion, one more
twisting of God’s word in an effort to justify modern trends. We
need to remember that they which wrest (twist) the scripture do
so to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). Rusty
Family Bulletin Board
Remember in prayer and with cards,
phone calls, or visits those who have chronic illnesses: Delsie
Bishop, Reva Brewer, Ella Brumitt, Eloise Deaton, Jamie Farmer,
Francis Ferren, Elizabeth Fowler, Savannah Green, Lola Mae
Hamlett, Louise Hunt, and Edith Lechenet.
ROMANS 12:15 – Weep with them that weep.
Larry Herren’s father passed away Thursday night.
COMING EVENTS:
RIB ROAST - September 6th at Tom & Danielle‘s home. A sign-up
sheet has been posted in the foyer.
September 7th - 10th , with Gary Colley. The theme this year is
“What the Gospel Holds for Modern Man”.
Invitations are in the foyer. Please try to bring someone.
BIBLE CLASS ADVANCEMENT will be September 14th.
