Understanding the Role of Women (2)
Introduction:
In our previous lesson: looked at creation principles on gender
equality & headship/submission between men and women. Tonight…we wish to
narrow our focus to the role of women in the church. This issue has spawned a
number of controversies in the Lord’s Church. Two primary passages on this
topic are 1 Tim. 2:11-15 and 1 Cor. 14:33-35. In this lesson we will take a
specific look at biblical teaching in these two passages.
I. 1 Timothy 2:11-15
A.
2:11-12 - Women general in nature. All women in Ephesus being addressed.
1.
2:11 – NASU; NKJV; TEV –
focus on quietness or quietly.
a.
Paul is speaking of passive behavior as
contrasted to active
b.
In public teaching/instruction –
she is to submit to the leadership of the male.
2.
2:12 – NASU; NKJV; TEV – we
see 2 things in this verse:
a.
The woman is not to teach over a man.
b.
The woman is not to have authority over a man.
B.
Does this mean she can never teach?
Absolutely not.
1.
Titus 2:3-5 – women instructed to
teach younger women…
2.
Acts 18:26 – Priscilla, with her
husband, taught Apollos.
3.
Acts 21:9 – Philip’s daughters
were prophetesses
4.
Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2 –
command to teach given to all disciples.
C.
2:12 – over a man - Thayer: One who
acts on his own authority; to govern, exercise dominion over.
1.
A woman may not: Lead a mixed class; Preach;
Be an elder; Lead worship; Lead on Lord’s Table
D.
Reasons given are not cultural and not
merely Paul’s opinion.
1.
2:13 – the order of creation
2.
2:14 – the woman was deceived
3.
2:15 – she has been assigned a
different function.
II. 1 Cor. 14:33-35
A.
A look at the context. See Chapter 11, 12. Under discussion:
1.
Nature & use of miraculous spiritual
gifts.
2.
Spiritual gifts were for:
a.
14:12, 26 – edification; 14:19
– instruction
b.
14:20 – to help Christians press
on to maturity
c.
14:40 – to be used in a proper
& orderly manner.
B.
1 Cor. 14 breakdown
1.
14:1-25 – pertains to general
orderliness in a worship service with spiritual gifts.
2.
14:26-36 – specifics on
orderliness in speaking in tongues & prophecy.
3.
14:33b-35 – Paul addresses those
who were weighing/judging the prophesying.
4.
14:34 – silent. Same word as used in 14:28. Meaning: to be silent; to hold ones peace.
5.
14:34 – Paul appeals to the Law.
What was subjection under the law? Not silence
a.
Numbers 27:1-7 – daughters of
Zelophehad…
b.
Judges 4:4-5 – Deborah
c.
Nehemiah 8:1-2, 6 – women answered
“Amen” publicly.
d.
Luke 2:36 – Anna was a
prophetess…what good is a silent prophet?
6.
Subjection under the law was not
silence…but submission to man.
a.
14:35b… Directed to the WIVES of the
prophets…
C.
1 Cor. 14:34-35 – is one part of a
chapter to address a particular problem in the CORINTHIAN church.
1.
Many other problems in the CORINTHIAN
church dealt with in this book. 8:1; 11:23-34; 12:1; 14:1
2.
1 Cor. 14:34-35 – does not address our assemblies today.
D.
If it did:
1.
14:34 – would be an absolute
denial of women speaking in assemblies at all.
2.
We must not rip 14:34-35 from their context and not allow the text
to speak for itself.
Conclusion:
A.
Men and women are equal in Christ…but
given different roles.