Survey
of the Letters of Paul: 1 Timothy 2:12
1 Timothy 2:12
But I suffer not a woman to teach,
nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in
silence.
Let us begin the second half of 1st Timothy 2
with a reading from the Barclay Commentary.
"The second part of this passage deals with the
place of women in the church. It cannot be read out
of its historical context, for it springs entirely
from the situation in which it was written "It was
written against a Jewish background. No nation ever
gave a bigger place to women in the home and in
family matters than the Jews did; but officially the
position of a woman was very low.
"It was written against a Greek background. The
Greek background made things doubly difficult, as
the place of women in Greek religion was low.
Further, in Greek society there were women whose
whole life consisted in elaborate dressing and
braiding of the hair.
"In any event, there is much on the other side. In
the Genesis story, it was the woman who was created
second and who fell to the seduction of the serpent
tempter; but it was Mary of Nazareth who bore and
who trained the child Jesus; it was Mary of Magdala
who was first to see the risen Lord; it was four
woman who of all the disciples stood by the stake.
Priscilla with her husband Aquila was a valued
teacher in the early church, a teacher who led
Apollos to a knowledge of the truth (Acts 18:26).
Euodia [o'dia] and Synthche
[syn'ca thee], in spite of their quarrel, were
women who laboured in the gospel (Philippians
4:2-3). Philip, the evangelist, had four daughters
who were prophetesses (Acts 21:9). The older women
were to teach [the young women] (Titus 2:3-4). Paul
held Lois and Eunice in the highest honor (2 Timothy
1:5), and there are many women's names held in honor
in Romans 16.
"All the things in this chapter [1 Timothy 2] are
mere temporary regulations to meet a given
situation. If we want Paul's permanent view on this
matter, we get it in Galatians 3:28:
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for
ye are all one in Christ Jesus. ~ Barclay's
Commentary
It is important here that we understand that none
of this verse or lesson is about putting women down
or making them second class to men. Points to
keep in mind:
1] We are talking about public worship.
2] We are discussing the living metaphor of men and
women and Christ and the church.
3] We are talking about the procedure and conduct of
services before God which set themselves apart from
the worship of pagan idols elsewhere on the earth.
4] that the phrase, "keep silent in church" has a
specific and narrow meaning that has more to do with
decorum than just the subject of women. What
you will see is that women are not necessarily to
keep silent from the moment they arrive at church
until they leave the parking lot after services.
Now to the commentaries:
But I suffer not a woman to teach - see the notes on
1 Corinthians 14:34.
| 1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. Let your women keep silence ... - This rule is positive, explicit, and universal. There is no ambiguity in the expressions; and there can be no difference of opinion, one would suppose, in regard to their meaning. The sense evidently is, that in all those things which he had specified, the women were to keep silence; they were to take no part. He had discoursed of speaking foreign languages, and of prophecy; and the evident sense is, that in regard to all these they were to keep silence, or were not to engage in them. These pertained solely to the male portion of the congregation. These things constituted the business of the public teaching; and in this the female part of the congregation were to be silent. “They were not to teach the people, nor were they to interrupt those who were speaking” - Rosenmuller. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul had argued against their doing this in a certain manner - without their veils 1 Corinthians 11:4, and he had shown, that “on that account,” and “in that manner,” it was improper for them to assume the office of public teachers, and to conduct the devotions of the church. The force of the argument in 1 Corinthians 11: is, that what he there states would be a sufficient reason against the practice, even if there were no other. It was contrary to all decency and propriety that they should appear “in that manner” in public. He here argues against the practice on every ground; forbids it altogether; and shows that on every consideration it was to be regarded as improper for them even so much as “to ask a question” in time of public service. There is, therefore, no inconsistency between the argument in 1 Corinthians 11: and the statement here; and the force of the whole is, that “on every consideration” it was improper, and to be expressly prohibited, for women to conduct the devotions of the church. It does not refer to those only who claimed to be inspired, but to all; it does not refer merely to acts of public preaching, but to all acts of speaking, or even asking questions, when the church is assembled for public worship. No rule in the New Testament is more positive than this; and however plausible may be the reasons which may be urged for disregarding it, and for suffering women to take part in conducting public worship, yet the authority of the apostle Paul is positive, and his meaning cannot be mistaken; compare 1 Timothy 2:11-12. ~Barnes Notes To be under obedience - To be subject to their husbands; to acknowledge the superior authority of the man; see the note at 1 Corinthians 11:3. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. But I would have you know - “I invite your attention particularly to the following considerations, in order to form a correct opinion on this subject.” Paul does not at once answer the inquiry, and determine what ought to be done; but he invites their attention to a series of remarks on the subject, which led them to draw the conclusion which he wished to establish. The phrase here is designed to call the attention to the subject, like that used so often in the New Testament, “he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” That the head ... - The word “head,” in the Scriptures, is designed often to denote “master, ruler, chief.” The word ro'sh is often thus used in the Old Testament; see Numbers 17:3; Numbers 25:15; Deuteronomy 28:13, Deuteronomy 28:44; Judges 10:18; Judges 11:8, Judges 11:11; 1 Samuel 15:17; 2 Samuel 22:44. In the New Testament the word is used in the sense of Lord, ruler, chief, in Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:15; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 2:10. Here it means that Christ is the ruler, director, or Lord of the Christian man. This truth was to be regarded in all their feelings and arrangements, and was never to be forgotten. Every Christian should recollect the relation in which he stands to him, as one that is suited to produce the strictest decorum, and a steady sense of subordination. Quoted verses: Numbers 17:3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. Numbers 25:15 And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. Deuteronomy 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: Deuteronomy 28:44 He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail. Judges 10:18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Judges 11:8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Judges 11:11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh. 1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 2 Samuel 22:44 Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me. ------------------------------ Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Of every man - Every Christian. All acknowledge Christ as their Ruler and Master. They are subject to him; and in all proper ways recognize their subordination to him. And the head of the woman is the man - The sense is, she is subordinate to him, and in all circumstances - in her demeanor, her dress, her conversation, in public and in the family circle - should recognize her subordination to him. The particular thing here referred to is, that if the woman is inspired, and speaks or prays in public, she should by no means lay aside the usual and proper symbols of her subordination. The danger was, that those who were under the influence of inspiration would regard themselves as freed from the necessity of recognizing that, and would lay aside the “veil,” the usual and appropriate symbol of their occupying a rank inferior to the man. This was often done in the temples of the pagan deities by the priestesses, and it would appear also that it had been done by Christian females in the churches. And the head of Christ is God - Christ, as Mediator, has consented to assume a subordinate rank, and to recognize God the Father as superior in office. Hence, he was obedient in all things as a Son; he submitted to the arrangement required in redemption; he always recognized his subordinate rank as Mediator, and always regarded God as the supreme Ruler, even in the matter of redemption. The sense is, that Christ, throughout his entire work, regarded himself as occupying a subordinate station to the Father; and that it was proper from his example to recognize the propriety of rank and station everywhere. ~Barnes Notes As also saith the law - Genesis 3:16, “And thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” Nor to usurp authority over the man - notes, 1 Corinthians 11:3 [see above]. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. |
In John Wesley's Explanatory
Notes and for the phrase, "nor to usurp
authority over the man" it simply says, "By
public teaching."
Now notice this from the Matthew Henry's Concise
Commentary:
Commentary for 1 Timothy 2:8-15:
Under the gospel, prayer is not to be confined
to any one particular house of prayer, but men
must pray every where. We must pray in our
closets, pray in our families, pray at our
meals, pray when we are on journeys, and pray in
the solemn assemblies, whether more public or
private. We must pray in charity; without wrath,
or malice, or anger at any person. We must pray
in faith, without doubting, and without
disputing. Women who profess the Christian
religion, must be modest in apparel, not
affecting gaudiness, gaiety, or costliness. Good
works are the best ornament; these are, in the
sight of God, of great price. Modesty and
neatness are more to be consulted in garments
than elegance and fashion. And it would be well
if the professors of serious godliness were
wholly free from vanity in dress. They should
spend more time and money in relieving the sick
and distressed, than in decorating themselves
and their children. To do this in a manner
unsuitable to their rank in life, and their
profession of godliness, is sinful. These are
not trifles, but Divine commands. The best
ornaments for professors of godliness, are good
works. According to St. Paul, women are not
allowed to be public teachers in the church; for
teaching is an office of authority. But good
women may and ought to teach their children at
home the principles of true religion. Also,
women must not think themselves excused from
learning what is necessary to salvation, though
they must not usurp authority. As woman was last
in the creation, which is one reason for her
subjection, so she was first in the
transgression. But there is a word of comfort;
that those who continue in sobriety, shall be
saved in child-bearing, or with child-bearing,
by the Messiah, who was born of a woman. And the
especial sorrow to which the female sex is
subject, should cause men to exercise their
authority with much gentleness, tenderness, and
affection. ~Matthew Henry's Concise
Commentary