"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence (1 Tim 2:11-12).
In recent years we have heard a great deal about the roles of men and women. A great many magazine articles and books have been written calling upon women to break the shackles that have held them, as they put it, and declare themselves free. Some are seeking to justify women preaching, serving as elders, leading in singing etc. There is the ever present need for men to go to the Bible, and learn the proper role God has assigned to each of us.
Does God authorize women preachers? God clearly has given a different level of service to the man which he has not designated for women. "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" (I Cor 11:3). Therefore the order given is God, Christ, man, woman. Submission is not a sign of inferiority. If it were, our Lord Jesus would be inferior to God the Father. But we read in Phil. 2:6 where Jesus "thought it not robbery to be equal with God." But he was submissive to the Father for we read: "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me" (John 6:38). By the same reasoning, woman is not inferior because God has assigned her a different role in the church to the role of man.
The scripture for this study says that the woman is not to "teach, nor usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." The word "teach," here is translated from the verb didasko, and it means "to deliver didactic discourses" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon). One cannot preach without delivering a "didactic discourse." The teaching or preaching here prohibited is such that involves improper exercising of authority "over the man." Paul instructs preachers to "speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority" (Titus 2:15). But Paul instructs the women not to "usurp authority over the man." Let it be understood that women are not forbidden the position of teaching. She is commanded to teach children and other women (Titus 1:3-5; I Tim. 5:14). She is forbidden to teach or preach over the man.
"Let your women keep silent 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" (I Cor. 14:34). These evidently were the wives of the prophets who were interrupting their husbands and they were instructed to remain "silent." Notice the explicit command: the women are "commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law." What law? It was not the law of Moses, for there was no such commandment found there. But notice Gen. 3:16 where God said to the woman, "Thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." The law requiring man's leadership and the women to be in submission has not been repealed even in the New Testament. The women of I Cor. 14 were not permitted to speak because God's law places woman under the leadership of men.
Women cannot preach, lead singing, lead in prayer, serve at the Lord's table or any other thing that would place her in the leadership role instead of the role of subjection that God has assigned to her.
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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