WHAT THE BIBLE REALLY SAYS ABOUT WOMEN IN CHURCH
Are you complimentarian or egalitarian? It’s a hot issue in the church, with some saying the Bible prohibits women from preaching and leading in church, and some saying it doesn’t. And most of us have already picked a side.
Some say women should be allowed because that’s what the current mainstream view is in our culture. The Bible is misogynistic, and so we should ignore it and reform the church. While others say women should be prohibited because that’s how they’ve always heard it taught and that’s how they grew up.
But let’s talk about what should not influence this issue - culture. Neither the current mainstream views in culture, nor the culture in which we grew up, should decide this issue. Quite frankly, in matters of doctrine, culture is irrelevant. What should actually decide our doctrine is what the Bible teaches. An honest, humble, and thorough look at what the Bible teaches.
And some will say a plain reading of the Bible reveals that it clearly prohibits women from preaching and leading. Issue solved. Except… it’s only plain in the English translations. A look at the actual words of scripture, written in anceint Koine Greek, might reveal something else. Let’s take a look.
A Look at the Actual Scriptures
1 Timothy 2:11-14 is commonly cited as the passage where the Bible prohibits women from teaching or leadership in the church. And if you read it yourself it might seem that’s exactly what it’s saying. But it’s not. It’s unfortunately a clunky English translation of a nuanced passage written in an ancient language. If we take the time to look at the original words then this passage’s teachings become more clear. The NIV translates it into English as…
A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
Verse 11 talks about women learning in quiet. This is said by some (especially those who criticize Christianity) to mean that women shouldn’t speak in church but remain verbally silent. To the fundamentalist it’s proof that women can’t teach or lead, and to the critic it’s proof that the Bible is misogynistic. But the Greek word hsuxia is mistranslated here as quietness. The actual meaning of hsuxia is a tranquil and peaceful quietness, indicating tranquility and not just verbal silence. This word also appears back in verse 2, teaching how every Christian should live our lives.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
When talking about it in that context we don’t understand it to be verbal silence, instead it’s translated as peaceful and quiet. But a few verses later the very same word is suddenly meaning more than just tranquility, it now means verbal silence. Shouldn’t we translate it in verse 2 the same as we do in verse 11, meaning all Christians should live verbally silent? No. Paul’s not saying women should be verbally silent in church. Instead he’s saying that women should be tranquil and self-controlled in church.
Simply put, it’s just a bad translation. Which is understandable. The Bible is a massive document, and it’s not always easy to translate complex nuanced ideas written in very different languages. This is why study is important.
And we often focus on the silence part, but Paul starts off by saying women should learn. In the culture of that time it was not common, and often not even allowed, for women to learn. Women were not permitted to read the Torah or enter the inner temple area. So Paul’s saying that there are all new freedoms for women in Christ, but they should still be careful not to go too far. The warnings are being emphasized because their freedoms are so new, and they should still keep in mind the worship service is to be orderly and tranquil.
Paul also says women should learn in full submission. Some incorrectly assume this to mean they should learn in full submission to men. But that’s not what this passage says. When talking about submission, the Bible regularly teaches that all Christians are to be in full submission to God. This passage is a reminder to specifically women with their new freedoms and responsibilities to remember to always be submissive to God.
Then in verse 12 Paul seems to say that he doesn’t allow a woman to teach or have authority over a man. This word authentein, which is mistranslated as have authority over, actually has a stronger meaning in the original Greek. It means not just having authority over someone, but dangling authority over someone, or domineering over someone. Paul’s saying that despite all the new freedoms and responsibilities women have in Christianity, he makes sure that none of the women go too far and domineer or use authority in an abusive or inappropriate way.
Then Paul uses an analogy to illustrate and emphasize his point about remembering that women, although they have new freedoms, still need to remember that false teachers can deceive them, and it can lead to very serious consequences. In verses 13 and 14 Paul refers back to the story in Genesis of Adam and Eve. It’s an example of how we all know something as being one way, but Paul talks about it in a certain way just for this specific point he’s making at that time. He says that Adam was not deceived, but Paul knows that Adam was in fact deceived. He’s emphasizing Eve’s role in the deception to remind women that their new freedom should be controlled. It’s similar to when he says he doesn’t permit women to teach or have authority. We know from elsewhere in scripture that he does both of those things (see below), but his point to Timothy was that in the ministry context that Timothy was serving in he should be cautious with the new role of women in the church.
All of this is started back in verse 9 starts with the word wsautws, which means likewise or in the same way. Prior to this Paul is talking about instructions for men for public worship, and this word brings us into the pericope about women, telling us it’s not a separate section but a continuation of the instructions for public worship. These are not special instructions or restrictions to women. They’re instead the same thing he was saying to the men, just emphasizing different aspects that would be more appropriate and more applicable to the women in that context.
What About the Rest of the Bible?
It’s difficult to simply say, “Paul doesn’t allow women to have authority or teach,” because we have other biblical passages that tells us he in fact does.
Right next door in Titus, Paul specifically instructs the older women to teach the younger women.
In Romans 16:1 Paul describes Phoebe as a deacon in the church.
In Romans 16:3-5 Paul describes Priscilla as his co-worker in Christ, and that a church met in her and her husband’s house.
In Philippians Paul talks about two women, Euodia and Syntyche, as being his co-laborers in the gospel.
Philip’s four daughters in the book of Acts are described as prophets, which despite modern usage, has little to do with predicting the future, and actually means they were publicly proclaiming the message of the gospel in the worship service. They were preachers in the literal sense of the word.
Acts 2:1-12 tells the story of Jesus’ followers being empowered by the Holy Spirit and “declaring the wonders of God” publicly to large crowds. This passage says all of the followers did this, and all is usually understood to mean all.
It’s also true that these special restrictions that some would say are unique to women are also commanded of men too. 1 and 2 Thessalonians uses the word hsuxia to command men to work in quietness. Should men be prohibited from talking at their jobs? Of course not. But men should be tranquil and self-controlled at work, just as women should be tranquil and self-controlled at church, just as all Christians should strive to be tranquil and self-controlled at all times.
So What’s Paul’s Point in 1 Timothy 2?
Paul’s comments here might be an attempt to undermine the heretical Gnostic teachings that had crept into the church at that time. The Gnostics had in some instances elevated women as favored instruments of prophecy. This was also a common criticism of Paul, that he wasn’t just allowing women to operate in their new freedom in Christ, but that he was elevating them above men, and he was actually a woman supremacist. This, of course, wasn’t true, and in this passage Paul is clarifying that.
Gnostics also changed the Genesis story of Adam and Eve, because they taught that special knowledge was the way to salvation. They taught Eve was a hero when she ate of the tree of knowledge, and then more so when she enlightened Adam by sharing it with him. So Paul was reiterating the original story in Genesis, as showing disobeying God as sinful, and humans as originally perfect and not ignorant.
When we make this chapter solely about the role of women we miss the true message - that our attitudes and behaviors in the worship gathering and community of Christ are very serious things to God. We’re the ones bringing the message of Christ to the world, and it’s very important for us to show God’s love and to model unity and harmony. We shouldn’t be acting in a self-centered way, and shouldn’t be trying to get attention for ourselves, especially in the worship gathering. We should be humble and modest, and should focus on God and glorify Him.
The instruction in 1 Timothy 2, even though they’re differentiated by gender for those in Ephesus, apply to all of us - as much as possible, we should all come together without anger, controversy, gaudiness, chaos, or pride.
So Does The Bible Prohibit Women from Preaching or Leadership?
It doesn’t matter that egalitarianism is often the position of Christians who choose to simply disregard the Bible when it disagrees with what they want to believe. Just like it doesn’t matter that someone in church might’ve taught you the opposite, or it’s how it’s always been in your church experience. All that matters is what the Bible teaches. And when reading the actual scriptures, those written in ancient Koine Greek, I think it becomes very difficult to conclude that the Bible prohibits women from preaching and leading.
This doesn’t mean that anyone who believes the Bible teaches this prohibition is sexist or misogynistic. Many people believe that because it’s their honest understanding of scripture. But none of us are immune to being wrong just because we have an honest belief. My conclusions here might be completely wrong. But I don’t think they are.
So what’s your honest understanding of scripture?