Kay

“Paul’s restriction in 1 Tim 2 is for the elders of the church who have the spiritual resposibility of preaching. Egalitarians confuse the comp position by combining all the different ‘teaching’ elements in the NT as if they are the same thing. Perhaps if comps weren’t so misunderstood (or deliberately mis-handled) egals might not think we are so patriarchal and suppressive”

Mark,
This verse is about “teaching” – where do you see “preaching” in these verses?
How does any “plain reading” manufacture an “office” out of 1 Tim. 2:11-14?
How is it that the Greek adjective presbuteros, (“older” or “elderly”) mysteriously became a noun, represented in the English text by an official sounding title, i.e., elder? What can be more misleading than the deliberate translation of a word to justify a practice; thus changing the Bible to suit a human system, rather than changing such a system to suit the Bible.

“Rebuke not an elder, (presbuteros) but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brothers; The elder (presbuteros) women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.” (1Tm:5:1-2)
The context of this scripture is completely relational, not institutional.

“I urge the elders: like shepherds, tend the flock of God among you. Watch over it. Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God. Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to your care, but become examples to the flock.” (1Peter 5:2-3)
When the power of example is gone, all you have left is the tyranny of demanded conformity.

We have Timothy being instructed to relate to the elderly with respect. In an ecclesiastical, hierarchical context, where authority is positional rather than relational, the issue of age is irrelevant – it all depends upon who has the “title” and position. In today’s institutional churches it is perceived as a compromise of a pastor’s authority to relate to any untitled individual as his senior.

“But I’m writing these things to you so that if I’m delayed, you’ll know how you should behave in God’s household. It is the church of the living God and the backbone and support of the truth.” (1Tim.3:14-15)
Scripture lists two places where they taught, out in public and in homes. In the NT there is not one mention of anyone teaching or preaching in a church building. We’ve been over this before.