Cheryl Schatz

Dear Captain Planet (cool name!)

I agree that most egalitarians do not preach on the hard passages of Scripture like 1 Timothy 2:12-15 but I am different. Here is why. I believe that if you have your scriptures that seem to restrict women and I have mine that free women to serve, what good is that? All we have is scriptural ping-pong. The fact is that the correct Scriptural position we deal with each passage of Scripture in a clear and honest way from the context without disregarding any of the inspired words or the inspired grammar. That means that the 1 Timothy 2 passage cannot be ignored because the Scripture must not contradict itself.

So why would God tell all of these intelligent women to keep silent (regarding preaching)?

He didn’t. Just look up 1 Cor. 14 on my sidebar and read about what this passage means and doesn’t mean. There cannot be contradictions!

Why is there such a fight by women to be preachers?

When God calls a person no matter who they are, the person must respond. If you had a passion inside you to obey God but you are told you cannot because you are, say, an Italian, would that satisfy you? God’s gifting and God’s calling makes us passionate to serve God.

Is the pulpit the final frontier of feminism?

The “pulpit” is an invention of mankind. It isn’t in the Bible. If you want to know what I really think about the pulpit, just do a word search on my blog for pulpit.

Is it a Gideon type of deal where the men were not up to par so the woman took the initiative?

Nope. God has always had his men. If he wanted to use only males there was never a time when God had none.

If he can change on this issue what else of the Apostles foundation is obsolete?

God didn’t change at all. God never had a law that forbid godly women from teaching the truth of God’s Word to anyone.

I have been using Spiros Zhodiates for the greek and hebrew words. I do not like commentaries much because you can find a commentary on any position.

I like Zhodiates a lot. But I have a lot of Biblical helps that are very precious to me. It is such a pleasure to study God’s Word and I don’t read the commentaries very often.

From what I have read the book of Timothy consists of Paul instructing Timothy how to set the general church in order according to God’s order.

The order that was to be set was mostly about the issues of false doctrine and false teachers and setting up elders within the area of ability so that the false teachers did not destroy the church.

In every case roles of teaching the general body are designated to faithful men.

This isn’t true. The literal meaning is this:

2 Tim. 2:2 (ALT) And what you heard from me through many witnesses, these [things] be committing to trustworthy people, who will be competent also to teach others.

The grammar here is the generic for people. It is the same as what is used of salvation. Although the finer points of grammar are the generic with male tense, it doesn’t mean men only any more than all the salvation passages with the same grammar mean that only men can be saved.

When it comes to teaching the general body the scripture says that women should keep silent.

My DVD set will correct this error if you wish to order it.

The book of Titus tells us plainly which women are to teach and to whom they should teach.

It is interesting to note that the Bible never says that women should teach the Bible to other women. It says that women should teach other women to love their husbands and how to manage their homes, etc. If we took this as a limit on women’s teaching, then no woman could teach the Bible to another woman just because it isn’t listed in the Scriptures.

There are no examples of women teaching the church except Jezebel (may be figurative of a gov) in Revelation.

I won’t get into the answer here except to say that there is no law forbidding something from silence.

Priciilla with her husband expounded to apollos.

Yet if we take 1 Timothy 2:12 a woman cannot teach a man period. That leaves Priscilla not obeying Scripture? Or how did she get away with teaching? It doesn’t say that a woman can teach a man if another man is with her. It is a prohibition without qualification.

None of them baptised.

Oh my, I hope you don’t argue from silence on everything. This is not a healthy thing to assume.

I see a lot of sincere sisters preaching well. But is it right? I continually ask God to give me understanding where I lack.

I believe that God will answer a sincere prayer. But don’t forget that if you are drowning and looking for a rope to be thrown your way, don’t disregard God’s provision of a Savior in a boat. God may not provide exactly the way you think He should, but keep your eyes open to His provision. You are here after all on my blog, right? Perhaps this blog is God’s answer?

I think you would be a good person to interview on the truthmatters show with pastor sean finnegin(sp)

Well, thanks. I am a shy person who doesn’t do so well in live. But I appreciate the confidence you have in me! Now don’t tell anyone that I have been teaching you through answering your questions, eh? We will keep this our secret. And I do hope you will come back!