gengwall

Here is how I concluded my series of posts on 1 Tim 2:11-15.

When 1 Timothy 2:11-15 is reviewed with close scrutiny of the Greek text and a mind on the overall context of the first 2 chapters of the letter, a stunning realization occurs. Not only is this passage of Scripture poorly translated, but the interpretation and application of those poor translations are completely erroneous. Entire philosophies about marriage and church leadership and conduct have been developed around this foundational error. It may be that only men should lead churches, that women should be silent, and that a woman’s place is in the home bringing up children, but Paul’s letter to Timothy does not teach it. What this passage does teach is that false teaching and domineering behaviors in the home require special handling, but even in that most private of settings, a remedy and restoration can be found in Christ.

Douglas – please try to remove your male priviledge blinders and see Paul’s letter to Timothy for how it was intended. You are correct that the first two chapters are about false teaching. But to make some global gender based “law” is to take Paul wildly out of context. Paul never says that women as a gender can’t teach any more than he says that men as a gender can teach. He is not making gender based proclamations on marital, church, or any other hierarchies. He is dealign with specific circumstances and specific people only, some of whom happen to be men (see chapter one) and some women. To read any more into the text is dangerous and injurious not only to Paul’s words but to the Body of Christ.