9 Frank,

Thanks for your good comments.

One thing that I would like to note is that most complementarians leave out verse 15 while stressing that 1 Timothy 2:12-14 is transcultural and for all time. Verse 15 causes them a lot of trouble with their interpretation of the prohibition so they let it slide as if verse 15 is not necessary to understand the passage. I have said before that verse 12 cannot be understood without verse 15. Verse 15 sets the defined grammar, the concern that prompts the prohibition and the solution to the problem that defines the specific components that are necessary to the interpretation of verse 12. Those who have ignored the connection between the end of the prohibition (verse 15) have taken the church into bondage by hog-tying half of the church and limiting the effectiveness of the body of Christ.

Secondly the issue of Deborah has caused many to view the “place” of a woman’s ministry as limited to outside the church while misunderstanding that the people are God are God’s congregation (OT) and the church (NT) and the building that they meet in is not. Where Deborah did her judging should not be the issue. It is the fact that she did the work of a judge that is the issue. When some side-step her work and make the “place” of her work the issue, they are in essence providing a smoke-screen to try to hide the legitimacy of Deborah’s God-ordained work and position in the congregation.