Cheryl Schatz

Craig #51 you said:

For egals, their explanation doesn’t depend on the meaning of this word because their is no legitimate authority.

I am not sure if I agree. Although we are convinced by the Scriptures that there is no authority of one person over another, if the Scriptures refuted that and listed an authority given to one sex or one “kind” of person, I for one would have to submit to the Scriptures. However the Greek authentein in 1 Timothy 2:12 doesn’t grant that authority. After all comps make this verse say more than it does. The verse doesn’t say that men are allowed to authentein anyone. Why the term is used by Paul for “a woman” does not at all grant any man the right to authentein. Also if Paul had meant the ordinary kind of authority that the world recognizes, he would have used the term that was used and understood by all.

Any type of “authority” would be bad- for either men or women to exercise over the other. All the discussion about the meaning of “authentein” may be interesting but not critical to their position.

Some may feel this, but I believe that we cannot just discount any verse and force it into our own viewpoint. We have to sincerely want to understand the inspired words and the inspired context even though from the outset it adds nothing to the teaching that males have authority over females. Because the verse is God-breathed, we need to desire to know what God intended by placing this verse in the Scripture.

Craig, thanks so much for all your poking and prodding! I think that this is very helpful and a good example to all of us.