Men and Women in the Assemblies of the Church

Men and Women in the Assemblies of the Church The New Testament teaches that God’s order in the church is for men to exercise positions of public teaching, authority and leadership

1 Timothy 2:8-15 NASB Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. 9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness. 11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 There is a contrast between men and women in church assemblies (1 Tim. 3:14-15)

1 Timothy 3:14-15 NASB I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; 15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 There is a contrast between men and women in church assemblies (1 Tim. 3:14-15) Men should be praying (v. 8) With holy hands Without wrath and doubting

1 Timothy 2:8-15 NASB Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 There is a contrast between men and women in church assemblies (1 Tim. 3:14-15) Men should be praying (v. 8) Women should be Adorned with good deeds (v. 9-10)

1 Timothy 2:8-15 NASB 9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 There is a contrast between men and women in church assemblies (1 Tim. 3:14-15) Men should be praying (v. 8) Women should be Adorned with good deeds (v. 9-10) Receiving instruction rather than giving it (v. 11-12)

1 Timothy 2:8-15 NASB 11 A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. Usurp authority -

1 Timothy 2:8-15 There is a contrast between men and women in church assemblies (1 Tim. 3:14-15) Men should be praying (v. 8) Women should be Adorned with good deeds (v. 9-10) Receiving instruction rather than giving it (v. 11-12) Keeping silent (1 Cor. 14:34-35; 27-33)

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NASB 34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. What does it mean for women to keep silent and not speak in church? Paul explains it in this same context.

1 Corinthians 14:27-33 NASB 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. What could the tongue-speaker do if there was an interpreter and if three tongue-speakers had not already spoken? – speak to and direct the thoughts of the assembly What could the prophet do in his turn until a revelation was given to another? speak to and direct the thoughts of the assembly What was improper for women to do in church? Speak to and direct the thoughts of the assembly What the tongue-speakers and prophets were permitted to do under certain circumstances, the women were not to do in general What the tongue-speaker was to do if there was no interpreter? – keep silent What was the prophet if another prophet received a revelation while he was speaking? – keep silent What is the woman to do in church? – keep silent What those with spiritual gifts were to do in certain circumstances, the women were to do in general Not to ask for or hold the floor, not be the director of the assembly, not be the leader of the worship service

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NASB 34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 There is a contrast between men and women in church assemblies (1 Tim. 3:14-15) Men should be praying (v. 8) Women should be Adorned with good deeds (v. 9-10) Receiving instruction rather than giving it (v. 11-12) Keeping silent (1 Cor. 14:34-35; 27-33)

1 Timothy 2:8-15 There is a contrast between men and women in church assemblies (1 Tim. 3:14-15) Men should be praying (v. 8) Women should be Adorned with good deeds (v. 9-10) Receiving instruction rather than giving it (v. 11-12) Keeping silent (1 Cor. 14:34-35; 27-33) Why? (v. 13-15)

1 Timothy 2:8-15 NASB 13 For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. Two reasons: The order of creation The circumstances of the fall

1 Corinthians 11:3–9 (ESV) But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God…. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

Genesis 3:14-16 NASB The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, … 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." 16 To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply Your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

MacKnight’s paraphrase of 1 Tim. 2:15 “Though Eve was first in the transgression, and brought death on herself, her husband, and all her posterity, the female sex shall be saved (equally with the male) through child-bearing - through bringing forth the Savior, if they live in faith, and love, and chastity, with that sobriety which I have been recommending.” – quoted in Adam Clarke’s commentary on 1 Timothy

Applications Can a woman serve as a preacher, pastor, elder, or bishop? NO - 1 Tim. 2:11-12 ; 1 Cor. 14:34-35 ; 1 Tim 3:1-2

1 Timothy 3:1-2 NASB It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Applications Can a woman serve as a preacher, pastor, elder, or bishop? NO - 1 Tim. 2:11-12 ; 1 Cor. 14:34-35 ; 1 Tim 3:1-2 Are women barred from using their God-given teaching abilities? NO - 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14–15; Titus 2:3-5; Acts 18:24-28

2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14–15 … I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. …continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 2:3–5 (ESV) Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Acts 18:24-28 NASB Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And … 28 … he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Applications Doesn’t this restriction show the male-dominated repressive background of Paul and the other church leaders, which we should reject in view of the liberty we have in Christ? NO – 1 Cor. 14:36-40

The Equality of the Sexes in Scripture In Christ, no male or female – Galatians 3:28 Fellow-heirs of life – 1 Peter 3:7 The wife exalted in marriage – Eph. 5:22-33

Submission is not Inferiority And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. - Luke 2:51

1 Corinthians 14:36-40 NASB 36 Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. These were not Paul’s ideas, they were the commandments of the Lord. The were part of the proper order of the church as defined by Jesus, the head of the church.

Applications Doesn’t this restriction show the male-dominated repressive background of Paul and the other church leaders, which we should reject in view of the liberty we have in Christ? NO – 1 Cor. 14:36-40 Weren’t there female judges and prophets in the Old Testament? YES – Jud. 4-5; 2 Chr. 34; Ex. 15:20-21; Num.18:1-7 Deborah was a judge & prophetess (Judges 4-5); she revealed to Israel what God had revealed to her and she judged the nation; Huldah was a prophetess; she delivered God’s message to Josiah (2 Chr. 34:22-28) Miriam was a prophetess (Ex. 15:20-21) who led the women of Israel in dancing and tambourine playing in celebration of the Red Sea crossing. She sang a song on that occasion that may have been inspired by God. Obviously God approved of what these women did, and chose them for these roles. Does this mean they could go to the temple and offer incense and sacrifices there? NO

Numbers 16:39–40 (ESV) So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, 40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company—as the Lord said to him through Moses. When God set aside the Levites for the special role of taking care of the tabernacle and its furnishings, he set aside the males of the tribe of Levi. (Num. 2-3) At the same time, Aaron and his sons were set aside for the priesthood (Ex. 29:29-33) That decision was challenged in Numbers 16 & 17 by the Korah, Dathan and Abiram, who said “All the people are holy” and demanded that they be permitted to participate in not just the Levitical duties but also the priestly office. The result was that fire came from the Lord and devoured 250 men who were coming near to offer incense and the earth swallowed the ringleaders and every member of their households. When the people complained that this judgment had been too harsh, God sent a plague that killed 14,700 people.

Numbers 18:1–7 (ESV) So the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood. 2 And with you bring your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may join you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. 3 They shall keep guard over you and over the whole tent, but shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary or to the altar lest they, and you, die God repeats the instructions that he had given Aaron and the Levites in Numbers 3, and told them, if anyone breaks these laws, I am holding you responsible from now on. That’s why we read about temple guards in the gospels and Acts, they were to keep people from violating the laws of the sanctuary.

Numbers 18:1–7 (ESV) . 4 They shall join you and keep guard over the tent of meeting for all the service of the tent, and no outsider shall come near you. 5 And you shall keep guard over the sanctuary and over the altar, that there may never again be wrath on the people of Israel. 6 And behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the people of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to the Lord, to do the service of the tent of meeting. 7 And you and your sons with you shall guard your priesthood for all that concerns the altar and that is within the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood as a gift, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.” If Deborah, Huldah or Miriam tried to participate in a role they had not been given by God, they would have been killed. In fact, when Miriam complained against her brother Moses and sought a greater role than she had been assigned, God struck her with leprosy (Num. 12)

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NASB 34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. So when Paul told the church that women were not to lead the assemblies, he told them this is something that works in the same way that it did in the Old Testament. “As the Law also says”

Applications Doesn’t this restriction show the male-dominated repressive background of Paul and the other church leaders, which we should reject in view of the liberty we have in Christ? NO – 1 Cor. 14:36-40 Weren’t there female judges and prophets in the Old Testament? YES Weren’t there female prophets, deacons and apostles in the New Testament? YES and NO

Women apostles, deacons, and prophets in the NT? Romans 16:7 - Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Acts 21:9 - Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. Romans 16:1 - I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; Andronicus and Junia (many translations have a female name here) were outstanding among the apostles (Rom. 16:7), that by no means meant that they WERE apostles. Philip had 4 virgin daughters who prophesied. (Acts 21:8) Phoebe is mentioned as a servant/deacon of the church in Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1) Even if we were to conclude that Junia was a female apostle and Phoebe was a female deacon, they would still be subject in the assemblies of the church to the rules given by God. As a tongue-speaker they could only speak if there was an interpreter, otherwise they must keep silent As a prophet they could only speak until something was revealed to another prophet, and then they must keep silent And as a woman, it was improper for them to speak in church, and they must keep silent

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 NASB 34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

Applications Weren’t these instructions addressing specific local or cultural matters that cannot and should not be bound in other times and places? NO

1 Corinthians 14:33–38 (ESV) As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches… just as the Law also says.. 35 ... For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

Applications Does the church where you worship honor the teaching of Scripture regarding the relationship between men and women in the assemblies of the church?