Chase the Setting Sun...

Last night at our '20 Somethings' discussion group we discussed 1 Timothy chapter 2. In this chapter Paul gives Timothy his thoughts and instructions on worship. Paul discusses the importance of prayer for all people, kings and all those in authority in the first half of the chapter. The second half Paul deals with women in worship and teaching positions. Here's what he says,

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

~1 Timothy 2:9-15

Obviously there is a lot in this passage that could easily anger a lot of people in our society and culture, both women and men. Here are a few thoughts that I have gathered in preparation to lead our discussion last night. I'll break this up into a few parts because there is a lot of information here.

1. Culture

That was a different culture that Paul was speaking to in this passage. At that time men were the heads of the household, government, and churches. Women, in Jewish culture, were uneducated and not allowed to be educated. Therefore, it wouldn't make sense for an uneducated woman to be teaching anyone, let alone educated men.

Being that a man was the head of the household it would have limited his ability to lead his home if he was led by a woman in a ministry setting. Paul says in chapter three of 1 Timothy that a man must be able to lead his home first to be able to lead well in the Church. The two were interconnected. If a man couldn't lead one well, he wouldn't be able to lead the other well.

Also, if a man had been led by a woman at the church he would have been ineffective in his ability to be a role model to other non-Christian men outside the church and therefore not been able to lead them to Christ effectively.

Many women in Ephesus were likely very wealthy. They would have had money to buy fancy clothing and jewelry. They would attract attention to themselves (just like today) by wearing attractive clothing and jewelry that would draw attention to their bodies and sex appeal. Paul obviously thought this was out of place for the Church. A Christian woman's focus should be on Christ not on her own looks and body. This isn't to say Paul thought that a Christian woman should let herself go, but rather not dress in a way that distracts others and themselves from worship of the Lord.

2. Effective Ministry

As you read Paul's letters you easily can see that he felt an undeniable urgency for the Gospel. He knew that the clock was ticking and he needed to get the Gospel out to everyone he could while he still could. So, in line with that, the effectiveness of ministry would have been very important to him. If his ministry wasn't effective he would have been wasting valuable time.

At that time, because of a woman's place in society it would not have been the most effective way to present the Gospel if a woman was teaching it. Most would not have respected a woman's opinion on such matters and likely rejected her teaching. Also, if women were being a distraction in worship either by their dress, or speaking out of turn, that also would create an ineffective ministry.

Paul taught that women should learn in quietness and full submission. This did not mean they should shut up at all times and follow blindly. Paul consistently taught that all should be conscious of what is being taught to be sure that no one is adhering to false doctrines. The fact that Paul called them to learn at all showed a shift in thought from traditional Jewish culture. Women would just be a distraction if they had spoken up in worship due to the culture of that time.

3. Paul Had Great Respect for Women

While Paul was clear that woman should not be an elder, overseer, or deacon, he did believe that women had an important role in ministry and life. Here is a few examples...

I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ~2 Timothy 1:5

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much whine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. ~Titus 2:3-5

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ~1 Peter 3:1-2

Obviously Paul had great respect for women and their role in teaching those around them. He gave great respect to the women that raised Timothy. He gave great responsibility to older women in the Church to teach the younger women. Along with that he showed women that the way they live could be transformational for their husbands and the men around them.

While women weren't allowed to teach, they had great responsibility in the advancement of the Gospel in their families and communities.

4. Final Thought

Obviously this is not an exhaustive scriptural study of women in ministry. This is just some thoughts and information I encountered in preparing for our short discussion last night. However, I think it does show that Paul not only respected women, he saw a great need for them in the advancement of the Gospel.

At the same time he had very certain thoughts on women in teaching and leadership roles within the Church. We can debate all day long whether we think these thoughts apply to our culture today or not. I would encourage you (as well as myself) to continue studying scripture, no matter what you believe. You may be right, you may be wrong.

We all have strong beliefs about certain things in our lives. What we need to do is be sure our beliefs are rooted firmly in scripture, not just in our own biases. Just because our culture has led us to believe something doesn't mean that it is Biblical.

I would also be curious to hear, as we're on the subject of women in ministry. What women in your life have had a positive effect on you and/or led a great ministry from a pastoral or teaching role? Leave a comment