1 Timothy 2:11-12
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likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Introduction
Introduction
Out of all the passages that strict Complimentarians use to argue that women have a lesser role in ministry, this one is by far the strongest and widely quoted. For centuries it has been used to silence women and bar them from teaching and preaching the scriptures. Since we hold to view that all scripture is inspired by God and authoritative, we must take each passage seriously. What does 1 Timothy 2 teach? What is the truest way to interpret this passage? Let’s dig in.
Context of 1 Timothy
Context of 1 Timothy
To properly interpret any section of scripture, context is key. What do the surrounding verses teach? What about the chapter? The book? Where section of the Bible is the book a part of? All these factors play a major role in any serious hermeneutics.
The apostle Paul is writing to his spiritual son, Timothy, who is the pastor of one of the largest and fastest growing congregations during this time. He is young and timid, but gifted and faithful.
It seems as though the early church in Ephesus struggled with false teachers and false teaching spreading throughout the congregation. This is seen in the opening paragraph of the letter:
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
Paul even speaks of two specific false teachers who have rejected the truth and shipwrecked their faith:
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Famously, later on in chapter four, Paul speaks about certain false teachers devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and the teaching of demons in the last days:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
He closes the letter in chapter 6 hitting this subject once more:
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
Even in 2 Timothy, the last letter that Paul wrote before being martyred, this issue was still happening:
But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
The letter closes with a strong charge from Paul to Timothy to preach the word with all authoirty and guide those who will naturally want to accumulate false teachers for themselves:
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
These male false teachers would creep into households and take advantage of weak women, supposedly indoctrinating them with false doctrine.
For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.
Some of these women would go house to house and spreading said false doctrine and saying what they should not.
Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
Why is this Important?
It is no coincidence that Paul in 1 Timothy 2 tells Timothy not to allow women to teach in Ephesus when they are facing an issue with many false teachers spreading lies and taking advantage of less educated women; spreading their terrible doctrine through them.
The ultimate solution is not a timeless, transcultural ban on all women teaching, but rather to educate women to make them less susceptible to false teaching.
The Cult of Artemis
The Cult of Artemis
Ephesus was home to the temple of Artemis (Lat. Diana), one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. Artemis was the Greek goddess of the hunt and fertility. Her cult was composed of female-only priests who carried influence in the city.
In his book, Paul, Artemis, and the Jews in Ephesus, Rick Strelan writes about women’s roles in pagan cults and he quotes from various scholars.
Cultic activity for women was more prominent in Asia Minor than elsewhere (Ramsay 1900:67). Kearsley notes that the fifteen women who were archiereiai (“chief priests” or “high priests”) in Ephesus is the largest group known from any city (1986:186). At least some held the title in their own right and were not dependent on the title of their husbands. Women were prominent in the Artemis cults as priestesses; and in the cult of Hestia Boulaia in the civic centre of Ephesus, the influential position of prytanis is known to have been held by women (for example, Claudia Trophime I.Eph IV.1012). Favonia Flacilla was both prytanis and gymnasiarchos (I.Eph IV.1060).
Amazonian Women?
Amazonian Women?
Some people believed that Ephesus was founded by the tribe of the Amazons, great female warriors also who had a flawless ability to use bows and arrows. It is widely believed that Amazon women were priestesses of Hittite origin.
It’s hard to say how much these things influenced the thinking of the women of Ephesus during the first century. Certainly they are things to keep in mind when we are interpreting a challenging portion of scripture.
Let’s take a deeper dive into 1 Timothy 2 and see exactly what Paul is saying!
1 Timothy 2
1 Timothy 2
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Now Paul turns his attention to the public gatherings of the saints. We see this in the expression “in every place”, first in Ephesus and probably all throughout Christendom.
To anyone who has a problem with these things being applied to “every place” I ask the question: where would the opposite be acceptable?
He first instructs men to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or quarreling. This does not mean women should not pray, live lives of holiness, or be full of anger or quarreling. Paul is simply highlighting men in this instance.
Likewise also, in every place, Paul desires that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but rather good works.
God is not against jewelry or fine clothes. We see this in the Old Testament where Israel received the gold and wealth of the Egyptians during the great exodus. Israel itself was even compared to a bride clothed with an embroidered cloth, fine leather and silk, ornaments, bracelets, a chain, a gold nose-ring, earrings, and even a crown. (Ezek. 16:10-13). Jesus Himself had a seamless tunic, which was significantly more expensive than a tunic with seams, which the guards casted lots for during the crucifixion (John 19:23-24).
The problem lies in having these things define our beauty more than good works stemming from true godliness. This goes for both men and women. We should strive for the beauty that comes from godliness and good works, all of which is internal, rather than the beauty of this world, which is all external.
Money in the hand is a beautiful thing, money in the heart is evil.
The “Big” Verses
The “Big” Verses
Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
The word for woman here is γυνὴ (gynē), which is the Greek word for woman and for wife. Also, notice that Paul switches from the plural in verse 9 and 10, to the singular in verse 11 and 12.
I propose to you that this is because Paul is specifically talking about wives and husbands here, not just women and men.
See the NIV margin notes
Let a wife learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a wife to teach or to exercise authority over a husband; rather, she is to remain quiet.
This makes further sense when we see that Paul commonly teaches that wives should be submissive to their husbands, not all women to all men.
The verb manthanō here is in the imperative, which denotes a command or request. It is in fact the only verb in the imperative mood in this entire section of scripture, meaning Paul here is either commanding or requesting that Timothy have the women learn.
How should a woman learn? Just like any student; peacefully, calmly, and with all submissiveness to their husbands and to God. Students who do the majority of the talking do little learning, and students that do not submit to their teachers do little learning.
The noun translated as “quietly” here is hēsychia, which can also be translated as in peace or free of division and controversy. A similar word is used by Paul earlier in this chapter (1 Tim. 2:2). Some scholars such as N.T. Wright interpret this to mean that the women should be left alone to learn without disruption or controversy (1 Tim. 2:11-12 NTFE), others such as Katia Adams take it to mean that women should learn in peace, free of rebellion and division.
The best way to translate this word here would be “in calmness”.
Let a wife learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a wife to teach or to exercise authority over a husband; rather, she is to remain quiet.
The verb for “exercise authority” (authenteō) has historically been challenging to translate. In the NT, this is the only place this word is used, and it’s exact meaning has been lost. Most scholars believe this verb means to usurp authority, to take authority in a domineering way. Paul could have used the more common word for authority (exousia), but he didn’t here for a reason.
Indeed, the Analytical Lexicon of the Greek NT (Friberg et al) entry is, “strictly, of one who acts on his own authority; hence have control over, domineer, lord it over”. The BDAG entry is even stronger: “assume a stance of independent authority, give orders to, dictate to, … practically = ‘tell a man what to do’”.
Jerome’s Latin Vulgate (400 AD) translates this word as “dominari” = domineer.
A very impressive study by Albert Wolters clearly shows that this verb (and its cognate relatives) means to “have mastery over”. (See also its use as a noun in Wisdom 12:6, “murderer”, and 3 Macc 2:29, “master”.) Cynthia Long Westfall agrees, “In the Greek corpus, the verb authenteō [which includes the infinitive authentein] refers to a range of actions . . . . However, the people who are targets of these actions are harmed, forced against their will (compelled), or at least their self-interest is being overridden, because the actions involve an imposition of the subject’s will, ranging from dishonour to lethal force.”
Such behaviour is out of place in both the home and the Christian congregation for anyone including women. Indeed, Jesus and the apostle Peter specifically forbade Christian leaders (or anyone else) “lording it over” other members of the congregation (Matt 20:25, 26, Mark 10:42, 43, 1 Peter 5:3). Thus, a domineering attitude is inappropriate behaviour for both men and women, but presumably, Timothy had particular problems in his congregation(s) with some difficult and bossy women that Paul advised him to address. Further, Paul’s advice in Eph 5:21—28 gives authority to husbands over wives, but only consistent with the loving, self-sacrificing attitude of Christ to the Church. Again, complete mastery of anyone over another is out of place in the Christian community and home (Eph 5:21) by both men and women.
Paul’s Reasoning: Eve’s Deception
Paul’s Reasoning: Eve’s Deception
For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
What is Paul’s reasoning for why women should learn quietly instead of teach and carry great authority over men? His argument is two-fold:
Adam was formed first, then Eve;
Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
Complimentarian Interpretation
Complimentarian Interpretation
Some have taken this to mean that women shouldn’t teach because God created man first and therefore he has more authority, and that women are more easily deceived then men.
Jewish Rabbis have a long history of blaming Eve for the fall:
The rabbis clearly had it in for Eve. Her sinful act was often rehearsed in rabbinic literature: women march ahead of the bier because Eve brought death to the world; they menstruate because Eve shed Adam’s blood; they kindle the Sabbath lights because Eve extinguished Adam’s soul. A later rabbi even claimed that Eve was created so that Adam would sin. Occasionally the resultant curse of Genesis 3, rather than her sin itself, was used as grounds for her subordination (Keener, 175-176).
Egalitarian Interpretation
Egalitarian Interpretation
Rather than seeing Paul’s two-fold argument as a case for hierarchical leadership and a diminished view of a woman’s intelligence and trustworthiness, Egalitarians see it this way:
Adam was created first, then Eve, so he received the command directly from God and was supposed to teach it accurately to Eve.
Eve wasn’t educated well enough, so she was prone to deception, targeted by the serpent, and fell into transgression.
Paul does not say, “Women in Ephesus, learn quietly and don’t teach (in some sense) because of the situation in Ephesus.” Paul says instead, “Women in Ephesus, learn quietly and don’t teach (in some sense), for Eve was created after Adam and was deceived, and you could become like her.” - Dr. Craig Keener
My Interpretation
My Interpretation
Adam was created first, then Eve, so he accurately received the command and carries a greater authority from God that should be honored and respected.
Eve didn’t learn the command well from Adam and didn’t submit to what he taught her, so she was prone to deception and the serpent targeted her and caused her to transgress (not sin!)
Therefore, Paul is saying, “wives, honor your husbands and humbly listen and learn from them, not being quick to teach in a domineering and controlling way, but rather to learn peacefully. Otherwise, you will fall into deception similarly to how Eve did.
A great way to translate 1 Timothy 2:11-12 then would be:
“Let a wife learn in calmness and subjection. I do not permit a wife to foist her ideas on the husband, but to be calm.”
