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Why are the women here teaching the men?
Posted : 16 Oct, 2013 09:45 PM
Many women in Christendom these days are under the complete misunderstanding that it is proper and acceptable for a woman to teach a man in an assembly of believers. Egalitarianism in the assembly is unbiblical; plain and simple. The men are the ones given the authority to teach and the women are to remain silent. They are NOT to teach. There are no verses supporting women teaching men in an assembly of believers. Men alone are given authority to teach, to become pastors and elders.
Authority over the man is DENIED to the woman according to the creation order and according to the penalty of the curse. They are to submit to the man's authority. Thus sayeth the law:
Gen 3:16
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
1 Tim. 2:13-14
For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
1Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1 Cor. 11: 8-9 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
To be clear again, it is improper for a woman to teach in an assembly or to be in a position of authority over a man. Let's look at what the Word of God teaches on this subject.
Rev 2:20
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
NOTICE THE FIRST ISSUE: They suffered ( G1439 "eao"- permit) her to teach. "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, to teach." Now, in addition to this, her teaching was seductive. It
caused the hearers to commit idolatry. (1 Kings 16:31-32 & 1 Kings 21:25-26)
Dr. Tony Garland in his commentary on Revelation makes the following observations:
"Jezebel of Thyatira not only taught error, but exercised teaching authority over men in opposition to role distinctions set forth by Paul ( 1Tim 2:12). As Paul explains, such role distinctions are not cultural, but grounded in God�s created
order (1Tim. 2:13-14). The error of the Thyatiran church was not just that Jezebel was allowed to promote unbiblical concepts, but that she evidently held a position as a teacher over men. This is another point of identification with the strong-
willed, domineering Jezebel of the OT. No doubt, both her position of influence and the content of her teaching were repugnant to God."
1 Cor 14:34-35
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak ( G2980 "laleo" - to talk, to utter words) but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Women are forbidden to speak in church. Here is Dr. John Gill commenting on this passage:
"They may not speak in such sort, as carried in it direction, instruction, government, and authority. It was not allowed by God that they should speak in any authoritative manner in the church; nor was it suffered in the churches of Christ; nor was it admitted of in the Jewish synagogue; there, we are told the men came to teach, and the women "to hear": and one of their canons runs thus;
"a woman may not read (that is, in the law), "in the congregation", because of the honour of the congregation;''
Women are to submit themselves to the men and to learn in silence.
1 Tim 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
They are NOT PERMITTED TO TEACH or to USURP the male authority.
1 Tim: 2:12-13 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Men are the ones that are to hold the authoritative offices of pastors/bishops/elders etc.
1 Timothy 3: 1-2a "THIS is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...." - Notice - if a man be a bishop, etc. Not if anyone wants to be.
Also see, Titus 1: 6 -- "Husband of one wife......apt to teach...."
So then, when are women permitted to teach men in an assembly ( a gathering of believers)? They are not. That means not taking an authoritative tone and/or not having the intent to "school" a man in what they need to know. Woman are not to have a didactic attitude toward a man. Period.
Do women have any authority to teach at all? Yes, they do.
Titus 2:3-5 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their
children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Can any woman teach other women? NO.. only those who are "aged" ( that is mature in the faith) . They must also first have behavior which becometh holiness, not false accusers, not drunkards and teachers of "good things" What are the older women to teach the younger?
-Love husbands
-Love children
-Discretion
-Chastity
-Homemaking
-Goodness (character)
-Submission to ones husband
NOTICE: Women are not told that they may teach theological issues even to other women.
OBJECTIONS:
1. Men and women are equal
Galatians 3:28
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is NEITHER MALE NOR FEMALE: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
This verse relates to salvation, it has nothing to do with authority or office. It has nothing to say about our subject whatsoever. Those who try to apply this verse otherwise do so in exegetical error.
2. What about Deborah, Ruth, Esther, etc.
What about them?
3. What about Priscilla? She taught Apollos.
Acts 18:26
"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."
First, notice that she and her husband took Apollos aside. This confirms that Priscilla understood the command against speaking in an assembly. Also, please take notice that the Scripture is not specific who did the "expounding". All we can conclude from this is that the husband and wife were together when Apollos was being instructed.
4. What about Timothy?
2 Timothy 1:51
"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."
2 Timothy 3:15
"You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus."
All that we can conclude here is that Timothy was raised in the faith. He was taught the Scriptures as a child -- not as a man.
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