The Role of Women in the Church (part 3): Women must be silent?

 Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt continue the series on women
in ministry.  


Can Women Preach/Teach/Lead? 


 1 Cor 14:31​-39  


1 Tim 2:11​-15 


Textual Criticism 


Are 1 Cor 14:34​-35 original to the text?  


Manuscript evidence indicates that verses 34-35 may be a later
addition and not original and should possibly be omitted or put
in brackets or as a footnote in our translations. If this is
original, it must fit the context where women and men are
permitted to prophesy and pray.   


Context of 1 Timothy 


The purpose or occasion for Paul’s writing is to stop the spread
of false teaching. It is in his intro, throughout his letter and
in his conclusion.     The cult of Artemis
(Diana) was based in Ephesus where Paul is writing, and her
temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. This cult had
a female only priesthood and many other female dominated groups
existed in Ephesus during the time of Paul. But Especially the
Artemis cult was hostile towards men. This may play in the
background of Paul’s conversation here. 


Authority 


The first issue here is the word for assume/exercise authority is
not the usual word for authority (Arce or Exousia). It is
authentein and is a word only used one time in the Bible (hapax
legomenon). Outside the Bible this indicates the meaning of
violently usurping authority or domination.  I do not permit
The Greek word here is epitrepo. It is in the present active
indicative grammatical form. That means it is not a command
(imperative) and it is not an ongoing action but an “at this
time” action.  


A woman should learn in quietness and full
submission 


Does this teach that a woman must be silent in church?
Complementarians will say yes, Egalitarians will say no.
 The only command (imperative) in this whole section is that
a woman/wife must learn. Notice that this part comes before
Paul’s comment on not teaching. The logic is that one must learn
before they can teach. Quietness and submission are the posture
of a student.   


Creation Principal: Are women more easily
deceived? 


The references here to Genesis 2-3 are framed by the women’s need
to learn and their deception by the false teachers. Just as Eve
listened to the snake the women are listening to and spreading
false teaching and becoming like Eve. The antidote to being like
Eve is to learn. Paul is not saying that all women are more
easily deceived (and should never teach), he’s saying the women
in Ephesus are acting like Eve in the creation narrative. 


•      1 Cor 14:34​-35 is questionable
in the text at face value as it contradicts 2 other explicit
statements in 1 Corinthians of women not being silent in Corinth
and participating in worship through their speech. If it is
legitimate, it is about order in the service that is not
distracting, but also a call to learn as in 1 Tim 2.  


•      Women should not dominate men in
a harmful way as to usurp authority. Men should not do this as
well.  


•      One should learn before they
teach