1 Timothy 2:12: I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35: Women should be silent in the churches.
The apostle Paul wrote several letters to various Christian communities, and his teachings on female leaders in the church are a topic of debate among scholars and theologians. There are several passages in his letters that touch on this subject, and different interpretations of these passages have led to varying views on the role of women in church leadership.
One of the most cited passages on this topic is found in 1 Timothy 2:11-12, where Paul writes, “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.” Some interpret this passage as a prohibition against women holding leadership positions in the church, while others argue that it is a specific instruction to a particular community and should not be applied universally.
However, there are other passages in Paul’s letters that suggest a more egalitarian view of women’s roles in the church. For example, in Romans 16, Paul greets several women by name, including Phoebe, who is described as a “deacon” (diakonos) and a “benefactor” (prostatis) of the church. Some scholars argue that this indicates that women were involved in leadership roles in early Christian communities.
Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul discusses the practice of women prophesying in church and wearing head coverings while doing so. This suggests that women had an active role in worship and ministry in the early church.
Overall, Paul’s teachings on female leaders in the church are complex and open to interpretation. While there are passages that appear to limit women’s roles in church leadership, there are also passages that suggest a more inclusive view. Ultimately, the interpretation of these passages is a matter of debate among Christians and may vary depending on cultural and theological contexts.
1 Timothy 2:12: I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.
Wonder if this verse has ever been kept.
1 Corinthians 14:34 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.
Either Paul is contradicting himself or the scripture is saying something different from how we’re interpreting it.
1) Paul tells us that we are no longer under the law, but of the Spirit.
2) The clue might be in the “are to keep” in the passage is aorist tense in Greek, meaning in the past. Was that what Paul was trying to convey?
As for Timothy: Paul was claiming his rules for the church and could be subject to debate
It all boils down to the “Church” being under the authority of 1 man, that is Jesus Christ. We are under the authority of no one but Him, man, woman, or child
The Spirit gives life, the letter (written law) brings death, again, according to Paul
Thus sayeth the Lord...
and...
...I do not permit...
1 Timothy 2:11-12
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
Why is it that the SILENCE part never seems to be part of the SCRIPTURE!!! that gets stressed here?