She is to Remain Quiet

Day 290: 1 Timothy 2:1-15

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” - 1 Timothy 2:12 ESV

I was in one of our Life Groups last year and heard one of our female students say, "I don't like this" when reacting to this passage. I have to agree with her. When I only look at the words on the page (without context), it bothers me as well.

Is the local church supposed to have hard patriarchy where the women are second-class members? This was certainly true in first-century Jewish and Greek culture. William Barclay wrote, "The respectable Greek woman led a very confined life. She lived in her own quarters into which no one but her husband came. She did not even appear at meals."

In light of Galatians 3:28 (check it out), we can't imagine this is what Paul had in mind when he said "quiet." There has to be something more cultural (not intracultural) happening in this 1 Timothy passage.

From Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2) to Philip's four daughters (Acts 21:9) to Junia the missionary (Romans 16:7) to Priscilla who helped teach Apollos (Acts 18:26) to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-55) to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18) -- we see that women were not silent. We have been the better for it.

Everyone in the body of Christ has a role to play (Ephesians 4:16). This does not undermine the role of men in the church. On the contrary, when women live their lives in faith, love, holiness, and self-control, everyone in the church benefits (I pray these four over my daughter every day). 

So this passage doesn't oppress women; it instead gives them a seat at the table.

Men are still supposed to be the lead servants in the marriage relationship (see Ephesians 5:21-33) and in the local church (see our reading for tomorrow), but we are equal in value, both in the church, our homes, and even in culture.