Does the Bible limit the ministry of women?
1 Timothy 2:12-14 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
1 Timothy 2:1 - 15
ASV - 1 I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men. 2 For kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.
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Asked October 17 2023
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Anonymous
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Mark Vestal
Supporter
I do not believe that these verses are an all-encompassing directive for women to not be ministers of reconciliation. Paul has great praise on several occasions throughout his epistles for women who played integral roles in the spreading of Paul's gospel. Take for instance Aquila and Priscilla (who Paul even has a seeming pet name for in 2 Tim 4:19 - 'Prisca'). Without them, Apollos would have continued to preach only based on his knowledge of John's baptism. It was Aquila AND Priscilla that "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly" (Acts 18:26). They even BOTH laid down their own necks for the life of Paul (Rom 16:3-4). The integrity and keeping of the book of Romans was dependent upon "sister Phoebe": Rom 16:1-2 "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: 2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also." Chloe is probably the one who let Paul know that they had some issues and challenges going on at her house that Paul needed to address: 1 Cor 1:11 "For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you." I will say this... If I were being led errant by false doctrine, I do not care which gender it is that is able to correct me and lead me to today's true gospel of God's grace and Jesus Christ crucified. I obviously can't speak for God, but I see enough praise from Paul toward women and their efforts in spreading the gospel to know that what Paul says in 1 Tim is not necessarily a command from God to keep women from serving Him in the ministry.
Paula Fether
Supporter
Consider also the context of Paul's words. Timothy is in Ephesus, where the worship of Diana/Artemis was prevalent, and some of its priestesses were being saved. Though space does not permit a full explanation here, it seems evident that "a woman" was one such convert, who thought that she would be qualified to teach because of her former status. She needs to sit down and learn respectfully before she can be "restored" to teaching. The fact that she had been teaching shows that she was in fact saved.
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