Jae Park

The following is my understanding on 1Tim 2:11. 

Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 

1. Apostle Paul encouraged women to learn. 
a) At that time, Jewish culture and Greek culture did not teach women. Paul’s command of teaching women was revolutionary command.
b) some women in Ephesus wanted to be teachers [elders]; preaching, teaching the Bible during the cooperative worship services. Paul specifically commanded them not to teach but to learn from the elders. [1Tim 2:12]
c) Learning the accurate understanding of the bible is very important for women since they are to teach children [more than father when they are young] and are to teach young women [men could not teach women's sensitive areas] and are to teach others in private setting such as evangelism at school, work place, campus, on the street, everywhere. [not cooperative worship service]. 


2. Women are to be submissive to the elders in the church.
a) Women should not be against authority of elders in the church. 
Church members (men and women) are under authority of elders (men) in the church. Submission to Elders is to acknowledge the authority of Christ in the local church. 	
b) Women are to respect and honor the leadership of elders (men) in the church. Through being submissive to elders, women show their submission to Christ. Because church members are under authority of Christ in the local church. 
c) Probably, some women in Ephesus had problem with authorities of elders. Apostle Paul presented the biblical principles based on Creation Order so that women in Ephesus should be submissive to the authorities of elders just like they were submissive to the authorities of Christ. [1Tim 2:13,14]

3. It does not mean that men are superior to women. 
It does not mean that women are inferior to men. Men and women are equally valuable [Gen 1:26,27] 
Simply, God gives them different roles in the local church and at home. Without submission, local church will be in confusion and chaos. With submission to elders, church learn to be submissive to Christ. Through submissiveness to the authorities of elders, we [not just women but also men] will grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ here on earth.

December 09 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report