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Q. Why does Paul write such mean things about women? Why can’t there be women teachers in the church?
In order to understand Paul’s view on women and their role in the church, one must understand the totality of the Biblical view of the value and worth of a woman. Remember, the Bible does not contradict itself. No where in the Bible will you see that women were created as the inferior gender. Genesis 1:27 states “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
Not only are women not the inferior gender when it comes to creation, but also in Christ’s church. Galatians 3:28 says “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In both areas of importance here, creation and within the church, everyone is equal.
God Used Many Women To Further His Kingdom
We also know that God worked through and used many great women in the Bible (i.e. Ruth, Naomi, Hannah, Esther, Sarah, Deborah, Hagar, Mary, Martha, Lydia). These women were all very esteemed and valued and are just a few of the many that God elevates in His Word.
This gives us a broader perspective and enable us to realize that Paul would not go against the rest of the Bible, seeing as though the same God that inspired the Words of the other authors of the Bible is the same God that inspired Paul’s words would lead us to believe that Paul was not trying to be mean, to devalue, or to diminish the woman’s place within the church. In fact, it is the awesome woman Lydia, the seller of fine clothes, who was Paul’s first evangelistic contact and convert in Philippi, who ended up opening up her home to hold the worship gatherings in. Paul understood how important women were and that sometimes when men were no where to be found, as was the case in Philippi, it was a sweet business woman whom God used to help start the church.
The passages in question are probably 1 Timothy 2:11-12 “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.” and 1 Cor. 14:34-35 “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive…”
To get a grasp on what Paul is saying, we must understand the context. When he says “let a woman learn” that was a foreign concept in that day and age.” Women, for the most part, were not permitted to be “learned” or educated. This alone shows the sensitivity by Paul to go as far as to counteract ancient society and culture. When he says “in silence and submission” he is referring to roles. The word submission in the Greek language implies arranging oneself in a military formation (simply, finding one’s place). Within the church, a woman’s role is not to be the teacher.
Equal, But Different
This is backed up in 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 where pastors (elders, shepherds, bishops – all of these words are interchangeable) who are called to teach, are supposed to be (rendered in the Greek language) “the male of one female.” It is referring to males. Just as men, according to Scripture are called to be the heads of their wives, they are likewise also called to be heads of the church, submitting of course to the Chief Head (or Shepherd) Christ as we see in 1 peter 5.
In other words, everyone is supposed to find their role. For women in a church setting, it is not to teach (actually to teach just men as is stated in 1 Timothy; it says nothing about teaching other women). But that doesn’t diminish their importance or cancel out the idea that they can have a position of prominence. Because as we know, women were used greatly in the NT church, as we have seen already with Lydia, as well as with Chloe in Romans 16, who was commended by Paul for her incredible service within the church. And there are others.