The Role of Women in the Church (part 3): Women must be silent?

Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt continue the series on women in ministry.

Can Women Preach/Teach/Lead?

1 Cor 14:31​-39

1 Tim 2:11​-15

Textual Criticism

Are 1 Cor 14:34​-35 original to the text?

Manuscript evidence indicates that verses 34-35 may be a later addition and not original and should possibly be omitted or put in brackets or as a footnote in our translations. If this is original, it must fit the context where women and men are permitted to prophesy and pray.

Context of 1 Timothy

The purpose or occasion for Paul’s writing is to stop the spread of false teaching. It is in his intro, throughout his letter and in his conclusion. The cult of Artemis (Diana) was based in Ephesus where Paul is writing, and her temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. This cult had a female only priesthood and many other female dominated groups existed in Ephesus during the time of Paul. But Especially the Artemis cult was hostile towards men. This may play in the background of Paul’s conversation here.

Authority

The first issue here is the word for assume/exercise authority is not the usual word for authority (Arce or Exousia). It is authentein and is a word only used one time in the Bible (hapax legomenon). Outside the Bible this indicates the meaning of violently usurping authority or domination. I do not permit The Greek word here is epitrepo. It is in the present active indicative grammatical form. That means it is not a command (imperative) and it is not an ongoing action but an “at this time” action.

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission

Does this teach that a woman must be silent in church? Complementarians will say yes, Egalitarians will say no. The only command (imperative) in this whole section is that a woman/wife must learn. Notice that this part comes before Paul’s comment on not teaching. The logic is that one must learn before they can teach. Quietness and submission are the posture of a student.

Creation Principal: Are women more easily deceived?

The references here to Genesis 2-3 are framed by the women’s need to learn and their deception by the false teachers. Just as Eve listened to the snake the women are listening to and spreading false teaching and becoming like Eve. The antidote to being like Eve is to learn. Paul is not saying that all women are more easily deceived (and should never teach), he’s saying the women in Ephesus are acting like Eve in the creation narrative.

• 1 Cor 14:34​-35 is questionable in the text at face value as it contradicts 2 other explicit statements in 1 Corinthians of women not being silent in Corinth and participating in worship through their speech. If it is legitimate, it is about order in the service that is not distracting, but also a call to learn as in 1 Tim 2.

• Women should not dominate men in a harmful way as to usurp authority. Men should not do this as well.

• One should learn before they teach