Topic: Right Conduct in the Church
Throughout the Bible, certain sections draw out many differences among believers. First Timothy, chapters 2 and 3, are among them. Over the next few weeks, I will seek to stay true to Scripture and provide insight from Paul’s letter that will make these two chapters useful.
A key verse in this discussion is First Timothy 3:15, “…I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” Paul explained the importance of teaching believers proper conduct by giving Timothy advice on how to correct a few attitudes he saw developing in the church.
Addressed in chapters 2 and 5 of First Timothy, the first attitude needing attention was in the area of prayer. Our focus will be on the instructions in chapter 2. Verses 1-7 call us to pray on behalf of all people (vs. 1.), that all would be saved (vs. 4). Paul will add individual leadership positions to be in prayer for as well. The purpose of prayer is that godly leadership will provide the right context to live a godly life that is quiet and with dignity. The attitude of the believer was hindering prayer.
When praying, Paul called men to lift their holy hands without inner anger toward others (verse 8). For women, the problem was displaying their claim to be godly through their outward appearance (verse 9-10). Since Paul included more rules for women than men, this causes tension for the modern church. Please allow the remaining part of this letter to address the topic of women in relation to the prayer ministry of the church.
Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth gave instructions for women to pray or prophesy wearing a head covering (First Corinthians 11:5). In First Timothy 2, Paul instructs women to dress appropriately or sensibly in verse 9. Sensibly or modestly literally means to use good judgment of your purpose for coming together to pray. In our context, this idea would apply to the purpose of the worship service. Paul also mentions the braiding of the hair and use of pearls. In First Corinthians and First Timothy, Paul is reminding women that appropriate dress is to be modest. Paul is saying do not dress in a sexual manner; it is not fitting for a gathering of prayer and worship. The focus is on lifting up holy hands in prayer just like the men were instructed to do.
Next Paul calls women to receive instructions with submissiveness and a quiet heart. He goes on to say that women are not to teach men and are to remain quiet. The example Paul uses is that of Adam and Eve.
Paul gave instructions for both men and women to come to church with a peaceful heart.
- --- Vs. 8 “…without anger or disputing.”
- - - Vs. 11 “…quietness and submission.”
The word “quietness” is also used in verse 2 referring to both men and women. Paul is instructing women to gather with a peaceful and undisturbed heart. In the Jewish culture women did not receive instructions in the temple. They were not permitted to even be with the men. Paul here is being radical by allowing women to sit with men and receive the instruction from the Word of God.
Often, Christianity has been accused of putting women down and treating them inferior. But the opposite is true. Wherever Christianity has gone, the status of women has been elevated, and this is a prime example. Women, along with the men, are to “learn in quietness and full submission.”
Verse 12 is certainly not a prohibition against women speaking in the worship services of the church. There are several cases in the New Testament where women taught men even in the context of the local church. In Acts 18, Priscilla, along with her husband Aquila, took Apollos aside and “explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). Acts 21, Philip the evangelist had four unmarried daughters who were well known prophets in the church (Acts 21:9). In First Corinthians 11, women are given the opportunity to prophesy (i.e., to proclaim God’s Word) in the public worship services of the church, provided they do it under the proper authority (1 Corinthians 11:5-10).
The context makes it clear that the “silence” here refers to refraining from attempts to dominate the conversation and take control of it. In fact, the original Greek word for “have authority” is found only here in 1 Timothy 2:12, and it literally means “to control in a domineering manner.” One standard Greek lexicon suggests that the verb be translated “to shout orders at,” “to act like a chief toward,” or “to bark at” (Louw & Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament).
It’s not that women cannot talk to men or even teach men in the church. God simply wants women to refrain from “shouting orders at men,” or “barking at men,” or from trying to “control men in a domineering manner.”
Why? Because that’s not the way God created men and women to relate to one another. First Timothy 2:13: “For Adam was created first, and then Eve.” When that order is reversed, i.e., when a woman dominates a man, then there is chaos, as seen in 1 Timothy 2:14, “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.” Because Adam failed to take the lead (or the initiative) by protecting his wife from the serpent, she was deceived. In Genesis 3, God came looking for Adam first. Adam let his guard down.
God made a promise to Eve that she would know His forgiveness by preserving her in childbirth. One day a woman will give birth to the One who will crush the serpent. Just as through one man (Adam) sinned, one man (Jesus) will redeem man from sin.
Looking at the chapter sheds a greater meaning to the way a believer is to conduct oneself in the church. In general, New Life stays away from women being the lead teacher over men. However, we do welcome women to share their insights and ask questions. All believers need to worship, grow, and serve.
This was a much longer thought, yet I pray it teaches how to read scripture more carefully in context and to consider other scripture passages.
See you Sunday,
Scott Kallem, Pastor