1 Tim 2:12 Culturally Relative or Eternal Precedence
The First Baptist Church of Watertown NY has created a controversy in the media with its firing of a long time Sunday school teacher on the grounds she is a women. The mainstream media is of course all over the gender aspect of this story.
My question is, does First Baptist Church have it right? Does the Bible teach that women are not to teach men as a guide line to be followed by all churches or was this teaching meant only for the church at Ephesus?
CNN Report
Fox News Report
The Ephesian Church at the time of Paul's instructions to Timothy was ripe with false teachers and heresies. Timothy was to restrain (1 Tim 1:3) these false teachers on the grounds that they taught out of vain self interests (1 Tim 6:3-4)
Paul in his second letter to Timothy makes a point of saying some of the women of the church were being swayed by these false teachers. (2 Tim 3:6-9)
He includes a sanction against younger women of the church who had corrupted their witness for the sake of earthly things. (1 Tim 5:11-15)
Understanding both of these facts also explains Pauls call for women of the Ephesian church to silence. (1 Tim 2:11)
Comparing the typical first century woman with the women of today from an educational background, we can easily see a cultural trend. That being the women of today are far better educated, thus equipped to teach. The first century women not so much.
Allowing the Bible to interrupt itself we see instances of women teaching men (Acts 18:26) and prophesying. (1 Cor 11:5 and Acts 21:8-9)
I think the Bible is clear on the issue of women teaching, even teaching men. They are allowed to teach, even men. 1 Timothy 2:12 then would be for the Ephesian Church of the time and not a precedence for time immemorial.
What do you think?
My question is, does First Baptist Church have it right? Does the Bible teach that women are not to teach men as a guide line to be followed by all churches or was this teaching meant only for the church at Ephesus?
CNN Report
Fox News Report
The Ephesian Church at the time of Paul's instructions to Timothy was ripe with false teachers and heresies. Timothy was to restrain (1 Tim 1:3) these false teachers on the grounds that they taught out of vain self interests (1 Tim 6:3-4)
Paul in his second letter to Timothy makes a point of saying some of the women of the church were being swayed by these false teachers. (2 Tim 3:6-9)
He includes a sanction against younger women of the church who had corrupted their witness for the sake of earthly things. (1 Tim 5:11-15)
Understanding both of these facts also explains Pauls call for women of the Ephesian church to silence. (1 Tim 2:11)
Comparing the typical first century woman with the women of today from an educational background, we can easily see a cultural trend. That being the women of today are far better educated, thus equipped to teach. The first century women not so much.
Allowing the Bible to interrupt itself we see instances of women teaching men (Acts 18:26) and prophesying. (1 Cor 11:5 and Acts 21:8-9)
I think the Bible is clear on the issue of women teaching, even teaching men. They are allowed to teach, even men. 1 Timothy 2:12 then would be for the Ephesian Church of the time and not a precedence for time immemorial.
What do you think?
posted by Clyde | 3:00 AM
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