Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness. Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression. But women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. (1 Tim 2:9-15)

The question of how much a woman can do in the public assembly is being discussed more and more among brethren. It is not uncommon to hear of churches of Christ beginning to use women to serve the Lord’s supper, lead singing, lead prayer or even address the assembly (a group of men and women who have met for spiritual matters). In a college lecture program recently there was a discussion in which two brethren affirmed the right of women to participate in the public worship services. A passage that is vital to this study is 1 Timothy 2:9-15. These principles would apply, not only in the assembly, but in other relationships as well. However, the purpose of this paper is to seek to understand what inspiration is teaching concerning a woman’s place and work in the assembly. Thus, we address ourselves to an analysis of this passage.

The Woman’s Attire

Not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments. Braided hair is hair lavishly adorned often with silver or gold plaited into it. This kind of hair-do called attention to itself in a gaudy and immodest way. The wearing of ornate jewelry does not demonstrate to the world that one is a Christian and such will not lead people to Christ. "And let not your adornment be external only—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, and putting on dresses" (1 Pet. 3:3). It was not that it was wrong to wear any jewelry, but there must be a modest, discreet adorning in such matters. Those who wear such lavish attire want to make a stunning impression. Their mind is only on themselves and not on the worship of the Lord Jesus.

Concerning Women And Their Work

Was this addressed to women generally or to wives?

Similar instruction is given in 1 Cor. 14:34-35 where Paul is writing concerning those who addressed the assembly: "Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church." The Scriptures are plain in this matter, and we should have no difficulty in understanding what Paul is saying. The Christian woman has a very vital function to fulfill, but her role is not that of a preacher or teacher over the assembly. The current "woman’s liberation movement" has afflicted more than one church and many more will be bothered by it unless they have the courage to set forth God’s teachings in this matter forcefully.

The expression authentein is translated "to have/exercise/usurp authority."

Rather than teach (a man) or have authority over a man, the woman was to "remain quiet." as in verse 11.

Did Paul forbid any teaching by a woman? No. A woman may teach children (2 Tim. 3:15, 1:5), other women (Tit. 2:3-4), and be involved in teaching so long as she does not violate God’s order (Acts 18:26). In fact, there were prophetesses in the church and prophecy involves teaching (Acts 21:9, 1 Cor. 11:5). These prophetesses could not violate the principles of 1 Cor. 14:34 and 1 Tim. 2:12.

We need to understand that the role of women is vital in the church. Think of the important role played by women in the life of Jesus (see Luke 8:1-3, Mark 15:40-41). Look at Priscilla and her work (Acts 15:26) and Euodia and Syntyche (Phil. 4:2-3). Think of the high regard that Paul had for Lois and Eunice (2 Tim. 1:5) and also for Phoebe (Rom. 16.1-2) and for several other women mentioned in Romans 16. Look at the work of women in 1 Timothy 5. The woman is not a repressed person needing to be liberated, but she is given a role to fill as well as man. Our difficulties come when we try to step out of these roles. The woman’s role is not that of a public leader in the assembly.

Reasons for the Woman’s Subjection

In verses 13 and 14 Paul gives two reasons why women were not to hold a position of teaching or having authority over a man — why they were not to be leaders in the assembly. He refers to Genesis 2 and 3 in discussion of both of these reasons. The fact that he goes back to creation and to the first sin shows us that these prohibitions (of vv. 11 and 12) are valid for all time. They were not just cultural prohibitions for that era in which they lived. Adam (the man) was formed first. After that the woman was made as a help suitable for him. She was not made to have authority over him. 1 Cor. 11:8-9 elaborates on this: "For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake." Thus, the order of creation shows a definite reason why the woman is not be have authority over a man. As in creation the final authority rested with the man, so in the church this order must be followed.

In verse 14 Paul lists another reason for the woman’s being in submissiveness. "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being quite deceived, fell into transgression." When woman took the leadership into her own hands, she was deceived and fell into transgression (2 Cor. 11:3). She was deceived by the serpent and she ate of the forbidden fruit. After she had sinned, she gave the fruit to her husband and he willingly ate and fell into transgression. Eve took the leadership. Adam obeyed her. This was a reversal of the roles that God had established. Adam knowingly allowed himself to be led into sin by his wife.

Ann Bowman sums up this point by saying:

This leads us to discuss verse 15: "But women shall be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint." The word preserved (saved, ASV) is from sozo. This word is used in the NT to refer to either physical or spiritual deliverance. In this passage the obvious reference is to salvation in Heaven because of its connection to faith and perseverance. This does not mean that a woman is saved from sin just by bearing children. She is saved by the gospel just as every other person is. But she fulfills her highest purpose and plan of God for her life by being a mother and guiding children in the right way. A man may fulfill some of his duty to God by public prayer and public teaching. A woman cannot do this, but she can fulfill some of her duty to God by rearing children into God’s way. One is just as much pleasing to God as another. In fact, the work that a woman does may well have a more far-reaching influence than what man does. She helps control the destiny of the church and of the world by how she guides her children. So, in that she is fulfilling a vital plan and purpose of God, she shall be saved. Of course, she must personally continue in faith, love , and sanctity with self-restraint.

Summary

Paul’s teaching concerning women in 1 Tim. 2:9-15 can be summarized as follows: the women should dress modestly rather than ostentatiously. Their real adornment is that of the heart with modesty and discretion. The woman should learn in quiet reverence rather than being involved in the public teaching of the word of God. She cannot have authority over a man or teach over a man. There are two reasons given for this directive: 1) the man was first formed, then the woman. 2) The woman was deceived and when she reversed the roles and took the leadership, she plunged man into transgression. However, the woman has a very vital part to play in God’s plans. She is to be a guide to her children and must continue in her fidelity and perseverance to Christ. Through her respecting her role in life and continuing in the faith, she will be eternally in God’s presence. Women today must respect God’s order and not seek to move into the sphere of public participation in the assemblies.

1. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 356.

2. The Complete Biblical Library, Springfield, Mo 65802, 1990, Vol 13, p. 387.

3. Thayer, p. 356.

4. Ibid, p. 356.

5. Ibid, p. 14.

6. Ibid, p. 613.

7. The Complete Biblical Library, Vol. 16, pp. 242-243.

8. Hiebert, D. Edmond, First Timothy, Chicago: Moody Press, 1957, p. 59.

9. Thayer, p. 281.

10. Thayer, p. 645.

11. The Complete Biblical Library, Vol. 16, p. 389.

12. Bowman, Ann, Bibliotheca Sacra, Dallas Seminary Press, Dallas, Tx., Vol. 149, Number 594, p. 197.

13. Thayer, p. 144.

14. The Complete Biblical Library, Vol. 11, p. 487

15. Bowman, op. cit., p. 203.

16. Ibid, p. 206.

17. Ibid, p. 206.